An 8-year-old boy was killed by the driver of a truck that also injured his 10-year-old brother in East Elmhurst, Queens on Wednesday afternoon, the NYPD said.
Police said the incident took place on 31st Avenue and 100th Street around 4:15 p.m. Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera said a preliminary investigation found that the two boys were crossing the street with their mom in a marked crosswalk. At the same time, the driver of a 2005 Nissan Titan that had been stopped at a red light made a quick left turn when the light turned green, failing to yield to traffic, police said.
The 52-year-old driver struck the 8- and 10-year-olds with his truck, just barely missing their 37-year-old mother, authorities said. The 8-year-old was later pronounced dead and the 10-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Rivera said the driver remained on the scene and was the first 911 call. He also said the driver had a valid driver’s license, and passed a sobriety test.
“This incident, as tragic as it is, was avoidable. When making turns, especially left turns, you must always yield to both vehicles and pedestrians. Take an extra second, make sure the intersection of the crosswalk is clear before completing your turn,” Rivera said. “Because of this poor decision, a family trying to enjoy a beautiful day will never be the same.”
Rivera said the driver was taken into custody and charges were pending.
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