Firefighters using the jaws of life extracted a woman from a green Nissan Infiniti that had…
By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
A serious car accident injured one woman and damaged two cars Monday evening at a Bayside intersection that observers said was the site of frequent collisions.
Firefighters using the jaws of life extracted a woman from a green Nissan Infiniti that had collided with a blue Buick at the intersection of 211th Street and 38th Avenue around 6 p.m.
Although the extent of the woman’s injuries was unknown at the time, a Fire Department paramedic at the scene said they were non-life-threatening.
The Buick’s driver, Michelle Gambino, was unhurt but wept hysterically as she described the accident, which she said occurred when she was driving west on 38th Avenue after getting out of work on Bell Boulevard.
“She just came out of nowhere,” said Gambino of the woman in the Infiniti. “I didn’t see her.”
Gambino, 30, of North Flushing said the other car was heading south on 211th Street when the collision occurred.
Lt. Mike Balfe of Ladder Co. 167 in Bayside, which responded to the scene along with Engine Co. 306, police from the 111th Precinct and the Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit, said no one else was injured in the accident.
A blue U.S. Postal Service mailbox at the intersection was lying on its side on the southwest corner, but it was unclear if it had been knocked down by the Infiniti, which like the Buick was crumpled and its parts exposed in several places.
Balfe said there had been another serious car accident at the same intersection about two weeks ago in which both drivers were injured.
“People just don’t stop at the stop sign,” Balfe said. There are stop signs on 211th Street but none on 38th Avenue.
Suzanne Tong, 26, rushed to the intersection to check on her parked car, which was not touched in the accident.
“I’ve almost gotten in a couple of accidents here,” said Tong, who lives a few blocks away. “Especially in the morning, cars are rushing to get parking spaces.”
Tong said cars driving on 38th Avenue quickly coast through the intersection because there is no stop sign at 211th Street.
Neighbor Bryan Serra, 54, said accidents were a common occurrence, given the area’s congestion with Long Island Rail Road commuters parking near the Bayside station.
“I hear it every single week,” Serra said. “It’s getting worse and worse. … People are careless.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
