By Michael White
Caliope Diacantonis remained in critical condition Tuesday at Elmhurst Hospital after suffering severe head trauma, a spokesman for the hospital said.
Diacantonis was thrown to the ground in front of the post office at 55th Avenue and 69th Street by a white man described as being in his mid-20s, blond and wearing a gray sweatshirt, police said.
The suspect fled in Diacantonis' car, a green 1995 Dodge Spirit, and the victim was taken to the hospital where she was admitted with severe head trauma, police said. No arrests have been made.
State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) said the carjacking occurred across the street from her office and she had met with officials at the nearby post office. Postal officials now plan to install floodlights outside, she said.
Markey, who said she does not fear for her own safety in the neighborhood, called the attack on the woman “a terrible tragedy.”
“This is an isolated incident,” she said. “I hope she recovers.”
Police also were investigating another assault that happened Feb. 6 at nearby Grand Avenue where a 75-year-old woman was raped. The attacker pulled a knife on the victim, dragged her behind a car and assaulted her, police said.
The unidentified assailant was described as a Hispanic male, 27-32 years old, 140-150 pounds and wearing a red baseball cap with black lettering, police said.
Anyone with information relating to these crimes is asked to call Crimestoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
In the busy Maspeth neighborhood residents are taking caution in walking the streets. Many expressed shock over the recent incidents.
Marilyn Mauro, of 58th Road, has lived in Maspeth all of her 75 years. With plastic bags in hand and eyes watery from the brisk wind while she walked the town's cracked and raised sidewalks last week, Mauro said long gone are the days when she would go through Mount Olivet Cemetery as a shortcut home from Grover Cleveland High School.
“It's a shame really,” she said. “It seems our town is changing. I wouldn't go out at night anymore. I'm mad [the carjacking] happened in our town. I guess it can happen in any town but not usually around here.
“When I was young I didn't have to worry about nothing. The schools were good. But things happen fast,” she said.
Mike Gubitosi, who moved five years ago to Maspeth from Long Island, said he is more leery of walking the streets at night than he was before the reported incidents.
“There's no such thing as a safe town, I guess,” Gubitosi said. “You don't expect it, but again you always have to be careful. Once it gets dark, it doesn't matter. It's just as dark at 6 as it is at 8.” Another pedestrian, Richard, who declined to give his last name, has lived with his family in Maspeth for about 36 years. He said he worries about his wife when she leaves for work.
But Richard expressed the sentiment of 38-year resident Peggy, who also declined to give her last name. “I'm not moving,” she said. “Sure, I'm shocked. You gotta be careful, oh yes, because there's a lot going on in Maspeth.”
