Holiday Hit & Run – Boulevard of Death claims its 73rd victim

Queens Boulevard, known as &#8220The Boulevard of Death,” claimed its second victim this year, Yakub Aminoz, who was returning from Yom Kippur services on Monday night, October 2.
He was run down by a hit-and-run driver at the same intersection where a 14-year-old Russian girl, Sofia Leviyev was killed in November 2000.
Aminoz, 59, of Rego Park, was struck crossing the intersection of Queens Boulevard and 67th Avenue after returning from temple. Aminoz died in Jamaica Hospital on Tuesday October 3, succumbing to injuries he sustained in the accident.
&#8220He was a great father and a good man,” said Arkydiy Aminoz, Yakub's 28-year-old son.
Aminoz, an Orthodox Jew who worked as a yellow cab taxi driver for 12 years, also leaves behind two other sons, aged 25 and 30, as well as his wife Rachel of 32 years. According to friends and family, Aminoz, a Russian immigrant who emigrated to the United States in 1991, &#8220loved America.”
&#8220He gave everybody his heart,” said Alexander Tuckett, Aminoz's home attendant.
Although the police department is still investigating the exact circumstances, the NYPD has confirmed the accident was a hit-and-run that reportedly involved a silver or gray Nissan SUV.
&#8220They were looking all over for evidence and put up police tape,” said Mildred Press, a long time resident of the area. &#8220They stopped all the traffic.”
Although the city has taken a series of remedial measures since the deadly 2000 accident, including installing fences along the medians to prevent jaywalking and lengthening the time for people to cross from 30 seconds to 60, many residents are calling for more.
&#8220They need to put up an overpass,” said Antoinette Spina, an employee at the florist shop on the corner where the tragic accident occurred.
&#8220The fences are a waste of money, people hop over them all the time,” Spina said.
In addition to the other safety precautions implemented following the November 2000 accident, the city also stationed crossing guards at the intersection for several months to assist the elderly in crossing the street.
&#8220They had people help others cross the street after the girl was killed,” Spina said, &#8220but that only lasted a few months.”
Despite complaints from area residents, the number of fatalities has significantly decreased in the past decade. There have been 73 deaths on the dangerous thoroughfare and 18 of those fatalities happened in 1997. However, after the implementation of the new safety standards, deaths have plummeted to just one in 2004 and two in 2005 and 2006. The intersection of Queens Boulevard and 67th Avenue, a particularly dangerous one, has not seen a fatality in five years.
&#8220We have not had a pedestrian fatality at that intersection in the last five years,” said Department of Transportation spokesperson Chris Gilbride. &#8220The number of pedestrian deaths has decreased dramatically. You can see the marked improvement.”
Some residents believe that an alternative to an expensive overpass is simply ensuring that the westbound and eastbound traffic lights on Queens Boulevard are coordinated.
&#8220When the westbound lane has a red light, people think that they can cross,” said Larry Nathan, a nearby resident who is all too familiar with the dangers of crossing Queens Boulevard. &#8220But the eastbound lane still has a green arrow, and people go fast making u-turns. All they need to do is make the lights red at the same time.”
Other residents claim that the city agreed to install speed bumps on the busy street, but never followed up on it.
&#8220The city doesn't do anything,” said a 67th Avenue resident who asked not to be identified. &#8220I don't even bother looking out the window anymore when someone gets hit,” he added.
The city stands by their efforts to make the roadway safer. &#8220We have made significant improvements and they're really making a difference,” Gilbride said.