Teacher dies after being hit outside school

A fourth grade teacher, Roni Futoran, 63, was struck by a vehicle driven by Derick Rodney, 58, outside of her school, P.S. 200 on 164th Street in Electchester on Friday, December 15.
Knocked to the ground in the accident, Futoran died from her injuries on Sunday December 17 at New York Hospital, Queens Medical Center. The accident is currently under investigation by the Accident Investigation Squad. Rodney was questioned by police but has not been charged in the accident.
According to Rodney, who is a father of four, he was making a right hand turn onto 164th Street from Jewel Avenue. He alleges that Futoran, who he thought he had seen near the intersection but lost sight off, started crossing the street in a diagonal manner away from the crosswalk. He then lost sight of her again because a BMW parked by the side of the road may have obscured his view. &#8220I didn't know what I'd hit until I saw her glasses on my windshield,” he said.
Rodney immediately stopped and got out of the car. Police arrived and closed off the street. A crowd gathered and people offered Rodney conflicting advice such as do not move the car/move the car. He ended up standing in the street with his mouth open shocked that he would hit someone. &#8220It seemed more like a push than a hit,” he said.
According to a Department of Education spokesperson, Futoran, who has taught at the school since 1999 had just left the school to grab some lunch when the accident occurred. Futoran, whose students are aged nine and ten years old, had been in class that day. &#8220The school community has been hit hard by her sudden death. When your teacher doesn't return to class you know something big has happened,” the spokesperson said.
Rodney was unaware that Futoran had died when he spoke to The Queens Courier. He said he had been unable to get information on her condition. He expected the police report would tell him her status.
Rodney confirmed that he was a diabetic and had lost four toes including his two big toes. Rodney said that his diabetes is under control and he receives regular medical supervision for his condition.
Rodney said he was going very slowly and that there was no damage to his car at all, not even a scratch.
According to PTA member Nora Perkowski, parents at P.S. 200 in Queens have been so concerned about the safety of their children crossing 164th Street they had sent a petition to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide a turning signal, signage, and an additional crossing guard.
&#8220A parent was hit and injured there a year ago, now this teacher. There isn't even signage that it's a school,” Perkowski said.
DOT spokesperson Kay Sarlin said, &#8220We recently received requests to add additional signage and traffic signals near P.S. 200 and we've asked our traffic and engineering divisions to initiate a study of the area.”
A spokesperson for Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) said that diabetes is not one of the illnesses that will trigger an automatic investigation into a driver's fitness to hold a license.
On the driver application form, license applicants must tell if they have a medical condition that causes them to blackout or lose consciousness. If they indicate they do, then they must get a physician to fill out a DMV medical form and their right to hold a license is reviewed. There is no legal obligation, only a moral obligation to report changes in a person's medical status to the DMV.