By Ivan Pereira and Christina Santucci
Police were searching for the driver of a dollar van who they say struck a woman and left her to die on the streets of south Jamaica Sunday night.
Toyia Jones, 40, was found unconscious by officers at the corner of Merrick Boulevard and Anderson Road, just a few yards from her home around 9:30 p.m., the police said. She was rushed to Queens Hospital Center, but was pronounced dead when she got to the medical center, according to investigators.
Witnesses said she had been mowed down by a dollar van that was traveling through the area, but it was not known if she was a passenger in the vehicle. Johnny Walter, 24, lives near the intersection and said police were on the scene all night and into the next morning.
“Somebody threw her out of the car right here,” he said, pointing to the corner of Merrick Boulevard and Anderson Road. “It’s crazy”
Walter said Jones was a landlord.
The police had no suspects or arrests as of Tuesday afternoon. Jones’s family was not available for comment.
This is potentially the 13th homicide to take place in the jurisdiction of the 113th Precinct this year, according to police statistics that were dated through Oct. 9. During the same period last year there were 15 murders, according to the NYPD data.
Last week a Brooklyn man was shot to death at a parking lot less than two blocks from where Jones was killed. No suspects have been named in that incident and there were no arrests as of Tuesday.
Overall crime in the precinct, which covers the areas of St. Albans, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park, South Jamaica, Addisleigh Park and Locust Manor, has increased 17 percent over the last 12 months with 1,817 reported incidents this year compared to 1,553 incidents in 2010, according to police statistics.
“This neighborhood is very dangerous,” said a Merrick Boulevard deli owner who identified himself as Ibraheem M. “It’s crazy over here.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), text their tips to 274637 (crimes) then enter TIP577 or log on to nypdcrimestoppers.com. All reports will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
