FLUSHING — Police were urging pedestrians to use crosswalks when traversing the thoroughfares of Flushing after a man was struck Monday morning at 7 a.m.
An elderly man was crossing 57th Road when he was hit by a vehicle, according to police. The man was taken to New York Hospital Queens in extremely serious condition, police said.
The man was not using the crosswalk and stepped out onto the street while cross traffic had a green light, according to cops.
In the 109th Precinct last year, six pedestrians were killed by cars, according to the NYPD. In two of those deaths, the pedestrians were not using the crosswalks. Two senior citizens were among the dead, police said.
Officers urged pedestrians in the area, especially in crowded downtown Flushing, to avoid crossing the street in the middle of the block and against the light.
When motorists are traveling through a crosswalk, they are more likely to pay attention to people on the sidewalks, police said.
On the other hand, when a driver is traveling between intersections, the motorist is not expecting pedestrians to suddenly appear from behind parked cars to try to cross the street, which can lead to serious injury and even death.
