Pedestrians Fatally Struck In R’wood, LIC
Within 24 hours’ time, two pedestrians suffered deadly injuries in separate accidents in Ridgewood and Long Island City between last Thursday and Friday, Mar. 6-7, police reported.
In the first accident, authorities said, a man believed to be in his 50s was fatally struck by a van backing out of a Ridgewood driveway last Thursday night.
His identity was not disclosed by police pending family notification.
One night later, it was noted a Kew Gardens man was run down by a hit-and-run driver at a Long Island City intersection. The victim- identified by the NYPD as Kumar Ragunath, 64, of Kew Gardens Road-succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Regarding last Thursday’s accident, police said it occurred at about 10:46 p.m. along 60th Lane near Myrtle Avenue.
According to information obtained by police, a 25-year-old man was backing a 2008 Ford Econoline van out of a driveway when he struck the victim in the street.
Officers from the 104th Precinct and EMS units responded to the scene. Paramedics brought the victim to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Following a preliminary investigation, authorities noted, the driver was issued a summons for unsafe backing.
Additional charges are pending the results of an investigation by the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad, police said.
The Long Island City hit-and-run accident occurred at about 8:25 p.m. last Friday at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 41st Road, it was reported.
According to law enforcement sources, Ragunath was walking across Northern Boulevard from south to north-outside of the painted crosswalk-when he was hit by a black or dark-colored Chevrolet Blazer traveling westbound on the roadway.
Police said the vehicle sped away from the scene after hitting the man.
Members of the 114th Precinct and EMS units rushed to the location. Ragunath, who suffered severe head trauma and a broken leg, was brought by paramedics to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he would later die of his injuries.
No arrests have been made in the case, and the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is continuing its inquiry, police said.
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run accident that could prove helpful is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-577-TIPS, by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
