Cops have charged an 88-year-old woman who allegedly blew a red light and fatally struck a 17-year-old woman crossing at a Whitestone intersection on Monday morning.
Law enforcement sources said the incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Utopia Parkway and 16th Avenue.
According to police, Sheila Kahn Prager, 88, of 166th Street in Whitestone was driving her 2005 Toyota Corolla southbound on Utopia Parkway and allegedly ignored a steady red light. After passing through the intersection, authorities said, she struck Madeline Sershen, 17, of 25th Avenue in Flushing, who was crossing Utopia Parkway with the walk light in her favor.
Upon being struck by the front bumper, police said, Sershen flew onto the hood and struck the windshield, then was thrown to the pavement.
Officers from the 109th Precinct and EMS units responded to the incident. Paramedics rushed Sershen to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Sources said that Kahn Prager was taken into custody at the scene and issued a desk appearance ticket for failing to yield to a pedestrian, running a red light and failure to exercise due care. She must return to court on July 12 for further action.
The investigation is ongoing.
This story was updated on June 25 at 4:15 p.m.
