A pair of pedestrians were fatally struck in separate collisions on Wednesday, Oct. 19, according to authorities.
A man was struck and killed on the Grand Central Parkway in Astoria Wednesday evening after he tried to cross the highway instead of using a pedestrian walkway over the traffic, according to the NYPD.
Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian struck just after 8 p.m. on the eastbound Grand Central near 73rd Street near St. Michael’s Cemetery, where they found a 44-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive lying in the roadway with trauma to his body. EMS responded to the scene and rushed the victim to Elmhurst Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead. The identity of the victim is pending proper family notification.
A preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 20127 BMW X5, driven by a 35-year-old man, was traveling eastbound in the left-hand lane when he struck the victim who was crossing the highway from south to north, eschewing the designated pedestrian overpass at the location. The BMW struck the man in the left lane and came to a stop, police said. The motorist remained at the scene and was not injured in the collision.
No arrests were made and the investigation continues.
It was not the only street carnage in the borough on Wednesday.
Police from the 109th Precinct in Flushing responded to a 911 call of another motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian struck at Linden Place near 28th Avenue in College Point.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered a 58-year-old man lying on the roadway near College Point Fields with severe trauma to the body. EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to New York Presbyterian Hospital-Queens where he too was pronounced dead. He was later identified as Jose Tejada of 8th Avenue in College Point.
A preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 2006 Dodge Caravan was traveling northbound on Linden Place and pulled over to the right side of the road, north of 28th Avenue, due to the vehicle making a strange noise. The 58-year-old driver got out of the vehicle and walked to the rear to check for damage.
Meanwhile, a 2020 GMC Terrain, operated by a 20-year-old man, was heading northbound on Linden Place in the left lane. The driver changed lanes to pass a truck, struck the victim and collided with the rear of the Dodge Caravan, police said. The driver of the GMC, 20-year-old Arturo Jiminez of 129th Street, remained on the scene and was subsequently taken into custody and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, police said.
The investigation is ongoing.
