A pedestrian was fatally struck in a hit-and-run accident involving a U-Haul truck in Queens early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of Kissena Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway.
Preliminary reports from New York City police indicate that a Honda collided with a U-Haul truck, causing the truck to hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street at that time. Following the collision, two women reportedly fled the scene of the accident on foot.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where paramedics attempted to provide life-saving measures to the pedestrian. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to their injuries shortly after being taken to a nearby medical facility. The identity of the pedestrian has not yet been released pending notification of their family.
This tragic incident is reflective of a growing concern regarding pedestrian safety on the roads of the United States. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), approximately 25% of pedestrian fatalities in 2022 were a result of hit-and-run incidents. Data reveals that between 2013 and 2019, hit-and-run crashes accounted for nearly 20% of pedestrian deaths, a figure that has climbed to 25% in recent years.
