An 8-year-old boy was killed and his 10-year-old brother was injured when they were struck by a car while crossing a Queens street on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The siblings were in the crosswalk with their mother at the intersection of 31st Avenue and 100th Street in East Elmhurst when they were hit by a black 2005 Nissan Titan driven by a 52-year-old man around 4:15 p.m., cops said.
The driver made a left turn immediately as the light turned green and hit the brothers after “failing to yield,” NYPD’s Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera told reporters at a press conference Wednesday evening.
The 8-year-old was declared dead at the scene. His older brother was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition with a wrist injury.
Their 37-year-old mother “narrowly” avoided being hit by the truck, according to police.
The driver, who remained at the scene and has a valid driver’s license, was taken into custody, Rivera said. Charges were pending Wednesday night.
One witness, a friend of the boys’ mother, said she ran outside after hearing her screaming and seeing what had happened from her window.
The woman, who is also a mother with children the same age as the two boys, became emotional as she described trying to comfort the 10-year-old and his inconsolable mother as the younger boy was on the ground.
“This incident, as tragic as it is, was avoidable,” Rivera said at the press conference. “When making turns, especially left turns, you must always yield to vehicles and pedestrians.
“Take an extra second, make sure the intersection of the crosswalk is clear before completing your turn,” he continued. “Because of this poor decision, a family trying to enjoy a beautiful day will never be the same.”
