A view of the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, where a city Department of Transportation dump truck driver struck and killed a 31-year-old woman on March 9.
Photo by Google Street View
A Department of Transportation truck driver struck and killed a 31-year-old woman in Queens on Tuesday, the NYPD announced.
Cops said the 48-year-old male dump truck driver was moving eastward on Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens and struck the pedestrian, whom police identified as Nilufar Komilova, while making a right turn onto southbound Lefferts Boulevard.
The incident occurred at 4:54 p.m. on March 10 within the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct.
Komilova was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering severe head and torso injuries, police said.
FILE – An NYC Department of Transportation dump truck in use.NYC Department of Transportation / Stephen Mallon
The operator of the 2017 Mack truck remained at the scene, according to cops. The NYPD did not arrest him or anyone else in connection with the incident. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to examine the case.
In a statement, DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic crash, and our hearts are with the victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
“The circumstances of the collision are under investigation, and we are committed to fully understanding what happened and if additional steps can be taken to prevent future crashes,” she added. “We are committed to improving the safety of our fleet and reducing the risk of serious crashes on our streets in order to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers.”
Bruno also noted that crashes involving city vehicles have dropped 20% since the city launched its Vision Zero initiative to reduce traffic deaths and injuries in 2017. She tied the drop to safety improvements the city has made accross its fleet since then, including the instillation of speed-limiter devices and surround camera systems on its vehicles.
There was one other crash resulting in one injury at the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard over the past year, according to data compiled by the site Crashmapper.