The children of a Queens woman struck and killed by a city Department of Transportation dump truck keep asking when they can see their mother again, thinking she is being treated at a hospital, as their family waits to reveal the awful truth, a close family friend told the Daily News.
Nilufar Komilova, 31, was hit by the driver of a yellow Mack dump truck as he made a right turn off Metropolitan Ave. onto Lefferts Blvd. in Kew Gardens just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, cops said. She died at the scene.
“All night they were asking for their mother,” Akobir Azizov, a close friend of Komilova, said of the victim’s children. “Terrible, terrible night for the kids. They were looking for their mom. We’re just saying she is in the hospital now, she has a doctor’s appointment. We don’t want to hurt their feelings, it’s very hard for everybody.”
Komilova leaves two children, a 3-year-old boy and a 7-year-old daughter. She had just dropped her girl off at Public School 99 and was heading home when she was struck just two blocks from her apartment, Azizov said.
“She usually takes Lefferts Blvd.,” the friend said of Komilova’s usual walking route. “It’s interesting because she always obeyed traffic laws, she never jaywalking, she would wait for the change signal to cross the street — and look what happened.”
Nilufar Komilova was fatally struck by a New York City DOT dump truck on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (GoFundMe)
The victim’s husband, who works as an Uber driver to support his family, called Azizov about two hours after the crash, frantic to find his wife.
“He called me and said, ‘I can’t find my wife.’ I thought maybe she went shopping but she wasn’t responding to calls. We called police, and after that we found out there was an accident,” Azizov said.
They later learned that the truck had dragged Komilova two blocks before stopping, Azizov said.
“We ate, trying to stay with the husband 24/7 to comfort him,” he said. “His blood pressure is high. He didn’t eat. He didn’t sleep. It’s a disaster.”
Komilova was a housewife who dedicated her life to her family, Azizov said.
“It’s a beautiful family,” he said. “She was an amazing person and stuck together with her family.”
The DOT truck driver remained at the scene and was not immediately charged.
The NYPD Highway Patrol investigates after Nilufar Komilova was fatally struck by a DOT truck on Lefferts Blvd. and 84th St. in Queens, New York, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Gardiner Anderson / New York Daily News)
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic crash, and our hearts are with the victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno said. “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.
Crashes and injuries involving municipal vehicles have dropped more than 20% since the launch of Vision Zero in 2017, officials said.
“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 said.