A 25-year-old man killed earlier this month when his motorcycle collided with a box truck in Queens was a hardworking immigrant construction worker and father of three young children.
Jorge Palaquibay was riding his Kawasaki west on Roosevelt Ave. in Woodside when he collided with a box truck driver making a sharp right turn onto 64th St. about 7:45 a.m. July 2, police said. Palaquibay was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene.
Video obtained by the Daily News shows the truck veering left toward the middle of Roosevelt Ave. before cutting right to make the sharp turn onto 64th St., at which point the victim slams into the truck’s passenger side at high speed.
The collision sent Palaquibay and his motorcycle sliding across the intersection, coming to rest on the sidewalk in front of a nearby juice bar, where good Samaritans rush to provide aid, the footage shows.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
Police investigate after Jorge Palaquibay was fatally struck by a box truck on Roosevelt Ave. in Woodside on July 2. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
The victim was supporting his wife and three young children as well as a disabled uncle back in his native Ecuador, Palaquibay’s younger brother, who gave his name only as Nico, told The News.
Palaquibay had two boys, ages 3 and 8, and a daughter who turned 12 Saturday, a little over a week after her father’s death.
Nico described his brother as “very happy” despite having had to shoulder a lot of responsibility at a young age as the second-oldest son of nine siblings. Their parents died more than a decade ago, Nico said.
“He was a person who was very sociable with everyone,” Nico said via text message. “At work, very good person, with me, with the children.”
“Papa, mama, welcome him with a strong hug. Now my brother is with you. Please guide our path,” Nico posted on Facebook.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
Police investigate after Jorge Palaquibay was fatally struck by a box truck on Roosevelt Ave. in Woodside on July 2. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
Palaquibay’s death has thrown his family into both emotional and financial turmoil.
On July 4, the family hosted a memorial cookout with games, raffles and prizes to help raise money for Palaquibay’s funeral.
Palaquibay’s employer, Hatchet Design & Build, which does luxury renovations in New York City, started a GoFundMe to help his wife and children “cover urgent expenses and provide some relief as they adjust to life without Jorge,” company founder and CEO Zach Rockhill wrote.
“Jorge Palaquibay was a dedicated and hardworking member of our construction company, known for his thoughtfulness and commitment to his work,” Rockhill wrote. “He touched the lives of everyone around him, always going above and beyond for his colleagues and his family.”
Jorge Palaquibay. (Facebook)
The truck Palaquibay collided with was a Bakers Depot delivery truck operated by JB Freight, of Teterboro, N.J. The 57-year-old driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges as cops continue to investigate the crash.