QUEENS, NY — A 13-year-old boy was killed and another teenager was injured Monday afternoon when a moped struck an open driver’s side door in Flushing, Queens, according to police. The crash happened on 162nd Street around 12:30 p.m. and left neighbors shaken at the scene.
Investigators said the driver of the moped swerved to avoid the parked SUV’s door, then lost control. The passenger fell from the bike and made contact with a southbound truck traveling on the same street.
What did police say happened on 162nd Street?
The NYPD said the moped was moving southbound when it encountered the open door of a parked black SUV. Surveillance video showed the vehicle parking moments before the teens crashed into the door as it was opening, according to the report.
Police said the driver attempted to steer away but could not keep control. The collision unfolded in front of several neighborhood businesses in a busy part of the borough.
Who was hurt in the crash?
The 13-year-old passenger died from his injuries after falling from the moped and being struck by the passing truck, police said. The 13-year-old who was operating the moped was taken to a hospital.
Authorities did not immediately release the names of the boys. No other serious injuries were reported in the account of the crash.
What are witnesses and neighbors saying?
Shop owner Joe Mah said he saw the aftermath and was disturbed by what he found at the scene. He described the bike lying beneath the truck and said the situation left him feeling sad.
Parent Yvette Zaeng, who has an 11-year-old daughter, said the crash reinforced how careful families have to be when walking city streets. She said she often tells her child to hold her hand when crossing.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police said the case remains under investigation and no arrests have been made. Officials did not say whether any summonses or charges were being considered.
The crash is likely to draw continued attention from local residents because it involved a child passenger, a parked vehicle door and a truck traveling through the same corridor.
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