QUEENS, NY — A 13-year-old boy was killed and another teenager was injured Monday afternoon after the moped they were riding struck an open car door on a street in Flushing, Queens. Police said the driver tried to avoid a parked black SUV but lost control in the process.
The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on 162nd Street. Surveillance video showed a car parking moments before the teens hit the door as it was being opened, according to investigators.
What did police say happened on 162nd Street?
The NYPD said the teen operating the moped swerved to avoid the open driver’s side door of the parked SUV. Police said that maneuver caused the rider to lose control of the bike.
After the impact, the passenger fell off the moped and made contact with a truck traveling southbound on 162nd Street, police said.
Who was hurt in the crash?
Police said the 13-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries. The 13-year-old who was driving was taken to a hospital.
No additional details about their identities were released in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
What did witnesses see at the scene?
Shop owner Joe Mah said he saw the aftermath and was shaken by what he found. He described seeing the bike lying under the truck and said the scene left him feeling sad.
Parents and neighbors in the area said the crash, which happened in front of several businesses, was upsetting and reinforced how dangerous city streets can be for children and families.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that no arrests have been made. Authorities have not said whether any charges are under consideration.
The video evidence and witness accounts are expected to remain part of the review as investigators work to reconstruct the sequence of events.
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