Officials: Pedestrian Struck, Killed By MTA Bus In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A woman was struck and killed by an MTA bus Monday evening in Queens, EMS officials have confirmed -- the latest tragic example of New York City's growing problem with pedestrian fatalities.
The woman was hit by the front of a Q53 bus around 6 p.m. at 74th Street and Broadway in Elmhurst, according to the MTA.
Police said the woman was crossing from west to east on Broadway when she was struck by the bus, which was making a right turn to go south on Broadway. The bus driver remained at the scene.
There were 30 passengers aboard the bus at the time, but no other injuries were reported.
It was the second pedestrian death of the day. Earlier, a 73-year-old man was killed by a backhoe that was backing up while clearing snow in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
The soaring number of pedestrian fatalities has been a top concern for new Mayor Bill de Blasio. Last month, he announced his "Vision Zero" initiative, which created a task force that will develop strategies aimed at eliminating deadly traffic accidents.
The city also has been using traffic cameras to issue more tickets and assigning more police officers to strictly enforce driver hazards to pedestrian safety -- such as using cellphones while driving and ignoring signs or lights -- while planning to expand the number of 20-mph zones in the five boroughs.
On Jan. 19, an MTA bus also struck and killed a 45-year-old bicyclist in Harlem, police said.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
