Search On For Driver Who Left Man Dead In Queens Hit-And-Run
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police late Thursday continued to search for a driver responsible for a deadly hit-and-run in Astoria, Queens.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, the victim was struck as he tried to cross a street that residents said is dangerous.
The accident happened just before 11 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of 30th Road and 21st Street in Astoria.
Police said a 45-year-old man was in the roadway on 21st Street when he was hit by a southbound dark-colored sedan. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
Emergency responders found the man lying in the road with severe trauma. He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.
Late Thursday afternoon, detectives were going to each corner and checking every building – and every camera – in their effort to track down the offending driver, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"People just speed up and down here all the time," said Jennifer Patton of Astoria.
Patton and other residents said 21st Street at 30th Road can turn into a raceway.
"Sometimes cars come flying down here," said resident Pat Quigley. "People have been trying to get a traffic light over here."
"There's no speed limits and everything is just getting pretty out of hand over here," said another resident.
"It's pretty fast moving traffic, most people are usually driving over the speed limit," resident Milan Shah said.
And for pedestrians, getting across the intersection, especially at night, is a treacherous proposition.
"Oh, I never cross there," Patton said.
It is a known danger, especially because there is no traffic light, stop sign or crosswalk – in sum, no reason for drivers to slow down.
"If they're coming at a speed and can't handle it, obviously they're going to hit the person," a resident said.
Police late Thursday were urging witnesses to come forward, as residents hoped for the city to do more to protect them.
"There needs to be something to help with the flow of traffic a light, a stop sign, something that would help," Patton said.
Residents said the city has installed more lights along 21st Street, but clearly not at 30th Road. They hoped the accident would cause that to change.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
