The intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 62nd Street in Woodside, Queens, became the scene of a tragic accident on the night of March 29. A 19-year-old woman, Nishath Jannath, lost her life after being struck by a private sanitation truck. The driver, Mayra Cruz, was arrested on June 3, more than nine weeks after the incident.
The accident occurred just before midnight as Cruz, a 39-year-old resident of Gates Place in the Bronx, was turning northbound onto 62nd Street from the eastbound lane of Roosevelt Avenue. Jannath was crossing 62nd Street in the northern crosswalk when she was struck by the garbage truck.
The Aftermath of the Accident
Police from the 108th Precinct in Long Island City responded to a 911 call and found Jannath unconscious and unresponsive under the right side of the garbage truck. Emergency Medical Services pronounced her dead at the scene. Cruz remained at the scene and was treated for minor injuries.
Jannath was on her way home from her receptionist job in the Parsons Boulevard parking garage in Jamaica. She had stopped to pick up a birthday cake for her little sister when the tragic accident occurred. The incident happened about a half mile from her home in a rutted crosswalk.
The Arrest and Charges
Cruz was arrested on Wednesday, June 3, pursuant to an ongoing investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad. She was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian resulting in injury and failure to use due care resulting in serious injury. Cruz was issued a desk appearance ticket returnable on June 23.
The Woodside Bangladeshi community and members of Community Board 2 rallied at the intersection on May 15, calling for safety improvements along Roosevelt Avenue. The community’s outcry highlights the need for better safety measures in the area.
The Impact on the Community
The tragic loss of Nishath Jannath has left a profound impact on the Woodside community. The accident has sparked a conversation about pedestrian safety and the need for improved infrastructure. The community’s rally on May 15 underscores their commitment to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to mourn the loss of Jannath and seeks answers to prevent such accidents. The intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 62nd Street remains a focal point for safety concerns and community activism.
