The body of a 59-year-old Ozone Park resident, Fransisco Comacho, lies at the intersection of Cross Bay Blvd. near Albert Road after he was struck by a car on Monday evening. Forum Newsgroup photos by Rich York and Patricia Adams.
An Ozone Park man was killed on Monday night after he was struck by a car on Crossbay Boulevard.
Francisco Camacho, 59, of Tahoe Street stepped out into the street somewhere after 8 p.m, preparing to cross the boulevard near the busy strip of stores that includes Animal Pantry and a 24-hour convenience store and laundromat off Albert Road.
As he neared the center of the road, Camacho was struck by a late model BMW. He was flung into the air , and landed on the passenger side windshield of the car, shattering it upon impact.
“It all happended so quickly,” said Jonathan Mazzolla. “I was coming out of the yogurt store and just happened to look up. It was horrible.” Mazzolla said that Camacho rolled off the car and landed near the intersection about 40-50 feet from initial impact.
The driver of the car told police at the scene that he never even saw Camacho until he hit the windshield.
Lucille Reyes, who was walking her dog in the nearby field described the driver as hysterical. “The woman who hit him was just screaming and crying. She looked like she was going to pass out,” said Reyes. “I’m living here for twenty years and everytime this happens, it just reminds you of the time
The late model BMW sustained a shattered window and denting to the front end of the car from the impact.
before. This is a horrible section of Cross Bay.”
And Reyes is not the only one who shook their heads in agreement that the stretch of Cross Bay Boulevard is indeed a very dangerous crossing. Residents and passersby who gathered at the scene were in agreement about the number of accidents at the location over the years.
“Everytime you see someone get killed like this you hope you’ll never see it again,” said a shaken Reyes. “And then it happens and you’re just thankful it’s not your family.”
The driver was not charged and was taken to Jamaica Hospital for observation. A passenger in the car was not injured.
By Patricia Adams
