The 53-year-old driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in Woodhaven remained at the scene of the accident last week, and police said he was not issued any summonses. Photo by Richard York
A 26-year-old pedestrian was struck by a truck and killed while crossing Atlantic Avenue and 85th Street in Woodhaven last week, according to police.
William Guevara-Delgado, 26, of Woodhaven, died after being hit by a box truck around 3:40 p.m. last Wednesday, the NYPD said. According to police, the 53-year-old driver, who remained at the scene of the accident and was not charged with any criminal wrongdoing, was traveling westbound on Atlantic Avenue when he struck Guevara-Delgado.
The man’s identity was not immediately released because the 26-year-old was not carrying identification at the time of his death.
The accident occurred outside of the city’s newly created “slow zone” on Atlantic Avenue, which mandates that drivers travel at 25 miles per hour. The slow zone was implemented along eight miles of Atlantic Avenue, from Furman Street in Brooklyn Heights to 76th Street in Woodhaven, which reduced the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph as part of a citywide push to dramatically decrease the number of traffic-related fatalities throughout the five boroughs.
Atlantic Avenue was the first of 25 planned arterial slow zones in the city, with city officials saying the corridor has been one of the most dangerous in the city. There have been 25 fatalities, including 13 pedestrians, along the eight-mile stretch between 2008 and 2012, according to city officials. In addition to a decreased speed limit, roads that are designated as slow zones will also land increase police enforcement and temporary speed boards from the city Department of Transportation.
City officials are looking to gain additional input from residents at nine upcoming public workshops on pedestrian and driver safety that will be held across the city. In Queens, there will be a workshop on Wednesday, May 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bohemian Hall, located at 29-19 24th Ave. in Astoria. Another workshop will be held Thursday, May 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center at 153-10 Jamaica Ave.
By Anna Gustafson
A policeman investigates the box truck that hit a pedestrian in Woodhaven last week. Photo by Richard York
A 26-year-old man was killed as he crossed the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 85th Street last Wednesday, according to police. Photo by Richard York
