Jazmine Marin, 13, was on her way to school in Ozone Park
Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
Jazmine Marin was killed Monday morning as she traversed Cross Bay Boulevard near 149th Avenue on her way to school.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A 13-year-old girl on Monday was struck by a car and killed and a friend seriously injured as they crossed Cross Bay Boulevard near a busy Ozone Park intersection on their way to school, according to the NYPD and published reports.
Jazmine “Jazz” Marin and her friend tried to traverse the thoroughfare near 149th Avenue shortly before 7 a.m. when a vehicle traveling southbound on Cross Bay hit both girls. The driver remained at the scene as Jazmine and her classmate were rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Jazmine succumbed to massive head trauma. Her friend suffered an unspecified leg injury. They were on their way to MS 202 on Lafayette Street.
The driver, whom authorities declined to identify, did not sustain any injuries and reportedly is not expected to face charges.
Later on Monday, friends of the Marin family set up the Jazmine Marin Memorial Fund on the crowd-sourcing site GoFundMe.com “to help with the expenses [Jazmine’s father] Geo is now forced to face.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com/jazmine-marin-burial-fund-2vu8v76k.
The area in which the accident took place is among the city’s “Priority Corridors” – stretches of roadways that have historically had high rates of death and severe injury to pedestrians.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred today in Ozone Park which claimed the life of one young girl and injured another. As the father of two young girls myself, I can only imagine the pain these families are feeling, and my thoughts and prayers are with them as they cope with this horrific incident,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said on Monday. “Today’s accident unfortunately highlights a major issue that parents and families in Ozone Park have been fighting against for months – students crossing a major roadway such as Cross Bay Boulevard. The idea of having young students cross this roadway has been a serious safety concern. As we offer our support to the families of these young girls, I will continue to advocate for the safety of the students to always come first and work toward safer school corridors by promoting the need for additional crossing guards, proper crosswalks and appropriate zoning for local schools.”
