Police: Child struck by driver, killed in Queens
NEW YORK -- A little girl was struck and killed by the driver of an SUV in Astoria, Queens, on Friday.
Residents say the intersection where the accident happened is dangerous.
"I heard a lot of screams," said witness A.J. Riccia.
Riccia says what she heard was awful.
"Something you never wanna hear, like, just so many blood-curdling screams," she said.
"I came out. I heard the screaming, yelling," said a neighbor named Kelly, who lives on the corner.
She says in all her years, she's never seen anything like this.
"I saw the baby laying in the street. It was scary. What can I say? And her mother was, like, on the top screaming, yelling," she said.
Watch Dick Brennan's report
It happened just before 6 p.m. at the corner of 45th Street and Newtown Road.
Police say the driver of a white Ford Explorer was traveling east on Newtown Road and failed to completely stop at a stop sign. She then allegedly struck a child who was crossing the street.
The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where she died. She has been identified as 7-year-old Naadhun Dolma.
"It's just horrible. We can't believe what happened," witness Steven Rubio said.
He says the scene was heartbreaking.
"It's a very tragic situation," he said.
Neighbors say there is a lot of traffic on the block and they've seen accidents before.
"Bikers have almost been hit. I've seen firsthand across years being here that it's a serious problem that's gotta be addressed," said a neighbor named James.
James has lived in the neighborhood for seven years and says speeding is a problem.
"Cars on this street go well above the city ordinance of 25 miles an hour. Cars also too habitually, they never stop here at the stop sign. Many cars just blow right through here," he said.
Police say the driver remained on the scene, and no charges have been filed.