Young Boy Struck And Killed By Dump Truck In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A boy died Friday morning after being struck by a dump truck in Queens.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. at 80th Street and Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa Reports
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Though initial reports indicated the boy was 13 years old, police later said he was 11. After searching through the boy's backpack they identified him as Miguel Torres, CBS 2's Drew Levinson reported.
"He loved everything and everybody, no matter who it was," said Lazaro Zubizarreta, the boy's uncle. "No matter who it was ... He was a good child."
Police found the driver of the white 1998 Mack truck, which may have been towing a green generator, Friday afternoon in Brooklyn. No criminality is suspected in the incident.
Police said the driver may not have even known that he hit anyone since the boy was struck by the rear wheels of the truck, CBS 2's Levinson reported.
Witnesses described a gruesome and bloody scene.
"His shoes were off so whatever hit him, hit him hard," witness Olga Gonzalez told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa. "I thought it was fake, but it was real. I started crying. It was a little boy."
"You know, I didn't hear any squealing tires, anything. I was reading a paper and then I just looked up and a little boy was just laying there," Nicole Dines, who was down the block, told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.
"And I saw a body laying there and as a mom, you know, you, right away it touches your heart," said Carmen Perez, who came upon the scene just after the incident.
Perez said residents know this part of Jackson Heights is a high-traffic area that's often dangerous for pedestrians.
"Anyone that drives knows that they can come close to almost hitting someone because it is not necessarily your fault but maybe they cross without looking and as a pedestrian sometimes we are in a rush. I, myself, I've done it. I just take a chance. It's a real wake-up call," Perez said.
A wake-up call that ended in a nightmare for one boy's family.
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