Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Queens Boulevard Hit-and-Run: Five Injured
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, a five people were injured on Queens Boulevard at 47th Street when a Jeep Cherokee slammed into a Honda. The Jeep, which witnesses describe as trying to beat a red light, lost control and hit the Honda. The Honda, which had been making a turn onto Queens Boulevard, was crushed from the impact and then "plowed up onto the crowded sidewalk, pinning a 16-year-old boy against a lamppost."
Both legs of the boy, Tonpo Dorjee, who had only been in the U.S. a week, were crushed. His mother, who was also injured during the crash, told WNBC that she had been telling him how to cross the street, "I was telling him, 'This is a very dangerous place. You always look at the light. You just don't jump out. Just wait a few seconds then you go.' Two minutes later, this happens." The Daily News reports that while Tonpo's right leg was crushed, "it looked like doctors would be able to save it." Police are still looking for the driver of the Jeep Cherokee, which has Florida plates (W41BZU) and is missing a bumper.
Queens Boulevard is known as the "Boulevard of Death," there were 72 deaths between 1993 and 2000, and 12 deaths since 2001. City Councilman Eric Gioia asked that the Department of Transportation study Queens Boulevard; in fact, the DOT has examined it before. But after a fatal hit-and-run on Queens Boulevard last fall, one Gothamist reader commented:
like reality, i live a few blocks from the scene of the hit and run. there seems to be many reasons why people are struck by cars on queens blvd. one reason is the timing of traffic lights. whereas lexington ave has lights timed so that drivers drive at a steady and safe speed, queens blvd does not have any kind of pattern. you can be sitting in front of a red light and the next light can be green. then when your light turns green, the next light immediately turns red. frustrated drivers try to race through the yellows or run through the reds just to avoid this traffic (mis)pattern. you see it all the time.
Some believe that Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn are new Boulevards of Death; Houston Street is also another dangerous road.
Tagged
boulevard of death
bronx
brooklyn
city
City Councilman
City Councilman Eric Gioia
crash
daily news
death
department of transportation
dot
Eastern Parkway
florida
gothamist
grand concourse
hit and run
houston
houston street
Jeep Cherokee
news
News: NYC
people
police
queens
queens boulevard
race
the daily news
traffic
transportation
wnbc
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .