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Grandmother struck and killed by school bus in Queens
By
Sophia Chang
Published Nov 10, 2023
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Walter Zerla, Getty Images
By
Sophia Chang
Published Nov 10, 2023
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A woman was struck and killed by the driver of a yellow school bus carrying children on Friday morning in Ozone Park, according to police.
Speaking to other media outlets at the scene, family members identified her as 73-year-old Maria Rodriguez, who was struck around 7:25 a.m. Friday as she was walking east across 86th Street near 107th Avenue. The school bus was making a left turn onto the street, the NYPD said.
Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Four students were on the school bus, but did not suffer any physical injuries, police said. The driver of the bus, a 47-year-old woman who was not identified by police, remained at the scene of the accident.
The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad was investigating the accident, police said.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with this pedestrian’s family and community. No students were hurt, and we are working closely with the NYPD on their investigation," said education department spokesperson, Jenna Lyle
The driver of the school bus has been suspended pending the investigation, the education department said, adding that it will provide additional supports to any student who needs it. The department did not answer a question about where the school bus was taking the students.
One neighbor, Jennifer Karim, told Gothamist that Rodriguez was a local grandmother who she’s seen walking with her family.
“Sometimes she's taking her grandkids to school,” Karim said, calling the accident “awful.”
A phone message left for the family of the victim was not immediately returned Friday.
Rodriguez’s death comes two weeks after 7-year-old Kamari Hughes was struck and killed by an NYPD tow truck while on his way to school with his family in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The tow truck driver, 54-year-old Stephanie Sharp, was arrested and charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care.
This article was updated with a statement from a spokesperson from the education department.
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Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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