In a heartrending story, a young boy was hit and killed by an unlicensed driver in a motor vehicle accident in Queens, New York. The driver was making a turn and did not see the youngster until it was too late. He stated that he heard yelling and screaming, and then realized the rear-end of the tractor-trailer he was driving had hit and killed the six-year-old boy. While the tragic vehicle accident could have been avoided had the driver had the proper training, the parents are absolutely distraught. The driver did not express any ownership of responsibility for the death of the young boy.

The boy was only a half block from his school when he was struck and killed. In his school bag, there was a present for his teacher His 8-year-old sister, who was accompanying him to school, witnessed the accident and ran home to get her mother. An assistant principal accompanied the boy in the ambulance to the hospital, where he sadly expired. His mother usually walked the children to school; however, the children wanted to walk to school by themselves. She trusted her two children would be safe. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

This particular corner has a history of being dangerous. This intersection saw the deaths of a 2-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy. Both were also hit and killed at this junction. This intersection has been listed as one of the most dangerous streets by the New York Department of Transportation. Over 125 pedestrians have been killed in Queens by motor vehicle accidents since 2009.

The driver was brought up on charges in the Queens Criminal Court. He has been arraigned and held on a $2,000 bond. An experienced attorney in this type of event would greatly improve the chances of the grieving family in getting a just compensation from the company and individual who caused this accident.

Source:  New York Daily News, “Queens family mourns 8-year-old killed by unlicensed truck driver in Woodside” Alfred Ng, Paddock, Corinne Lestch, Dec. 21, 2013