Fatal Traffic Incidents In Queens Spark Response From Pols

ASTORIA, QUEENS — After three fatal traffic incidents this year left the Astoria community mourning, Queens lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Transportation to expedite a safety plan to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the neighborhood.

"This is not a problem arising from just one or two dangerous intersections, but rather an entire area whose transportation infrastructure is unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians," reads a letter sent to Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez on Friday.

Council Member Tiffany Caban, Council Member Julie Won, State Senator Michael Gianaris, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and Assembly Zohran Mamdani signed the letter.

Astoria is contending with a series of pedestrian and cyclist-related incidents this year, with the community mourning the deaths of three people in the last four months.

Tamara Kao, 62, was killed while riding a Citibike on 24th Avenue and 29th Street after she was hit by a truck driver in January. Seven-year-old Dolma Naadhun was fatally struck by a driver at an intersection in Astoria in February.

A runaway SUV driver struck Jayden McLaurin, 16, while he was riding a Citibike on 21st Avenue and 21st Street earlier this month.

"Nothing can bring back our precious neighbors," reads the letter. "But by joining together on a neighborhood-wide safety plan, we can honor their memories by saving many lives to come."

The demand from lawmakers joins the local push from residents in Astoria looking to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the neighborhood by holding law enforcement accountable.

Meetings at the NYPD's 114th Precinct have recently amassed a crowd of Astoria residents, mostly organizing through Reddit, to demand police adopt a swifter response toward protecting pedestrians and cyclists feeling hostility from drivers in the area.