Shortly before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 10-year-old Srijan Panthi and his 40-year-old mother, Mina Panthi, were struck by a Department of Sanitation truck on their walk to school. The two were taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition where the boy tragically died from his injuries. Police say investigations are underway.
Mina and Srijan were walking early in the morning when the truck struck them near 57th Avenue and 97th Street in Corona. The sanitation truck was exiting a driveway and turning right onto 57th Avenue when it hit the pair, officials say.
Witnesses to this horrific event attempted to help the mother and child before police arrived. One witness, Prakash Tuldar, a neighborhood mother, shares “When I came outside with my granddaughter, we saw the two people lying down in the road. They were going to school in the morning. It was still dark. It’s very scary.”
The garbage truck driver remained at the scene following the accident. No arrests have been made yet as police continue to investigate. Mayor de Blasio said the driver has been suspended pending investigation results, according to NBC News 4.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Sanitation told reporters “We take this tragedy extremely seriously and the collision is currently under investigation.”
Our hearts are with the victims’ loved ones after this horrible accident.
Sadly, pedestrian accidents continue to be a major issue in New York City as we go into the new year. The NYC Vision Zero Action Plan, initiated by Mayor de Blasio in 2014, aims to improve pedestrian safety for New Yorkers. Reportedly, an average of 4,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured and 200 killed annually in traffic accidents. The Vision Zero Plan attempts to improve pedestrian safety through:
- Expanded traffic law enforcement
- Improved Street designs & configurations
- Public outreach and communication
- Increased driver penalties for dangerous driving
Every child should be able to safely travel to and from school in New York City. We hope that the investigation into this incident brings light to the situation and leads to further improvement to pedestrian safety.
The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have extensive experience in helping pedestrians retain legal compensation for their damages. Our lawyers fight tirelessly to find justice for those who have fallen victim to another party’s negligence.
Notable results include:
- $110,174,972 verdict for a cyclist that was tragically paralyzed after being struck by a falling railroad tie in Brooklyn
- $32,756,156 verdict for a pedestrian who was suddenly struck by a drug-impaired driver while attempting to help victims of a separate accident
- $13,500,000 settlement for a 24-year-old pedestrian who suffered catastrophic injuries after she was hit by a company-owned car while walking in Suffolk County.
If you or someone you know has been severely injured in an accident, call the Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy for a free, no-obligation legal consultation at 212-736-5300 or fill out our contact form online.