A 13-year-old boy died and another was hospitalized after the motorized scooter they were riding collided with an open car door and was then struck by a delivery truck in Queens, New York. The incident occurred around 11:36 a.m. on Monday on 162nd Street in Flushing.
Video footage shows a Honda Pilot parking on the street. Approximately 30 seconds later, a scooter carrying two 13-year-old boys approached and crashed into the driver's side door of the parked SUV, which had just been opened. The impact caused both boys to be thrown from the scooter and under the rear wheels of a passing delivery truck.
The truck rolled over the scooter. Witnesses described hearing a scream and seeing a bystander attempt chest compressions on the motionless passenger. The teen driver of the scooter was able to extricate himself from beneath the truck and appeared to be in shock.
A local business owner stated, "The speed of the moped was faster than the truck. The real murderer was the one who gave the kids the moped. They’re both 13. You know they didn’t buy that. They don’t have licenses."
Both teenagers were transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The passenger was pronounced dead due to his injuries, while the driver was reported to be in stable condition. The witness also suggested the SUV driver bore some responsibility for opening the door into traffic but emphasized the truck driver's lack of fault, calling them "so innocent."
"It is tough, but we are adults. We should look before we open the door in a tight traffic situation like this. It is summertime and there is no school," the witness added.
The delivery truck driver, who was reportedly searching for parking at the time of the incident, remained at the scene until police arrived. No arrests have been made, and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.