An unidentified man was killed after being struck by two vehicles and dragged along the Belt Parkway near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens early Friday, police said.
The victim, believed to be in his 40s and carrying no identification, was crossing the parkway from north to south at 146th Street in Jamaica around 5:45 a.m. when he was hit by a gray 2023 Lincoln SUV driven by a 52-year-old man in the westbound lanes, according to New York Police Department officials. He was then struck by a gray Toyota four-door sedan driven by a 45-year-old man, who dragged the victim roughly 40 feet, authorities said.
A 24-year-old man driving a black 2020 Hyundai four-door sedan struck the Toyota from behind, police said. Officers who responded to a 911 call found the victim lying on the roadway with trauma to his body. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, authorities said.
All three drivers remained at the scene and were cooperating with investigators. Police said the drivers were not immediately expected to face criminal charges. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad and local detectives were on the scene to reconstruct the crash and determine whether additional enforcement or charges were warranted.
The victim had no identification on him, and police said they were working to establish his identity and notify next of kin. The investigation remains active and officials did not immediately release further details about the sequence of events leading up to the collision or whether any witnesses provided additional information to investigators.
The Belt Parkway is a major arterial roadway serving the area around JFK Airport. Early-morning collisions on busy parkways can lead to complex investigations as officers piece together vehicle speeds, sight lines and driver statements. Police routinely examine electronic data, vehicle damage and surveillance footage where available to determine contributing factors.
Authorities asked anyone with information or video of the crash to contact the NYPD. Further updates were expected as the collision unit completed its on-scene work and processed evidence gathered at the location.