October 23, 2024 QUEENS, New York – A woman riding a bicycle was struck and killed by the hit-and-run driver of a pickup truck occupied by three masked burglary suspects fleeing from a police traffic stop, late Tuesday evening in Astoria, Queens, officials said.
Just before 11 p.m., police responded to a 911 callers report of seeing multiple individuals burglarizing a home on Crescent Street, cops said.
Upon arrival, officers witnessed three masked suspects enter a dark colored pickup truck and attempted a traffic stop. That’s when police say the vehicle took off and a pursuit began.
According to officials, during their attempt to flee, the suspects vehicle struck a 36-year-old woman riding a bicycle near the intersection 37th Street & 34th Avenue. The bicyclist was transported to Elmhurst Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.
The suspected burglary trio that fled from police abandoned the visibly damaged truck less than a mile away near Newtown Road & 46th Street, police said.
No arrests have been made at this time. The license plate on the pickup truck was obstructed and covered with duct tape upon discovery. An investigation is ongoing to determine the validity of the plates or if they are fictitious.
The riders identity has not been released to the public as police officials are attempting to notify the young woman’s family of her death.