A 42-year-old Far Rockaway man died Wednesday at Jamaica Hospital, days after police say he was hit by an SUV while stepping into traffic on Beach Channel Drive. The victim, identified as George Robinson, was struck on June 7 near Horton Avenue by a 2017 Kia Sorento. He suffered a head injury and was taken by EMS to Jamaica Hospital, where he later died. The driver, a 32-year-old man, stayed at the scene and was not arrested, according to police.
Crash details
According to the New York Daily News, Robinson stepped into the westbound lane of Beach Channel Drive on June 7 when the westbound SUV struck him. EMS rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, where police say he died Wednesday from his head injury. The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is leading the case, and investigators say the driver remained at the scene and was not taken into custody.
A corridor long flagged for danger
Beach Channel Drive has been on the city’s radar for years as part of Vision Zero and NYC Department of Transportation planning for downtown Far Rockaway. Intersections along the busy corridor have been flagged as priority locations for reconstruction and pedestrian-safety upgrades. DOT planning documents outline streetscape and intersection projects that aim to improve crosswalks and cut down on hazardous turning movements along the route, changes that safety advocates say are crucial if the city wants to reduce the pattern of serious crashes. Those project pages place this stretch squarely on lists of streets targeted for safety investments.
Investigation and what comes next
The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing factors such as how Robinson entered the roadway, available sight lines and the vehicle’s speed. Police have not announced any charges. Reporting and advocacy outlets such as Streetsblog have chronicled other serious collisions in the Rockaways, which residents and traffic-safety groups say highlight the need for faster DOT action on known trouble spots. For now, investigators are still working through evidence and witness statements as the case moves forward.
