A driver struck and killed a pedestrian crossing 11th Street at 38th Avenue in Long Island City early Monday, then drove off without stopping, according to police. The victim was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died.
According to the New York Daily News, police say the driver pulled a red SUV out of a parking space on 38th Avenue, turned left onto 11th Street, and struck the pedestrian before fleeing the scene. The outlet identified the victim as 71-year-old Aftab Alam, who police said lived in Kew Gardens, and reported that medics rushed him to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he died.
A separate account from QNS describes the same crash differently. The Queens outlet reported that he was crossing the street at 38th Avenue and 11th Street at approximately 12:10 a.m. on Nov. 2. QNS also reported that the vehicle involved was unidentified, with a law enforcement source saying the driver sped away from the scene, and said the victim's identity was being withheld pending proper family notification.
Conflicting Details, Same Outcome
The two outlets' reporting diverges on key points: the Daily News says the victim was a 71-year-old man named Aftab Alam struck by a red SUV, while QNS says the vehicle was unidentified at the time of its report. QNS also noted the victim's identity was being withheld, in contrast to the Daily News's identification of him. The Daily News reported that the crash happened at 11th Street and 38th Avenue and that the driver did not stay at the scene.
QNS reported that EMS transported the victim to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was initially listed in stable condition before he succumbed to his injuries. As for what comes next in the investigation, the Daily News reported that police said it remains unclear whether the driver knew he had hit someone. Both outlets confirm that no arrests have been made and that the investigation is ongoing.
A Citywide Push to Cut Traffic Deaths
The crash comes amid the city's broader Vision Zero push to reduce traffic fatalities. The NYC Department of Transportation announced that Queens experienced a 23 percent decline in traffic deaths, from 74 in 2024 to 57 in 2025. A separate DOT announcement had earlier cited a different set of figures, stating that Queens traffic deaths declined from 39 in 2024 to 24 in 2025.
The NYPD maintains a Vision Zero Crash and Interventions Map, which the department describes as an interactive tool that shows detailed monthly information on traffic injury and fatality crashes citywide and highlights the city's safety response efforts, according to the NYPD. No arrests have been announced in the Long Island City case, and the investigation remains open.
