NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A man is dead and a teenager is fighting for her life after the car they were riding in collided with a tractor-trailer Saturday morning in Long Island City, Queens.
Police said the car was traveling on Skillman Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. when the driver is believed to have run a red light and T-boned the tractor-trailer driving on Queens Boulevard.
“It’s a shame they had to go like that,” Long Island City resident Joel Morel told CBS2’s Ali Bauman.
The driver of the car, identified as 28-year-old Steven Narvaez, of Woodside, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a 17-year-old girl, was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition.
The truck driver was not hurt and remained on the scene for several hours and took what appeared to be a field sobriety test.
He did not wish to talk on camera following the accident.
Many locals say the intersection is notorious for reckless driving.
“They drive crazy around here, they really, really do,” Long Island City resident Valerie Ziel said. “Even though there are signs with the speed limit they don’t pay attention.”
“Sometimes you feel scared you’re going to get run over by one of these cars,” resident Olga Calderon said.
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash.
