A three-year old was killed in a tragic auto accident on October 7th at the corner of Main Street and Cherry Avenue in Flushing Queens. Little Allison Liao was crossing the street with her grandmother when she was struck by a Nissan SUV as it made the left turn onto Main Street. Allison was knocked to the ground and the SUV wasn’t able to stop in time. It rolled over her, killing her instantly.
Two good Samaritans, including a 34-year old Army veteran, rushed to the aid of Allison’s grandmother, who was cradling the little girl’s body, and began CPR but when rescue workers arrived to take the little girl to the hospital she was already gone.
The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene of the accident and called 911 on his cellphone. When police arrived, they interviewed the man and performed a standard breathalyzer test though there has been no further indication that the man was in any way incapacitated.
Automobile accidents like this happen every day in New York City. In fact, according to a 2007 report compiled by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, children younger than twelve years old are at higher risk than any other population in NYC. In the five years between 2007 and 2002 60 children were struck and killed by automobiles on New York City streets and car parks. That’s in addition to the hundreds who were killed or injured while passengers in auto collisions. While that number is still far too high, it’s actually lower than the national average.
Additionally, the study found that light trucks and SUVs, such as the Nissan Murano in this tragic case, caused the overwhelming majority of deaths in this age group. Also, Little Allison was struck and killed at roughly 5:30 PM. According to the Dept. of Health study, that’s prime time for youth-related auto accidents in New York City. In fact, over 46% of fatal auto accidents involving children occur in the spring and summer months between 5 PM and 11 PM. And the borough in which she lived, Queens, shares the highest rates of auto accident deaths with Brooklyn.
If you or a loved one has experienced the loss of a child or if your child has been injured in any type of car crash, contact a New York City auto accident attorney as soon as possible. Let the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel and the compassionate and caring investigators and attorneys help you through this trying time. Call or 212-385-1122 for a free consultation to learn your rights.