Queens Mother Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver While Crossing Street With Family
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A Queens mother is in critical condition after being struck by a hit-and-run driver just steps from her home.
Family members identified the victim as 47-year-old Nabeela Aziz. She was struck by a white SUV, believed to be a Dodge, around 11 p.m. Tuesday near 64th Avenue and 223rd Place in Bayside.
"My sister and dad and my mom were walking on that crosswalk. They say that a white Jeep was turning, and it was turning at like 40 to 50 miles per hour. It hit my mom, and she flew," her son, Tamoor Tariq, told CBS2.
Police are looking for a driver in a white SUV they say hit a 47 year old mother in Bayside, Queens and sped off. The victim has been identified by family as Nabeela Aziz. Her son says she is in critical condition at the hospital. The latest on @CBSNewYork this morning. pic.twitter.com/I7vv193PJn
— Jenna DeAngelis (@jennamdeangelis) June 12, 2019
Aziz's husband chased after the SUV, but the driver allegedly sped off.
"She had internal head bleeding. The doctor said that the bleeding has stopped for now, but there is obviously some brain damage, because she was bleeding," Tariq said. "For now, they say she's pretty good for what happened, for what took place."
Police stepped up patrols and speed enforcement near the intersection Wednesday. The busy intersection only has one stop sign, and there isn't one where the SUV was turning.
"These people in this neighborhood do not know what a stop sign is. They go past the stop sign and do not stop, and if nobody's there, they just keep on going," said Butch Velez, who lives next door to Aziz.
"Terrible, terrible. Sometimes I walk my granddaughter and I have to run across the street to get out of the way of these cars," neighbor Joann Ibaldi added.
Neighbors said they want to see changes.
"A stop sign would be great on both sides here, and also maybe a speed gun," said neighbor Eddie Ocasio.
"They should put a speed bump or a light for the people, because it's very bad around here," neighbor Halina Mihalatos.
As for Tariq, he hopes whoever hit his mother will face justice.
"I hope they really catch this person, whoever it is. Because the way I feel right now about the person – it's pretty inhumane," Tariq said. "He hit my mom and just ran off without even checking if she's fine or not. Didn't even call the police, he just ran away. So I really do hope they catch him."