Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Thackoo Hargobin Killed by School Bus Driver in Queens, No Charges Filed

A man was struck and killed by the driver of a yellow school bus while loading a truck in Queens yesterday.

Thackoo "Tony" Hargobin was struck on Borough Place in Woodside at approximately 8:32 a.m., as he was securing bags of cement to the back of a flatbed, according to reports. He died at the scene. From the Post:

Thackoo Hargobin. Photo: Trinidad Express

John Garuti, 60, who owns the company where the victim was picking up the cement, said Hargobin died quickly and was lying in a pool of blood still holding the strap used to hold down the load.

“He was gone immediately. There were no chest movements ... It’s a terrible shame; he was a nice man. Everybody said he was a nice guy.”

Hargobin, 52, was a grandfather who migrated from Trinidad in 1988, reports said. According to the Trinidad Express, Hargobin's father was killed in a vehicle crash 16 years ago next month. Said Hargobin's brother, Pundit Chaitram Hargobin: "My mother is being monitored because this is such a shock to her. She is not taking this well. None of us expected anything like this to happen."

The Daily News says Hargobin was knocked from the back of his truck. The Post reported that the driver said Hargobin fell off the truck into the path of the bus, a claim disputed by the victim's employer:

"To make a mistake that would cost him his life is very difficult to believe. We’re not talking about someone who drove for one year; this was a guy who was used to driving heavy trucks," said Michael Karantinidis, 55, owner of Hephaistos Building Supply in Astoria, where the victim worked for 23 years.

No charges were filed, according to the News.

This fatal crash occurred in the 114th Precinct. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Deputy Inspector Stephen Cirabisi, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 114th Precinct council meetings happen at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Ricardo's, 21-04 24th Avenue. Call the precinct at 718-626-9327 for information.

The City Council district where Thackoo Hargobin was killed is represented by Peter Vallone. To encourage Vallone to take action to improve street safety in his district and citywide, contact him at 718-274-4500.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

West Side Pols Call on Trump Administration to Stop Illegally Blocking 10th Ave. Bike Lane

The DEA blockade of the 10th Avenue bike lane continues, and local politicians are demanding the federal agency stop denying cyclists safety.

October 1, 2025

When the DOT Takes Your Bike: A Cyclist’s Guide to Getting It Back 

A bike commuter's frustrating journey through New York's bureaucratic maze reveals a hidden problem affecting cyclists citywide. 

October 1, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: This is Your DOT on Drugs Edition

Yes, that's our editor consuming drugs in front of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration office on 10th Avenue to protest the agency's seizure of the bike lane. Plus other news.

October 1, 2025

BIG ZERO: Trump Stiffs MTA in ‘Sanctuary City’ Tantrum

The federal government is denying the MTA tens of millions of dollars in public safety funding over of New York's immigration policies.

September 30, 2025

Gale’s A-Blowin’: Brewer Abandons Daylighting Bill After Push By Parking-First DOT

DOT's anti-daylighting "scare tactics" have peeled off Council Member Gale Brewer, who says the policy will gobble up too many parking spots.

September 30, 2025

DATA: Not Paying Fines? Keep Speeding, Says New York City

It's yet another case of "anything goes" for drivers in Adams's New York.

September 30, 2025
See all posts