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

Happy Bloody New Year: Queens Pedestrian Killed

File photo: Dave Colon

The year 2020 is picking up right where bloody 2019 left off: a Queens pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard, and her killer was not charged.

According to the NYPD, 74-year-old Ok Kang was crossing the deadly roadway near Parsons Boulevard at around 6 p.m. on  New Year’s Day when she was hit by the driver of a 2015 Jeep Cherokee that was traveling westbound at a speed that the police did not release.

Kang was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she died. The driver, 43, remained on the scene and was not charged.

In 2019, New York City roadway deaths increased for the first time in the de Blasio adminstration, rising by nearly 10 percent to 219 deaths.

Queens seniors were particularly susceptible. Drivers are rarely charged, a Streetsblog analysis found.

Last year, Northern Boulevard earned the bitter nickname “The Boulevard of Death” after seven pedestrians had been killed between January, 2017, and September, 2018, including a man who was killed near the same location as Wednesday’s fatal crash.

Since then, at least three more pedestrians have been killed.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Trump’s Penn Station Plan Could Saddle New York Commuters With New Fees

Amtrak's plan to privatize the operation of the massive transit hub could open the door to sticking transit riders with extra fees.

November 7, 2025

Q&A: Will The Bronx’s New Council Member Take On Car Culture?

Union leader Shirley Aldebol took on Republican Kristy Marmorato and won — and now she's ready to fight for better transit and safer streets.

November 7, 2025

Friday Video: The Utopia of London’s Low-Traffic Neighborhoods

Streetsfilms follows an urban planner around the “low-traffic neighborhood” of St. Peter’s in the London borough of Islington.

November 7, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Movie Night Edition

Check out the Bike Film Festival this weekend. Plus other news.

November 7, 2025

SLAUGHTER: Wrong-Way Van Driver Kills Woman in West Village Crosswalk

The driver of a commercial van struck and killed a woman in her 20s as he drove the wrong way on Morton Street.

November 6, 2025

DECISION 2025: Transit Wins Big — Again — Across America

Several candidates who ran on ambitious transportation reform platforms won at the ballot box on Tuesday — but even more communities said yes to supporting transit directly.

November 6, 2025
See all posts