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

MORE CARNAGE: Motorist Kills Man on Long Island Expressway in Queens

File photo: Dave Colon

A motorist struck and killed a 52-year-old man who was fixing a flat tire on his vehicle on the shoulder of the Long Island Expressway in Queens early Monday morning, police said.

The driver of a Tesla hit Jean Louis of Cambria Heights as he worked on the disabled vehicle shortly after midnight next to the LIE's westbound lane near Horace Harding Expressway and Main Street in Flushing in the 109th Precinct, according to the cops.

Louis was found with severe body trauma and was transported to New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Queens, where he died.

The Tesla driver, who the police did not identify, remained on the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

The 109th Precinct is a notorious car sewer crisscrossed with dangerous roads. Just in the last two years (June 2019 to June 2021), it has seen 14 traffic fatalities, including 7  pedestrians, 5 motorists and 2 cyclists, and 2013 traffic injuries, from 7,109 crashes, or about 10 crashes a day, according to crashmapper.org.

Traffic violence is turning 2021 into an exceptionally bloody year — the deadliest for such fatalities since Mayor de Blasio took office. According to the Department of Transportation, as of July 25, at least 142 people have died because of motorists on city streets so far this year. It’s the most year-to-date fatalities since 2013 — before de Blasio started the Vision Zero program aimed at eliminating road deaths, as some cities have around the globe.

Annual traffic fatality figures as of 7/25/01. All numbers are preliminary and are reconciled throughout the year. “Other motorized” involve electric vehicles without pedals. Source: DOT
Annual traffic fatality figures as of 7/25/01. All numbers are preliminary and are reconciled throughout the year. “Other motorized” involve electric vehicles without pedals. Source: DOT
Annual traffic fatality figures as of 7/25/01. All numbers are preliminary and are reconciled throughout the year. “Other motorized” involve electric vehicles without pedals. Source: DOT

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

How the Sausage Gets Made: Republicans Force Meaningless Vote on Congestion Pricing Repeal

... And will the Idaho Stop become a victim of the current bikelash? It's all in today's Capitol Idea by Amy Sohn.

May 13, 2025

‘Chaos’ Candidate? DoorDash Gave $1M to Super PAC Backing Cuomo, Who Decries Delivery Workers

Cuomo says he'll fix the chaos on the Streets by reining in app companies, but DoorDash just donated $1 million to help him win.

May 13, 2025

The Dave Colon Challenge: Whitney Tilson Is Pro-Bike, Pro-Business And Pro-Police

The political novice has 30 years experience cycling in the city but doesn't have a political record to help predict what his safe streets governance strategy would be.

May 13, 2025

Can New York City Fix Its Deadly ‘Conduit’ to JFK Airport?

The extra-wide medians on Conduit could fit 46 football fields, which combined with extra-wide travel lanes makes the strip prone to speeding and crashes.

May 13, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Bike Your Mayor to Work Day

It's the final day of our mayoral questionnaire week. Plus other news from a busy day!

May 13, 2025
See all posts