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

Cops Hunting BMW Driver Who Killed Pedestrian In Astoria Hit-And-Run

A driver who fled the scene of a crash on foot remains at-large hours after striking and killing a pedestrian in Astoria, Queens, cops said.

A driver who fled the scene of a crash on foot remains at-large hours after striking and killing a pedestrian in Queens, cops said.

The pedestrian was struck and killed by the driver of a white BMW just after 4 a.m. on Friday morning — at least the third pedestrian killed on city streets in a two-day period.

Police said the BMW was headed east on Astoria Boulevard South before striking the pedestrian at Steinway Street. The alleged killer driver was last seen fleeing on foot south on Steinway. The pedestrian, who has not yet been identified to the press, died later at Elmhurst Hospital.

Friday morning's hit-and-run came amid a sea of carnage that cost multiple pedestrian lives in the last two days.

On Thursday morning, 68-year-old Aurora Soto was run over and killed by the driver of a Jeep Cherokee on Broadway in Brooklyn. And just hours after the Astoria hit-and-run, crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa was killed by the driver of a dump truck at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard.

The unidentified pedestrian and Naprawa were the 72nd and 73rd pedestrians killed on city streets this year, according to data kept by the Department of Transportation.

Chart: DOT

Earlier this week, New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi told reporters that city is "on track for having the lowest pedestrian deaths in this city on record" — while blaming the fact that 26 cyclists have been killed in the city in 2023 on the types of bikes those cyclist use.

Additional reporting by David Meyer

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Cough, Cough: Adams Administration Hands Largest Ever Idling Law Exemption to NJ Charter Bus Company

Academy Bus Lines requested the exemption — the largest in DEP's history — after receiving more than $500,000 in idling violations. But there is some good news.

December 19, 2025

Hochul Will Veto Controversial Bill Mandating Two Operators on Most Subway Trains

The veto from Hochul came over the concerns of organized labor who saw the legislation as a way to make subway travel safer.

December 19, 2025

Pedestrian Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver on Crowded Lower East Side Street

The driver kept going. EMTs took the badly injured woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she died.

December 19, 2025

NJ Legislature Poised to Pass Victim-Blaming E-Bike Restrictions

An e-bike registration bill is speeding through the New Jersey Legislature after several crashes in which drivers killed young cyclists.

December 19, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Streets Master Plan Edition

Speaker Adrienne Adams explains why she didn't bother holding Mayor Adams accountable for following the law. Plus other news.

December 19, 2025

Streetsblog’s ‘Car-Free Carolers’ Bring the Joy, Mirth and Ho-Ho-Hope to this Holiday Season

Streetsblog's singers are back, belting out their parody classics to make a serious point: New York's roadways don't have to be dangerous places for kids and lungs, but can be joyous spaces for people to walk around, shop, eat or just ... hang out.

December 18, 2025
See all posts