A city Department of Transportation(DOT) dump truck driver fatally struck a 31-year-old woman while making a right turn in Kew Gardens, Queens on Tuesday afternoon, the NYPD confirmed.
The victim, identified by police as Nilufar Komilova, was crossing at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard at 4:54 p.m. when the driver of a 2017 Mack truck, heading east on Metropolitan Avenue, turned southbound onto Lefferts Boulevard and hit her. The incident falls within the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct.
Komilova was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said she suffered severe head and torso injuries. She was 31 years old.
No arrests after the fatal turn
The 48-year-old driver remained at the scene following the collision. The NYPD did not arrest him or anyone else in connection with the incident. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to examine the circumstances of the crash.
Crashmapper data shows one other crash resulting in an injury at the same intersection over the past year.
The city cited progress as the investigation opened
The DOT acknowledged the crash in a statement, expressing condolences to Komilova’s family and saying the circumstances of the collision are under investigation. A DOT spokesperson said the agency is committed to understanding what happened and determining whether additional steps can be taken to prevent future crashes.
The agency pointed to its Vision Zero Fleet Safety Plan, launched in 2017, noting that crashes and injuries involving city vehicles have fallen more than 20% since the program began. Officials credited that decline to safety upgrades across the city’s fleet, including the installation of speed-limiter devices and surround camera systems on its vehicles.
A familiar intersection and a broader question
The death of Nilufar Komilova adds to a recurring conversation in New York City about the safety of city-operated vehicles on streets shared with pedestrians. Despite the documented reduction in crash rates under Vision Zero, incidents involving DOT vehicles continue to draw scrutiny, particularly when they occur at intersections with prior crash histories.
The Collision Investigation Squad’s review will determine whether any charges follow. As of Tuesday evening, the case remained open and the driver faced no criminal or civil charges.
