MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY – A tragic accident unfolded in Middle Village, Queens, on Saturday afternoon when a cyclist was fatally struck by a fire truck responding to an emergency call. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. as the fire truck from Rescue Company Four made a right turn onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street, according to police reports.
Eyewitness Thomas Soltis, who was nearby on his motorcycle, described the harrowing scene. “When the light changed, the cyclist began to cross, and that’s when it happened,” he recalled, visibly shaken. “I heard a terrible sound, like bones breaking, and my friend immediately asked, ‘Where’s the kid?'”
Another witness, a woman seated on a bench with her mother, observed the immediate aftermath. She noted the firefighters’ shocked reactions, with one appearing so distressed that he nearly fainted. “They were visibly in shock, repeating ‘Oh my God’ as they exited the vehicle,” she said.
The usually serene neighborhood, which was bustling with locals enjoying a warm holiday weekend at nearby Juniper Valley Park, was suddenly gripped by the somber scene. Residents stood silently, watching as first responders conducted their investigation late into the evening.
“This is something I’ve never seen before, especially on Easter,” a local resident remarked. “It’s just not right.”
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is currently leading the probe into the incident, aiming to uncover the sequence of events that led to the cyclist’s death.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the loss, hoping for answers and seeking solace in the wake of this unexpected tragedy.