Hon Cuong Quach Killed in Astoria Pedestrian Accident
A 73-year-old driver reportedly suffered an emergency before striking the Brooklyn man
Hon Cuong Quach, 59, of Brooklyn, was killed in a pedestrian accident at 47th Street and 25th Avenue in Astoria on Wednesday, according to the New York Police Department.
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is handling the ongoing inquiry. No arrests have been made.
A westbound 2003 Honda Civic struck the man before crashing into two unoccupied BMW SUVs parked near the intersection. The 73-year-old driver remained at the scene. Investigators told the family the driver suffered a diabetic attack before losing control.
Paramedics rushed Quach to Elmhurst Hospital. He went into cardiac arrest during resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead.
Quach was his family's sole provider. His son, Eric Quach, launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral and burial expenses.
Families navigating the sudden loss of a loved one, especially a primary provider, face a devastating and complex path forward. While the community rallies to support the Quach family through fundraising efforts, establishing liability in medical emergency cases requires careful legal scrutiny.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, said, "Intersections often become dangerous when drivers ignore signals, accelerate through turns, or fail to monitor crosswalk activity. Pedestrians face catastrophic risks in those moments, especially with SUVs or trucks that limit sightlines."
An attorney can preserve electronic evidence, review toxicology findings, and coordinate reconstruction specialists.
Why did the Honda Civic lose control on 25th Avenue?
Preliminary reports indicate the driver experienced a diabetic episode before leaving the travel lane. In pedestrian accidents such as this, crash reconstructionists must determine if the medical emergency was truly sudden and unforeseeable or if the driver had a known condition that was poorly managed. Investigators will review the driver's medical history, prescription records, and physician warnings to evaluate the affirmative defense.
How do investigators evaluate the Astoria crash scene?
Detectives will examine the vehicle's trajectory and the point of impact.
According to Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal, "Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must be thoroughly examined. These procedures are necessary for helping those who have lost a loved one receive the justice that they deserve."
U.S. drivers struck and killed an estimated 7,148 pedestrians in 2024 — a slight 4.3% decline from 2023, but still nearly 20% higher than 2016 levels. This underscores the persistent and extreme vulnerability of people on foot, especially in crashes involving SUVs, pickups, and nighttime conditions, according to the GHSA.
If your loved one has been killed in a pedestrian accident, please contact our National Legal Analyst Bond of Bond Legal today for a no-cost analytical consultation.
New York wrongful death statute
Under N.Y. EPTL § 5-4.1, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. New York applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of parental guidance, funeral expenses, and the decedent's conscious pain and suffering.