Nishath Jannath Killed in Queens Truck Accident
The fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 62nd Street in Woodside.
Nishath Jannath, 19, of Queens, was killed Sunday night when a private garbage truck hit her as she crossed Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, police said. The crash happened near 62nd Street.
The truck, owned by Royal Waste Services, was eastbound on the road, turning onto northbound 62nd Street, police said. The truck hit Jannath as she walked in the northbound crosswalk. The crash occurred at approximately 11:55 p.m. on March 29.
Paramedics and officers from the 108th Precinct pronounced Jannath dead at the scene.
The driver of the garbage truck, a 38-year-old woman, stayed at the crash site and cooperated with investigators. Medics treated her for minor injuries.
The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the crash. No charges have been filed against the truck driver, and the investigation is ongoing.
Police are investigating factors that led to the collision involving a truck. The New York Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the scene. Investigators are looking at how the turn was made and crosswalk visibility to determine if mechanical failure, blind spots, or driver error were involved in the accident.
Candice Bond, a managing partner at Bond Legal, discussed the responsibilities of commercial fleets. She said that, "Commercial truck fleets are required to perform regular safety inspections on their brakes and tires. When these maintenance schedules are ignored, it can lead to mechanical failures that even the most experienced driver would not be able to stop."
This collision highlights the risks heavy commercial vehicles pose in urban areas like Woodside, where many people walk even late at night.
A criminal investigation is underway. Commercial vehicle operators must meet high safety standards. Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, spoke about maintenance requirements for trucking companies. He said that, "Safety rules require trucking companies to perform regular inspections on things like brake pads and tire pressure. When these maintenance steps are skipped, it can lead to a mechanical failure. Understanding these maintenance logs is a vital part of figuring out why an accident happened."
The corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 62nd Street has had traffic collisions, with three crashes reported since 2021, according to NYC Crash Mapper data. This history of collisions near the Woodside-61st Street transit hub suggests that environmental factors or intersection design may also be part of the investigation.
Under New York's Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL § 5-4.1), the personal representative of a decedent's estate may bring a wrongful death action to recover damages for a death caused by a person's or entity's wrongful act, neglect, or default. New York follows a pure comparative negligence system, meaning the recovery for surviving family members is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the deceased.
Candice Bond of Bond Legal noted that under New York's comparative negligence system, "Blame can be shared by more than one person. If you are injured in an accident, it is helpful to understand how your own actions and the other driver's actions interacted. This helps everyone get a clear and fair picture of the event."
Surviving family members may seek compensation for economic losses, including funeral and burial expenses, medical costs related to the final injury, and the value of support and services the deceased would have provided. In cases involving commercial garbage trucks, liability may extend to the private waste management company under the doctrine of respondeat superior, provided the driver was operating within the scope of their employment. Recovery remains available even if the victim was partially at fault, though the statute of limitations typically requires filing within two years of the date of death.