Far Rockaway – A 33-year-old Far Rockaway resident died today after being hit by a truck while crossing a busy roadway in Lawrence.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Naftali Rhodes, a father of two, was attempting to cross the Nassau Expressway at the Central Avenue intersection when he was struck by a frozen delivery truck at approximately 2:30 PM.
He was rushed to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital by Hatzolah where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the truck remained on scene. Sources told VIN News that while there is a full crosswalk extending across the highway at that location, it has been the source of numerous accidents.
The busy roadway, the main artery connecting the Far Rockaway and Five Towns to New York City, was closed in both directions for three hours as police conducted their investigation.
Rhodes’ funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM at Agudath Israel of Long Island in Far Rockaway.
BDE! I don’t trust crosswalks, or even lights, which are green for pedestrians. One can never assume that a driver will stop for a pedestrian, even when legally required to do so. One time, I was crossing Westminster Road, a Avenue H, where there is a stop sign, clearly visible at that intersection. While I was crossing the street, an idiotic driver going south in a panel truck, saw me, and honked his horn at me. In other words, “how dare I cross the street, as he didn’t want to stop”. He even gave me that look as if to say (blank you). P.S. He never stopped, but I was able to get out of his way in time. In another case, when I was crossing that intersection, another moronic driver, was coming the wrong way, and driving north on Westminster Road, even though it is a one way street (traffic is only allowed to proceed south). He almost hit me; he must have been drunk. There are times when we cross a busy intersection, that we should bench Hagomel, once we’ve safely reached the other side. Even where I live today, drivers don’t like to stop at red lights, and yield to pedestrians, as they want to make a right turn on red, without first coming to a full stop, as required by law.