QUEENS, NY – A 37-year-old man driving a stolen box truck collided with multiple vehicles, killing a Queens father of five.
Source: Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News
The multi-vehicle collision occurred on Tuesday, June 20, at approximately 1:15 p.m.
According to the New York Daily News, Ramon Pena stole an unattended moving truck from Tall Boy Dynamic Moving Services Inc. The truck was left near 101st Avenue in Jamaica with keys still in the ignition.
Pena fled with the truck, driving recklessly through Queens and Brooklyn. Several people witnessed Pena speeding, running red lights, and driving on the wrong side of the road. He crashed into at least 20 vehicles during his flight.
Pena T-boned Hamlet Cruz-Gomez’s SUV on Metropolitan Avenue near Rentar Plaza, critically injuring the 25-year-old driver. Pena exited his vehicle and ran away from the accident on foot, heading for the Metropolitan Ave subway station. Police located and arrested Pena before he was able to enter the station.
Medics transported Cruz-Gomez to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment. He went into cardiac arrest and died after he arrived at the hospital.
Police do not believe that Pena injured anyone else, but he did cause significant property damage.
Ramon Pena is currently being held without bail in a Queens jail. He is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Cruz-Gomez, and faces charges of manslaughter, grand larceny, felony assault, multiple traffic violations, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Pena is expected in court on July 10. If convicted of all charges, he will face 30 years to life in prison.
Reckless Driving in New York City
Reckless driving demonstrates a disregard for the health and safety of others. Drivers who engage in this behavior put everyone on the road at risk of a serious or fatal accident.
Commercial trucks increase the potential harm dramatically due to their size and weight.
Common forms of reckless driving include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving aggressively and road rage
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Driving in the wrong direction
- Making illegal turns or lane changes
Unfortunately, reckless driving is common in the United States. According to Driver Knowledge, it causes 33% of all fatal car accidents. Reckless driving accidents are preventable when drivers follow the law and drive safely.
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Queens, NY
The New York commercial vehicle accident attorneys at Oresky & Associates PLLC have over 30 years of experience helping those who’ve been hurt in New York get justice. If you’ve been hurt or if you lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party and you need legal assistance, contact the Queens truck accident lawyers at Oresky & Associates, PLLC at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation.
We have two convenient locations in New York:
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Queens Office
104-09 Roosevelt Ave
Queens, NY 11368
(347) 507-3884
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Bronx Office
149 E 149th St
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 993-9999
