Inexperienced SUV driver kills 10-year-old girl
A permit-holding SUV driver drove into a 10-year-old girl standing off Beach Channel Drive in Queens. Police recorded driver inexperience. The girl died from crush injuries. Another pedestrian was left with a fractured leg.
What We Know
On Feb. 9, 2022, a woman driving a Mazda SUV on Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway hit two pedestrians after leaving the roadway and crashing into a car wash, according to city crash data and press accounts. Davina Afokoba, 10, was pronounced dead at the scene, and another pedestrian was taken to Jamaica Hospital. The official record lists the driver as traveling east, with driver inexperience as a contributing factor and permit status for the driver. The New York Post reported, citing sources and surveillance video, that the driver failed to negotiate a turn, accelerated through the intersection and pinned the child against the building; amNY reported no arrests had been made as the case remained under investigation.
The driver left the roadway and hit two pedestrians
The crash happened on Feb. 9, 2022, at about 4:13 p.m. on Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway. City records list one pedestrian killed, one pedestrian injured and one motorist injured.
The official vehicle entry lists the driver of a 2009 Mazda SUV as traveling east and going straight ahead before impact. The New York Post, citing police, sources and surveillance video, reported that the driver failed to negotiate a turn onto Beach Channel Drive, accelerated through the intersection, jumped the curb and crashed into a car wash.
Beach Channel Drive, near a car wash in Far Rockaway
Press accounts placed the collision in front of 13-28 Beach Channel Drive, between Dix and Mott avenues. amNY reported that Davina Afokoba died about a block from her home.
amNY also reported that the one-block stretch of Beach Channel Drive had seen 31 serious crashes since 2011, injuring 38 people and killing one, citing NYC Crash Mapper.
Davina Afokoba was killed; another pedestrian survived
amNY identified the child killed as Davina Afokoba, 10. Official records and both article texts described the child as 10, while the New York Post headline listed her as 11.
The New York Post reported that the second pedestrian was 32; amNY reported she was 33. Both accounts said she was taken to Jamaica Hospital and was expected to survive. amNY also reported that the driver was taken to the same hospital in stable condition.
Records point to driver inexperience
The city crash record lists driver inexperience as the contributing factor and records the driver's license status as permit. The New York Post reported, citing sources, that the driver had a learner's permit; amNY said a police spokeswoman could not confirm that detail in its account.
amNY reported that no arrests had been made and the case remained under investigation. The New York Post reported that no charges had been filed as of Wednesday night.