Driver kills 10-year-old girl in Far Rockaway crash.
What she wanted
A driver in a Mazda hit two pedestrians and crashed into a car wash on Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway at 4:13 p.m. on February 9, 2022, killing 10-year-old Davina Afokoba and injuring two others, according to the official crash record and press reports.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
On February 9, 2022, a driver in a Mazda hit two pedestrians on Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway and crashed into a car wash. Press reports identified the child as 10-year-old Davina Afokoba; the official record counts one person killed and two injured. Reports differed on the driver's approach, while the official record lists eastbound travel straight ahead.
Davina was a block from home.
QNS identified Davina Afokoba as 10 years old and reported she was a block from her home. QNS and the New York Post reported that she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Reports describe different approaches.
QNS reported that police said the driver hit two pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and pinned Davina against the building. The New York Post described surveillance footage as showing the driver failing to negotiate a turn onto Beach Channel Drive, then accelerating through the intersection.
CBS reported that video showed the driver pulling out of a grocery store parking lot and speeding toward the building. The official record lists eastbound travel straight ahead.
CBS reported that neighbors rushed to help. Witness Legend Jones said, "God gained an angel, but a parent lost a child."
Reports identify a Mazda, with differing descriptions.
QNS identified the driver's vehicle as a 2009 Mazda CX9. The official record categorizes a 2009 Mazda as a station wagon or sport utility vehicle; other reports described it as an SUV or a car.
The crash happened beside a car wash.
Press reports place the crash on Beach Channel Drive near Dix Avenue in Far Rockaway, beside a car wash. The New York Post gave the address as 13-28 Beach Channel Drive, while amNewYork placed it between Dix and Mott avenues. QNS reported that the pedestrians were walking on the sidewalk.
Two other people were injured.
The official record counts one injured pedestrian and one injured motorist. AmNewYork reported that the other pedestrian and the driver were taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition.
QNS reported that no arrests had been made and the investigation was ongoing. The New York Post reported that no charges had been filed by Wednesday night.