Driver dies after overpass collision near Riis Park
A driver identified by police as Daniel King, 39, collided with an overpass near Riis Park while traveling east on Beach Channel Drive at 11:35 a.m. on March 18, 2024; the official record lists one motorist killed.
Approximate reported location.
What We Know
Daniel King, 39, was traveling east on Beach Channel Drive when, police told QNS, he collided with an overpass near Riis Park. The official record places the crash at Beach Channel Drive and Rockaway Beach Boulevard at 11:35 a.m. on March 18, 2024, and records one motorist killed. QNS and The Rockaway Times reported that King was taken to Kings County Hospital and pronounced dead there. The Rockaway Times reported a fire after the collision and said FDNY responders removed him from the vehicle. Police said the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad was investigating.
A driver collided with an overpass
Police told QNS that King was traveling east on Beach Channel Drive when he collided with an overpass. QNS reported that officers found him unconscious and unresponsive. The Rockaway Times reported that a fire followed the collision and FDNY responders removed him from the vehicle.
QNS and The Rockaway Times reported that EMS took King to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The official record counts one motorist killed and no injuries.
King lived in Rockaway Beach
Police identified the driver as Daniel King, 39, of Beach 96th Street in Rockaway Beach. The Rockaway Times reported that his family was notified.
Near Riis Park
The official record places the crash at Beach Channel Drive and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Both news reports locate the overpass collision near Riis Park.
Council Member Joann Ariola told QNS that the area's curves and pavement conditions were concerns and said she planned to work with DOT to have the area repaved before summer. Her comments did not establish what caused this crash.
Reports describe the Subaru differently
The official record lists a 2010 Subaru in the station wagon/sport utility vehicle category. The Rockaway Times describes a silver Subaru hatchback. These are the descriptions reported by their respective sources.
The official record lists unsafe speed
The official crash record lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The reviewed news reports said the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad was still investigating.