Driver Hits Food Truck Customers in Astoria; Three Dead
An 84-year-old driver in a 2010 Toyota Corolla was going north on 42nd Street at 8:36 a.m. when, press accounts said, he hit two men at a food truck near 19th Avenue; city data records that both pedestrians and the driver died.
What We Know
At 8:36 a.m. on August 12, 2025, an 84-year-old driver in a 2010 Toyota Corolla was recorded traveling north and going straight ahead at 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria. Press accounts, citing police and video, said the driver went into a food truck area and hit two men who were standing nearby. City data records three deaths: two pedestrians and the driver. The New York Post said family members identified the pedestrians as Joaquin Venancio, 41, and Santiago Baires, 70; amNY, citing police, reported the younger pedestrian as 42. Press accounts said the driver then collided with a Volvo driven by a 42-year-old man, who was not hurt. The city vehicle record describes the Volvo as an SUV making a left turn and also lists two parked vehicles with damage.
Morning crash at a food truck
City records place the crash at 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Queens at 8:36 a.m. on August 12, 2025. The record lists three people killed: an 84-year-old male driver, a 70-year-old male pedestrian, and another male pedestrian.
The New York Post, citing police and surveillance video, reported that the 84-year-old driver in a 2010 Toyota Corolla traveled north on 42nd Street through the intersection and hit two men who were ordering at a food truck. amNY reported that police sources said the driver lost control and hit two men standing near the food truck at a high rate of speed.
The people who died
The official record lists the driver who died as an 84-year-old man. It also lists two male pedestrians killed in the crash, including a 70-year-old man.
The New York Post reported that family members at the scene identified the pedestrians as Joaquin Venancio, 41, and Santiago Baires, 70. amNY, citing police, reported the third person killed as a 42-year-old male pedestrian. Those accounts differ on the younger pedestrian's age.
Vehicle details in the record and press accounts differ
The city vehicle record lists a 2010 Toyota sedan traveling north and going straight ahead, a 2025 Volvo SUV traveling south and making a left turn, and two parked vehicles with damage: a 1995 Chevrolet SUV and a 2012 Volkswagen sedan.
Press accounts said the Toyota driver later collided with a Volvo driven by a 42-year-old man. The Post described that Volvo as a sedan and said the driver was unhurt; amNY reported that the driver was attempting to make a U-turn. The city record describes the Volvo as an SUV making a left turn.
42nd Street has seen repeated harm
The crash happened at 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. CrashCountNYC location context for 42nd Street in Queens shows 227 crashes, 86 injuries, 6 serious injuries and 4 deaths since 2022.
Emergency responders and witnesses described a chaotic scene
amNY reported that officers from the 114th Precinct and EMS units responded, and that EMS took the Toyota driver and the 70-year-old pedestrian to Elmhurst Hospital, where both were pronounced dead. amNY said the younger pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
Food-truck worker Giancarlo Caruso told the Post he heard screeching tires, a loud engine roar and a scream before stepping back from the area. He said the two customers were left lifeless and that the crash happened very fast.