Statement from Transportation Alternatives After Drivers Kill 71-Year-Old Woman Killed, Critically Injure 73-Old-Man in Woodhaven

Traffic violence has killed 229 people in 2023  — six more than were killed by this point last year. 

Four New Yorkers killed in traffic violence the same weekend as World Day of Remembrance.

QUEENS, NY — On Saturday evening, the driver of a BMW sedan and the driver of a Toyota sedan struck 71-year-old Tonci Budija and a 73-year-old man as they crossed the street on Woodhaven Boulevard near Park Lane South in Woodhaven, Queens. Both pedestrians were brought to the hospital, where Tonci Budija died from her injuries and the man remains in critical condition.

This intersection lacks even basic safety interventions, such as leading pedestrian intervals that give people crossing the street a head start, despite 37 injuries in the past five years. DOT previously promised to install these on all new Vision Zero priority corridors, such as Woodhaven Boulevard, by the end of 2019. The DOT’s own data shows that leading pedestrian intervals reduce killed and severely injured rates for pedestrians by over 34%.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“We are devastated to learn that traffic violence has killed another one of our neighbors. We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of 71-year-old Tonci Budija.”

“At World Day of Remembrance, we honored the New Yorkers killed and seriously injured in traffic violence this year and, the very same weekend, this preventable crisis continues to claim more lives.”

“We demand urgent action from Mayor Adams to redesign streets for safety as legally mandated by the  NYC Streets Plan.”