A 19-year-old Bangladeshi woman was killed after being struck by a garbage truck while crossing the street in Queens, New York City, police and family members confirmed.
Police identified the victim as Nishath Jannath. The incident occurred late Sunday night as she was crossing the street at the intersection of 62nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue in the Woodside neighborhood while returning home from work. At around 11:55 p.m., a sanitation truck operated by Royal Waste Services struck her in the crosswalk.
According to police, the truck was traveling westbound on Roosevelt Avenue and hit her while making a right turn onto northbound 62nd Street, on the north side of the intersection. Emergency medical services (EMS) pronounced her dead at the scene.
The victim’s eldest sister, Nowshin Jannath, said the family is devastated. “My parents are shattered. Everyone in the house is crying,” she said.
She added that Nishath worked as a receptionist at a parking garage on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica and wore an all-black uniform. When she did not return home after finishing work around 11 p.m., Nowshin went out searching for her.
“I tracked her phone location and reached the scene around 2 a.m. There were police everywhere,” she said.
Remembering her sister, Nowshin said, “She was very optimistic. She always talked to people and encouraged them to trust in God.” Nishath leaves behind two younger sisters, aged 9 and 4.
“She used to say, ‘Have hope. Death can come at any time, so be prepared. Live in the present,’” she added.
The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old woman, remained at the scene and was treated for minor injuries. No arrests have been made. The New York Police Department’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the incident.
Royal Waste Services said in a statement that it is cooperating with the investigation. A spokesperson for its parent company, Waste Connections, said, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident in Queens and extend our sincere condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.”
The spokesperson added that no further comments would be made at this time out of respect for the ongoing investigation and the privacy of those involved.
The untimely death of Bangladeshi teenager Nishath Jannath has cast a shadow of grief over the Bangladeshi community in New York.