Another Woman Killed at Deadly Woodhaven-Jamaica Intersection

The intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and jamaica avenue. // google maps

By David Brand

The intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue was already regarded as one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians and on Thursday, it claimed another life.

A woman in her 50s was struck and killed by an SUV while walking in the intersection early Thursday morning. Police received a 911 call around 5:50 a.m. The woman was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, PIX reported.

In an interview with Transportation Alternatives last year, Department of Transportation said that the intersection of Woodhaven and Jamaica “might be the most challenging intersection in New York City.”

“Part of what can make an intersection dangerous is when there are too many moves going on, too many lanes going in too many directions, making it too unpredictable for pedestrians,” Trottenberg said. “If you ever get a chance, go out to this intersection. You have to be out there and feel the energy of the cars and people out there, because it’s a major subway stop, it’s a major commercial area, and it’s a major traffic intersection.”

Trottenberg said opposition to Vision Zero initiatives and Select Bus Services lanes along the deadly thoroughfare have encountered intense resistance from vocal residents.

“For this one, we decided to ban the left turn,” Trottenberg said. “And the opposition was among the fiercest I’ve ever seen. The opposition was so furious that we went back, and we rethought it.”

Local residents successfully resisted the ban on left turns, Gothamist reported.

In 2016, Streetsblog reported that the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue was the most dangerous intersection in the city, accounting for more deaths than any other intersection, according to DOT data.

Queens Community Board 9 opposed the left-turn ban, however.