A 57-year-old woman was tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver outside a Social Security Center in Queens this week, according to police.
Authorities reported that Suzanne Schmider was crossing Jamaica Avenue near the center around 3 p.m. on Wednesday when a dark-colored 2001 Lincoln LS struck her.
The driver did not stop and fled the scene, leaving Schmider seriously injured on the road. She suffered significant head and body trauma.
Schmider, who lived just a little over a mile away, was pronounced dead after being taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
“We’re just trying to move on,” her daughter Sydney expressed, noting that the police were actively investigating. “The police are doing a great job.”
To help cover funeral expenses, Sydney has launched a GoFundMe page for her mother. She emphasized the desire to honor Schmider as a strong, loving, and independent woman.
As of Friday, there had been no arrests related to this incident.
One security guard mentioned that he recalled seeing vehicles speeding by at the time of the accident in broad daylight.
“The light shot through and hit the woman, hit the bus and kept going,” he remarked.
Another guard, returning from lunch, described finding a woman lying on the ground, noting there was no blood visible.
In the aftermath, a pair of sneakers could be seen in the middle of the road.
Local business owners noted that it’s common for people to cross mid-block to get to the Social Security office. One owner recounted telling visitors not to cross mid-block and to use the traffic light instead.
After crossing Parsons Boulevard, drivers often speed down Jamaica Avenue, as the streets appear wide and open, which can lead to dangerous situations. “I feel sick and upset. I don’t want to see anyone die like that,” the owner said.
Officials indicated that vehicles were not permitted to drive in that area during the time of the accident.
A Department of Transportation sign clearly states: “No vehicles other than trucks and buses should enter between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.”
This hit-and-run happened about a week after a tragic incident involving a 4-year-old boy named Zachariah Padilla, who was also struck and killed by a driver who then fled. According to police, Padilla was crossing near Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Parkway and, after separating from his mother, was hit by a Ford SUV.
As of Friday, the driver in that case had not been apprehended.
