NYPD officer hit and killed pedestrian in Far Rockaway crash
An NYPD officer driving to an emergency call hit and killed 52-year-old pedestrian Zabina Gafoor at Beach Channel Drive and Bay 32nd Street, where the official record lists one death and four injuries.
What We Know
Zabina Gafoor, a 52-year-old pedestrian, was killed on Feb. 17, 2023, at Beach Channel Drive and Bay 32nd Street in Queens. The official crash record lists one pedestrian killed and four motorists injured. Press accounts identified the driver as NYPD Officer Sudan Osorio, who was driving a marked Ford Explorer with three other officers while responding to an emergency call. The Daily News reported that Osorio reached more than 70 mph in a 25-mph zone before the police SUV and a Toyota Corolla collided near the intersection, after which Gafoor was hit while walking to work. The state attorney general’s office later declined to pursue criminal charges, finding Osorio responsible for Gafoor’s death but not criminally liable.
A police response ended with a pedestrian killed.
The crash happened at about 8:33 p.m. on Feb. 17, 2023, at Beach Channel Drive and Bay 32nd Street in Queens. The official record lists one pedestrian killed and four motorists injured.
AMNY reported that four officers were in a marked NYPD Ford Explorer traveling west on Beach Channel Drive with emergency lights activated while responding to an officer-assistance call. Police sources told AMNY that the officer driving tried to pass a Toyota Corolla as its driver was turning left, and the collision redirected the police vehicle toward Gafoor near the corner.
The crash happened at a Far Rockaway intersection.
The official record places the fatal crash at Beach Channel Drive and Bay 32nd Street in the 11691 ZIP code. Press accounts described the location as Far Rockaway, with AMNY identifying the corner in Wavecrest.
Zabina Gafoor was walking to work.
The Daily News identified the pedestrian as Zabina Gafoor, a 52-year-old Queens home health aide, and reported that she was walking to work when she was hit. AMNY, published before her name was released, reported that she suffered head trauma and that four officers were treated for minor injuries and released.
Sources disagree on where Gafoor died. AMNY reported that she was taken to Jamaica Hospital and died a short time later, while the Daily News later reported that she died at the scene despite CPR efforts by the officer.
Three vehicles were recorded in the crash.
The official record lists an SUV and two sedans. It identifies a 2017 Ford SUV traveling west with four occupants, a 2020 Toyota sedan, and a parked 2020 Honda sedan.
AMNY described the police vehicle as a marked NYPD Ford Explorer and the civilian vehicle as a 2020 Toyota Corolla driven by a 44-year-old woman. The same account said an unoccupied 2020 Honda Accord was hit after the pedestrian was struck.
Investigators focused on speed and the attempted pass.
The Daily News reported that the attorney general’s review found Osorio was responding to an urgent call and reached speeds above 70 mph in a 25-mph zone on Beach Channel Drive. The article said Osorio moved into the opposing traffic lane to pass the Corolla before the Corolla turned left and the two drivers collided.
The attorney general’s office declined to pursue criminal charges. According to the Daily News, the office found Osorio responsible for Gafoor’s death but not criminally liable.