3 Dead, 4 Injured When Car Plows Into Queens Family

A street full of costumed revelers turned into a horror scene Saturday when an out-of-control car jumped a curb and careened into a Queens family, killing three people, including a 10-year-old girl and her grandfather.

The crash injured four others. Witnesses described hearing a loud boom, followed by screaming and crying, then seeing a trail of mangled bodies. The car was left teetering on a brick wall. A child’s shoe and remnants of mangled stroller lay on the sidewalk just feet away.

Louis Perez, 65, died at the scene. His granddaughter, 10-year-old Nyanna Aquil, and 24-year-old Kristian Leka, were later pronounced dead. A 3-year-old girl was critically injured.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement that the city will investigate.

“We do not accept tragedies like this as inevitable,” the mayor said. “This could be any of our families. Each of us must contribute to making this a city where everyone, especially children, can walk our streets safely.”

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the November 2nd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.