A van parked on a Queens street rolled out of its parking spot and hit three pedestrians, killing one and critically injuring another, before crashing into a food cart, authorities said.
The van was parked near the corner of 32nd Street and Broadway in Astoria Wednesday afternoon.
The 29-year-old driver of the van had just exited the car and walked into a building near the intersection just before the van began to roll away, witnesses said.
As the driverless van crashed into an 80-year-old woman as it glided through the intersection. She was critically injured.
A 71-year-old food cart vendor was also critically injured when he was hit by the out-of-control van. His co-worker pushed him out of the way, likely saving his life. The vehicle then crashed into a wall, authorities said.
The driver of the van remained at the scene.
The 80-year-old woman died later Wednesday night. The 71-year-old man was recovering and his condition was upgraded to stable.
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"That poor lady. She was the same build, probably the same age as my own mother, and to see that happen, it's tramautizing to me," bartender Richie O'Sullivan said.
Police have not released the woman's name, pending the notification of her family.
A police investigation is ongoing.
