An NYPD patrol car responding to a 911 call in Queensbridge struck and killed a foreign exchange student who was trying to cross the street early Thursday, authorities and neighbors say.
The patrol car was traveling east on 40th Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. when it hit the man, who was out of the crosswalk between 10th and 11th streets when he attempted to cross 40th Avenue, police said.
Emergency personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Police said the officers were responding to a 911 call of an assault in progress at a nearby housing complex and the patrol car had its lights on. The NYPD does not believe the officers did anything wrong in the accident but are continuing to investigate.
The victim was not officially identified but neighbors said he was an exchange student from Japan who was living in the area. He was a young musician who often had friends over so they could play instruments together.
