Early on New Year’s Day 2024, a catastrophic two-vehicle collision on the Cross Island Parkway in Queens, New York, resulted in the deaths of five individuals. The accident occurred near Exit 36S, an area infamously known as “dead man’s curve,” noted for its history of fatal incidents.
The crash involved a Mazda sedan, driven by 24-year-old Kazeem Ramsahai of North Carolina, which was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. According to police sources, the vehicle collided with a curb and overturned at around 6 a.m. Subsequently, a Honda, also heading north, collided with the overturned Mazda.
All four adult passengers in the Mazda, identified as Jordy Bentances, 20; Mario Ocampo, 30; Salma Garcia-Diaz, 23; and Dayanara Benitez, were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Ramsahai, was discovered underneath the Mazda and also declared dead.
The driver of the Honda was hospitalized at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in stable condition.
Locals familiar with the stretch of road have long expressed concerns about its safety. “This is a dead man’s curve,” stated area resident Rod Snedecor, in an interview with CBS-TV News. “It’s a tight curve, it’s always been. A lot of accidents.” Another resident, Mie DiMarco, emphasized the sharpness of the turn and the tendency for vehicles to approach it at high speeds.
The history of accidents at this particular curve is notable. In April 2020, two motorcyclists were killed in separate incidents within days of each other. One of them, Kevin Stout, 57, lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown to his death. In another incident, NYPD officer Richard Holt succumbed to injuries after a drag racing car clipped his motorcycle. Additionally, a motorcyclist was killed in June 2018 at Exit 36, reinforcing concerns about this section of the parkway.
The New York Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the crash. No arrests have been made as of yet.
The series of accidents at this location has prompted calls for increased safety measures. Neighbors have asked for more warning signs, particularly to alert drivers about the curve. Reports indicate that there have been demands for installing blinking lights and more explicit signage to warn drivers of the impending danger.
State and local officials, including area Senator Toby Stavisky, have been urged to address these concerns, with proposals ranging from increased signage and lighting to potential redesigns of the roadway to enhance safety.