On Friday, November 10, 2023, a 73-year-old grandmother was fatally struck by a school bus in Ozone Park, Queens, New York, while returning home after dropping off her three granddaughters at school.
At about 7:30 a.m., Maria Rodriguez was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk when a school bus, making a left-hand turn from 86th Street onto 107th Avenue, collided with her. She was found lying unconscious and unresponsive on the roadway by the responding officers from the 106th Precinct. Emergency Medical Services pronounced her dead at the scene.
At the time of the incident, four children were on board, all under the age of 12. None of the children were injured.
The bus operator, 47-year-old Maria Marte from East Elmhurst, stayed at the location of the incident. Subsequently, she was apprehended and charged for not yielding to a pedestrian and neglecting to exercise appropriate caution. The NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is actively investigating the circumstances of the incident. The Queens District Attorney’s office has announced that Marte will appear in court on November 30.
Rodriguez, described by her grandson Joel as the happiest person in the family, was known for bringing the family together, especially during festive times like Thanksgiving. Her untimely death has left the family and community in shock and grief.
Rodriguez was a Dominican immigrant, who lived in the Bronx, but was staying with her daughter in Queens to help out with the family.
