Bangladeshi Teen Nishat Jannat Killed in New York Garbage Truck Accident; Driver Arrested After Nine Weeks
New York City police have arrested a garbage truck driver nearly nine weeks after a fatal collision that killed 19-year-old Bangladeshi girl Nishat Jannat in the Woodside area of Queens.
According to police, the incident occurred around midnight on March 29, when 39-year-old driver Mayra Cruz of the Bronx was operating a private sanitation truck owned by Royal Waste Services. While turning from Roosevelt Avenue onto 62nd Street, the truck struck Nishat Jannat, who was crossing the street at a crosswalk.
Authorities said the victim became trapped under the vehicle. Officers from the 108th Precinct responded to the scene and found her pinned beneath the truck. Emergency responders later pronounced her dead at the location.
Investigators from the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad conducted a detailed inquiry into the incident. Following the investigation, the driver was arrested on June 3 and charged at the 111th Precinct in Bayside.
Police said the charges relate to failing to yield to a pedestrian and not exercising due caution, resulting in a serious traffic incident. The driver was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in court on June 23.
Investigators also confirmed that Nishat had been returning home after finishing her shift as a receptionist at a parking garage in Jamaica. She had reportedly bought a cake for her younger sister’s birthday shortly before the accident. The crash occurred just half a mile from her home at a damaged crosswalk.
The tragic incident sparked grief and anger within the Bangladeshi community in New York. On May 15, local community members and representatives of Community Board 2 held a protest at the accident site, demanding improved pedestrian safety measures along Roosevelt Avenue.
Protesters highlighted broken crosswalks, poor lighting, and heavy truck traffic as major safety risks. Community leaders have urged city authorities to urgently improve infrastructure and implement safety reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
