In a tragic incident on October 11, 2023, 75-year-old Linda Lee Hirsch lost her life in a fatal pedestrian accident at the intersection of 60th Road and Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, Queens. The accused, Rony Zino, a 27-year-old resident of Flushing, faces charges including criminally negligent homicide, failure to yield, and reckless driving.
Video surveillance revealed that Zino, driving a 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck, came to a stop at a red light at the intersection. When the light turned green, he waited approximately seven seconds before making a left turn onto Fresh Pond Road, striking Linda Lee Hirsch, who was crossing the street with a walker and had the right of way.
The impact from the collision caused Hirsch to fall, resulting in a fatal head injury. Despite undergoing surgery, she was pronounced dead on October 20. The tragic incident highlights the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of adhering to traffic laws, especially regarding pedestrian safety.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has charged Zino with criminally negligent homicide, failure to yield, reckless driving, and other related offenses. If convicted, Zino faces up to four years in prison. The arraignment took place on November 14, and he is scheduled to return to court on December 8.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hugh McCann, with supervision from Assistant District Attorneys Michael Whitney and Roni C. Piplani, under the overall guidance of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark. The tragic incident underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and accountability to prevent such devastating accidents on New York's streets.
For more information, you can refer to the official press release here.