Elderly woman dies, man hurt after being struck by driverless van in Queens

ASTORIA, Queens (WABC) -- An elderly woman was killed and a man seriously injured when they were struck by a van along a busy street in Queens Wednesday.

The crash happened just after 2 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and 32nd Street in Astoria, just a block from the N/Q subway station.

The 80-year-old female victim was rushed to Elmhurst General Hospital, where she later died. The 71-year-old man is listed in stable condition with trauma to the head and body.

Police say the pedestrians were struck after the driver of a white cargo van thought he had put the van in park and exited the vehicle to go into a nearby store.

The van was not in gear and rolled back through the intersection and up onto a curb on the opposite side, hitting the two victims, who were standing near a food truck.

Witnesses say several people quickly rushed over to help, dialed 911 and tended to the victims before medics arrived.

The operator of the van stayed at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.