Man in Flushing struck, killed on his birthday

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) -- A driver is in custody after a man was fatally struck on the day of his 67th birthday in Queens.

"8 o'clock, 10 o'clock, you always see a car crashing," a resident said.

It's not surprising, they say, but no matter how many times this happens it is awful.

On 149th Street and 46th Avenue just after 8:30 p.m. Monday, police say a driver impaired by marijuana struck and killed a 67-year-old pedestrian, Jinhe Niu, a resident who lived only one block away.

The 46-year-old driver, Wesley Leung, 46, from Queens, was taken into custody. He is charged with operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs.

Niu sustained trauma to the body and was pronounced dead at Flushing Hospital.

A young woman who lives on the corner says she saw the man in what would be the final moments of his life.

"I was shocking!! My heart pounding so fast! I feel so sad," said Wang Wang Zheng, an eyewitness.

It is a narrow stretch of road, with fast moving cars in a 25 mile-an-hour zone.

"We're all scared because it's like, our property, you could just be doing some gardening, could be hit," said Julio Panora, Flushing resident.

The NYPD positioned officers in that part of Flushing, to monitor drivers and pedestrians.

Police say Mr. Niu was crossing in the middle of the block, something that also proved dangerous on a stretch of road that residents have been fighting unsuccessfully to change.

"There are ambulances that go, barely sometimes pull out of here because you can't see," said Lucille Pock, Flushing resident.