Aug. 24, 2023 By Zachary Gewelb
Two Queens men were killed and two more were injured as a result of a wrong-way crash on the Whitestone Expressway early Thursday morning, according to authorities.
A preliminary investigation by the NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad determined that the driver of a Black Honda Pilot was driving northbound, despite being in the southbound lanes of the expressway, at around 2:15 a.m. on Aug. 24 before colliding with the driver of Honda HRV who was heading southbound near College Point Boulevard, within the confines of the 109th Precinct.
The 45-year-old driver of the HRV — later identified as Francisco Cureno, of 101st Street — was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. The driver of the Pilot, 25-year-old Joseph Pulido, of 139th Street, was also killed as a result of the crash.
EMS transported a 35-year-old female, who was a rear passenger in the Pilot, to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. A 26-year-old man who was in the Pilot was ejected from the front seat of vehicle and is listed in stable condition at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.
The Whitestone Expressway was closed immediately after the accident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 24.