Driver Hit Men at Astoria Food Truck; Three Killed
An 84-year-old driver in a 2010 Toyota Corolla was killed along with two pedestrians at 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria on Aug. 12, 2025, after police said he hit two men by a food truck; relatives identified them as Joaquin Venancio and Santiago Baires.
What We Know
On Aug. 12, 2025, an 84-year-old driver in a 2010 Toyota Corolla was traveling north on 42nd Street near 19th Avenue in Astoria when police said he hit two men standing by a food truck. The city crash record counted three deaths: the driver and two pedestrians. Relatives and reporters identified the pedestrians as Joaquin Venancio, a tire shop manager, and Santiago Baires, a father of eight. Witnesses and video described the Toyota moving at high speed before impact. amNY later reported, citing sources familiar with the case, that the driver had suffered a stroke weeks earlier and appeared to suffer a medical episode, but initial police reports remained under investigation.
Police said the driver hit two men by the food truck
The crash was recorded at 8:36 a.m. on 42nd Street at 19th Avenue in Queens. The city record counted three people killed: an 84-year-old male driver and two male pedestrians.
Police told reporters the driver was traveling north in a 2010 Toyota Corolla when he hit two men standing near a food or coffee truck. Several outlets reported that surveillance video or witnesses described the Toyota moving at high speed before impact.
The pedestrians were identified by relatives and reporters
Family members and reporters identified one pedestrian as Joaquin Venancio, who worked as a manager at Discount Tire Group in Astoria. CBS and ABC reported that he had two children; relatives described him as generous and beloved.
ABC and the New York Post reported that the second pedestrian was Santiago Baires, a father of eight with 14 grandchildren. ABC reported that he was getting his vehicle fixed nearby and had gone to the food truck.
The 84-year-old driver was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Press accounts in this package did not publish his name.
The accounts differ on the Volvo, but agree on the Toyota
The official record and press accounts identify the driver's vehicle as a 2010 Toyota sedan. After the first impact, police told reporters the Toyota spun and the driver then collided with a Volvo whose driver was attempting a U-turn.
Press reports described the Volvo as a sedan, while the official crash record classified the Volvo as a sport utility vehicle and listed its pre-crash movement as a left turn. The city record also listed two parked vehicles as involved.
A narrow Astoria block with curbside auto activity
The crash happened at 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, within the 11105 ZIP code. Streetsblog described the block of 42nd Street as having one lane in each direction, parking on both sides and a faint center line.
Streetsblog also reported that several auto repair shops on the block leave cars parked on sidewalks, limiting visibility. ABC reported that Venancio worked across the street and Baires was a customer getting his vehicle fixed nearby.
Speed and a reported medical episode were raised in early accounts
Eyewitnesses and multiple news reports said the Toyota was moving fast before the crash. ABC quoted witness George Giakoumis saying the driver appeared to go through a stop sign; the Daily News also reported that the driver ran the stop sign at 19th Avenue, citing police and surveillance video.
The next day, amNY reported, citing sources familiar with the case, that the driver had suffered a stroke two weeks earlier, had been advised not to drive and appeared to suffer a medical emergency before the crash. Gothamist reported that the NYPD made no arrests while the investigation continued.
A memorial formed as officials called for safer streets
ABC reported that crews cleared the wreckage and a memorial for the victims began forming Tuesday night. Streetsblog reported that local elected officials posted calls for safer streets after the crash, including renewed attention to lowering New York City's default speed limit to 20 mph under Sammy's Law.