Driver Indicted After Queens Crosswalk Crash Kills Cara Trager
At about 7:48 p.m. on May 25, 2026, at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Union Turnpike in Queens, prosecutors say Dawood Faisal sped a Toyota Prius through red lights and set off a three-car crash that fatally injured Cara Trager and left six people injured.
What We Know
Prosecutors say Dawood Faisal drove a 2013 Toyota Prius south on Francis Lewis Boulevard at more than 75 mph in a 35 mph zone on May 25, 2026, and ran at least two red lights before a three-car collision at Union Turnpike. The official record places the crash at about 7:48 p.m. and records one pedestrian death and six injuries. Prosecutors said the collision reached two pedestrians in the crosswalk; Cara Trager, 71, died days later, and her husband, Michael Trager, was injured. Faisal was indicted on manslaughter, assault, leaving-the-scene, reckless-driving and traffic charges. Trager’s family and community described her as a journalist and Jewish communal leader whose sudden death left mourners reeling.
A high-speed allegation at a Queens intersection
The official record places the crash at 7:48 p.m. on May 25, 2026, at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Union Turnpike and lists a sedan and two SUVs. Prosecutors said Faisal drove a 2013 Toyota Prius south at more than 75 mph in a 35 mph zone, ran at least two red lights and hit two vehicles, causing a three-car collision that reached two pedestrians in the crosswalk.
The Yeshiva World, citing police, described the sequence as the Prius driver hitting a westbound Mercedes-Benz and then colliding with a Nissan Rogue; the impact pushed the Nissan into Cara and Mike Trager as they crossed Francis Lewis Boulevard at Union Turnpike.
Francis Lewis Boulevard and Union Turnpike
The crash happened at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Union Turnpike in Queens, in ZIP code 11364. JTA and the Post described Cara and Michael Trager as members of the Hollis Hills Jewish community, and the Post said they were walking in the neighborhood on Memorial Day evening.
Cara Trager died after days in the hospital
Cara Trager, 71, died May 29 from injuries sustained in the Memorial Day crash, according to JTA. The official record identifies the person killed as a 71-year-old female pedestrian and records one additional pedestrian injury and five motorist injuries.
Michael Trager told the Post, "Physically I'm lucky to be alive." JTA described Cara Trager as a Queens-based journalist and Jewish communal leader whose funeral drew hundreds of mourners.
Records and prosecutors point to red-light disregard
The official record lists Traffic Control Disregarded as the crash contributing factor and assigns that factor to the Prius driver. Prosecutors separately alleged that Faisal exceeded the speed limit, drove at an unreasonable speed and failed to stop at a steady red signal.
Manslaughter indictment followed the crash
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Faisal, 22, of Fresh Meadows, was arraigned June 17 on a 10-count indictment including manslaughter in the second degree, assault, leaving-the-scene counts, reckless driving, menacing and traffic charges. The DA said he faces more than 15 years in prison if convicted.
JTA reported that Faisal pleaded not guilty at an earlier Queens Criminal Court arraignment and was remanded without bail. The Post later reported that Michael Trager wants the case treated as an antisemitic hate crime; the reviewed DA indictment announcement did not identify a hate-crime charge.