Queens, NY (September 15, 2025) – A 16-year-old girl, Jhoanny Gomez-Alvarez, was fatally struck Saturday morning, September 13th, 2025, by a 38-year-old drunk driver in a 2009 Chevy Suburban on a sidewalk at Roosevelt Avenue and Benham Street in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens.
According to police, the teen had just exited her apartment with her boyfriend, mother, and a family friend when the driver, who had been intoxicated and sitting outside a neighborhood bar, became involved in an altercation with them. Moments later, the vehicle struck Gomez-Alvarez, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual injured in the crash was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition.
The suspect was apprehended by authorities at the scene. Murder charges are pending as police continue their investigation. Surveillance footage confirmed the teen was with her family prior to being struck, and the incident is being treated as a criminal case involving a highly intoxicated driver.
Emergency personnel secured the scene and cleared the area, while investigators collected evidence and reviewed video footage to determine the full circumstances leading to the tragic crash.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim and hope for the recovery of the injured individual.
