The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge's recently renovated off-ramp has claimed another life: Beatriz Rodriguez, who was a passenger in a car that crashed into a Long Island City beauty salon after careening from the bridge on Wednesday, died yesterday. Last week, a 68-year-old pedestrian standing in front of the salon was killed when a car, also careening from the off-ramp, slammed into him. Rodriguez's sister-in-law told the Post, "They should definitely fix that bridge exit. I think she would be alive today if they would have fixed it."
Driver Alexander Palacio, whose arm was partly amputated, was arrested for aggravated unlicensed driving (his license was suspended and his license had previously been suspended repeatedly) after the 4 a.m. crash. The driver in the March 28 crash, Grant Riddell, was not charged, but his arm was also amputated. The off-ramp was renovated to improve pedestrian safety, but the changes have apparently resulted in a sharper turn when cars want to exit for Queens Plaza South—something that has become deadly when they may be traveling in excess of the speed limit. WABC 7 has video of what it's like to exit there:
