Cross Island Parkway crash in Queens leaves 5 dead; victims ID'd

QUEENS - Five people were killed after an early-morning car crash Monday on the Cross Island Parkway in Queens, the NYPD said.

According to police, the crash happened just before 6 a.m. in the northbound lanes near Exit 36S.

A blue 2018 Mazda sedan was traveling northbound on the Whitestone Expressway, approaching the southbound exit ramp to the parkway, when the 24-year-old male driver struck and traversed the center median onto the northbound lanes of the parkway, police said.

Five people were killed in the crash, the NYPD said.

Meanwhile, a white 2023 Honda Pilot SUV was traveling onto the exit ramp from the northbound parkway to the expressway when the Mazda landed into the path of travel of the Honda, striking it, police said. 

Police said the driver of the Mazda and its four passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. They've been identified as Kazeem Ramsahai, 24, of Raeford, North Carolina, Mario Ocampo, 30, of Queens, Dayanara Benitez-Ocampo, 19, of Queens, Salma Garcia-Diaz, 23, of Queens, and Jordy Bentances, 20, of Queens.

There are no arrests. The investigation is ongoing.

The 63-year-old male driver of the Honda was taken to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital with neck and back injuries and is listed in critical, but stable condition. 

There are no arrests.