Woman, 73, fatally struck by school bus in Queens

QUEENS - A 73-year-old woman was struck and killed by a school bus Friday morning in Queens, the NYPD said.

According to family, the victim, identified as Maria Rodriguez, was returning home from taking her young nieces to school around 7:30 a.m. when the accident happened.

Rodriguez was at the intersection of 107th Ave. and 86th St. in the Ozone Park section as the bus was turning, police said.

Her grandson, Joel Rodriguez, said his grandmother lived in the Bronx and went to Queens to help take the children to school. 

"She was the happy[iest] person of the family," Rodriguez said. "She [would] always gather everybody together. I don't know how we're going to do it for this Thanksgiving."

Maria Rodriguez (Left) with family.

The accident happened right in front of Margaret Bedell's home. She was upstairs when she heard a crash.

"It's horrible. She's the same age as me and I used to walk my grandchildren to school also," Bedell said.

There were a few children on board the bus at the time, police said, but none of them were injured.

Police arrested the 47-year-old bus driver, Maria Marte.

The Queens DA office says she will be in court November 30.