QUEENS, NY — A harrowing scene unfolded early Saturday morning on the Belt Parkway as a violent crash involving multiple vehicles — including one that burst into flames — left six people hospitalized and westbound traffic at a complete standstill.
The crash occurred around 6:00 a.m. near Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, a usually busy corridor now transformed into a corridor of mangled metal, flashing lights, and thick smoke.
According to the FDNY, three individuals sustained life-threatening injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals in critical condition. Three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries but were also hospitalized. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
First responders arrived to find at least one of the vehicles fully engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing across the highway. Firefighters battled the blaze while EMS teams worked urgently to stabilize the wounded. The chaos forced the closure of all westbound lanes of the parkway, bringing traffic to a crawl and causing hours-long delays for early commuters.
“We heard a loud boom and saw the fire from our apartment window,” said one area resident. “It was terrifying. The whole highway looked like a war zone.”
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is on scene, and officials are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
As of late morning, crews were still working to clear the wreckage. The New York City Office of Emergency Management advised drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
On what should have been a quiet summer morning, the Belt Parkway instead bore witness to heartbreak and near-tragedy — another painful reminder of how quickly a commute can become a catastrophe
