A tragic Christmas hit-and-run occurred in Queens, claiming the life of a mother who was struck by two separate cars just steps away from her home. In a heartbreaking turn of events, her devastated son hurried to her side, pleading with her to keep breathing.
Antonina Freycinet, a mother of three, was on her way to the grocery store when tragedy struck. It was around 9:30 p.m. when a heartless motorist, heading west on 111th Avenue near 158th Street in Jamaica, collided with Antonina and callously fled the scene. Authorities are now investigating this hit-and-run incident.
Freycinet was knocked to the ground by the impact, and a second car, a Ford Expedition, struck her while she was down, according to the police.
Andrew Dasrath, 20, was taken aback when he saw his mother and exclaimed, “What the hell?” He rushed over to her and made sure she didn’t move too much. At first, she was lying face down, but then she managed to roll herself over onto her back.
Her devastated son shared with The Post on Thursday that his mother remained silent during the distressing ordeal. He recounted how he desperately pleaded with her to stay still, urging her to breathe. The agonizing wait for the ambulance to arrive felt like an eternity, lasting anywhere from five to ten minutes.
“He said he desperately tried to prevent her from choking on her own blood.”
Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the medical staff at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, his mother could not be saved and was pronounced dead.
The hit-and-run occurred as the family was wrapping up a relaxed Christmas gathering. Freycinet, Dasrath, his 18-year-old brother, and 7-year-old sister, along with their grandmother, were all present during the incident.
“My little sister surprised our mom with some delicious Christmas candy and a homemade cake,” he excitedly shared. “She’s only 7 years old, but she wanted to make sure our mom had a special treat.”
According to Dasrath, the horror happened when Freycinet made a decision to go to the store and purchase beverages for the family.
Dasrath fondly described his mother as a “loving and caring person,” hailing from Haiti.
According to him, she had a calm and laid-back personality. Her nature was such that she always strived to do what was morally correct.
When Dasrath was only 11 years old, he shared that his father was involved in a car accident in another state due to defective tires. As a result, his father is currently residing in a nursing home.
As of Thursday, the driver responsible for the tragic hit-and-run incident on Christmas had managed to evade capture. Currently, there is no available information regarding the vehicle involved or the individual who was driving it.
Dasrath expressed his frustration towards the driver who hit the victim, stating that they should have stopped and been more cautious. He emphasized that the driver should take responsibility for their actions and turn themselves in.
The driver of the Ford Expedition, a 64-year-old man, remained at the scene and was not charged by the police.
According to sources, it seems that he was unaware that he had struck her while she was lying in the street.
