Queens teen accidentally kills his grandmother when backing car into driveway

Jadesh (r.) fatally struck his grandmother with an SUV on Sunday morning.

A teen preparing to take his relatives to church accidentally killed his grandmother Sunday after she stepped into the path of an SUV he was backing into their Queens driveway.

The 17-year-old driver, whose first name is Jadesh, was moving the vehicle to make it easier for the grandmother to get in.

Police photograph the scene where a teen backed an SUV into his grandmother, killing her on Sunday.

Chandravti Lakhan, 75, was rushed to Long Island Jewish Medical Center after the mid-morning accident outside their Floral Park home, but the doting grandmother could not be saved.

Anguish was written on the face of the grandson in the moments after the family tragedy. Police said Lakhan was walking behind the gray Toyota Sequoia around 10:30 a.m. as Jadesh stepped on the gas to back into their narrow driveway outside the home on 267th St. near 83rd Ave.

Blood can be seen on the pants of the woman's husband after the horrific accident.

Investigators and a neighbor said the teen lived at the two-story home with his parents and grandparents. Neighbor Basheer Ally, 56, said the boy always looked out for his grandparents.
“The grandson was backing up so the grandparents could more easily get into the car and the grandmother didn’t notice. He didn’t have time to see her,” Ally said.

“He normally takes the grandparents out. It’s not out of their normal routine. “They were all headed out. They were dressed up to go somewhere, most likely church. They all live here. Mom, dad, children and grandparents. It’s his grandmother from his mom’s side. There are five children in the house.”

The victim’s distraught husband could be seen on the red brick steps of their home being comforted by devastated family members. There was blood on the leg of his pants.

Another neighbor, Bhanu Patel, 52, said she sprinted from her house next door and ran to Lakhan’s side after the accident, which happened just as her son was leaving for work.

“It happened very quickly. The whole family was outside, crying and telling me to stay with them.”
Patel described Lakhan as an “extremely friendly” neighbor. She said they often talked over the fence while gardening.

“I’d see her every day in her backyard,” Patel said. “We’d share vegetables and talk. I’m going to miss her. I keep having tears in my eyes.”

Cops roped off the driveway with crime scene tape. Police said it was unlikely that the driver will be charged with a crime.

Neighbors expressed concern for the victim’s husband, and the grandson who will have to live with the tragedy for the rest of his life.

“They’re a good family and everyone takes care of each other. I never hear loud voices and I thank God each day that I have great neighbors. Everyone on the block will miss her.” “I’ve known the family for over 10 years,” Ally said. “They’re a very loving family.”