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Family of Corona hit-and-run victim needs help to pay for funeral, burial

Family of Corona hit-and-run victim needs help to pay for funeral, burial
By Bill Parry

The family of Doniqueca Cooke, the 21-year-old Corona woman who was fatally stuck in a hit-and-run collision last week, is asking for the public’s help to defray the cost of her funeral and burial.

The York College student was walking just a block from her home waiting for the light to change at the intersection of Junction Boulevard and the Horace Harding Expressway June 30 when a black Porsche jumped the curb and struck her, a cyclist and two other individuals, according to the Queens D.A.

Cooke suffered blunt force trauma to her head and was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital Center. The cyclist, who has not been identified by the DA, was in critical condition Friday with a fractured pelvis, a broken leg and other injuries.

The two other victims were also injured in the collision. Forest Hills resident Irene Lee, 56, was arrested and charged with three counts of leaving the scene of an accident, resulting in death, according to the DA’s office. Lee was released on $200,000 bail last Saturday and was due back in court July 14, according to the DA.

Cooke’s family has set up a gofundme page to fund-raise, describing the young woman called Niiqua as “a beautiful, loving, bright young lady.” She was pursuing her dreams of becoming an occupational therapist.

Those wishing to donate may go to www.gofundme.com/doniquecacooke or donate directly to the family through the mail to Juliane Williams at 97-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Apt. 2K, Corona, NY, 11368.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.