Woman raped while walking to work in Queens: NYPD

A man violently raped a woman while she was walkingalong the Horace Harding Expressway in Queens Sunday morning, police said.

Just before 6:30 a.m., the 51-year-old woman was walking to work near 168th Streetwhen a stranger grabbed her from behind, threw her to the ground and raped her on the sidewalk, according to authorities. The suspect then ran off.

The suspect is believed to be a black man in his 40s. He is about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds with a slim build. He was clean shaven with short hair, according to police.He was wearing jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS). Tips can also be submitted onlineor via text message by sending TIP577 to 274637 (CRIMES). All calls are confidential.