AD 78’s Deadly Roads, Unfinished Work

Aug 7 - A flatbed truck struck a 69-year-old man on East Fordham Road. The left front bumper hit him. He was not in a crosswalk. His body broke in the street. He died there, alone, under steel. The truck kept west. The city kept moving.

A 69-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck traveling west on East Fordham Road struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, 'A flatbed truck going west crushed a 69-year-old man with its left front bumper. He was not in a crosswalk. His body broke in the street. He died there, alone, under the weight of steel.' The victim, a pedestrian, suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were documented in the data. The man was not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The truck was going straight ahead when the impact occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - Rep. Adriano Espaillat worked behind closed doors to stall Fordham Road bus lane improvements. Bronx lawmakers, once supportive, fell silent or opposed. The project, meant to speed up buses for 85,000 riders, now faces more delays. Vulnerable riders remain stuck in slow, dangerous traffic.

On August 3, 2023, Rep. Adriano Espaillat quietly lobbied Bronx officials against proposed Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. The project, under city review since 2022, aimed to speed up buses for 85,000 daily riders by installing dedicated busways or offset lanes. According to Streetsblog, Espaillat leaned on younger electeds to align with Council Member Oswald Feliz, a vocal critic. 'He defers to the local elected officials, and all of them seem to be in agreement,' said Espaillat’s chief of staff, Aneiry Batista. Lawmakers who once supported the upgrades grew silent or opposed them after Espaillat’s intervention. The Department of Transportation, MTA, and governor’s office met with Espaillat to discuss the project, but delays persisted. The opposition from Feliz and business groups led DOT to scrap the most ambitious safety options. Riders, many without cars, remain exposed to slow, hazardous conditions as cars block bus lanes and traffic crawls.

• Rep. Adriano Espaillat Rallying Bronx Pols Against Fordham Road Bus Lane Fixes: Sources, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

Jul 30 - A Jeep turned right on West Kingsbridge Road. The driver was distracted. The SUV hit a man on a bike who stood still. Metal slammed flesh. The cyclist flew. His leg split open. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious through the pain.

A crash occurred on West Kingsbridge Road near University Avenue in the Bronx. A Jeep SUV, making a right turn, struck a 38-year-old man who was stopped on his bike. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The cyclist was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not cited for any error. The impact was direct and violent, leaving the vulnerable road user badly hurt while the driver’s distraction and improper turn led to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 29 - A 74-year-old man crossed with the signal. Two cars collided. One struck him. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. One driver fled. The man did not rise. Aggressive driving and speed ruled the intersection.

A 74-year-old pedestrian was killed at East Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, he was crossing with the signal when two vehicles collided and one struck him. The report states: 'A 74-year-old man, crossing with the signal, was struck and killed. His head hit the pavement. Blood spread. Two cars crashed. One fled. The light changed. He did not rise.' Driver actions listed as contributing factors include 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The man suffered a fatal head injury. The crash involved a sedan and two SUVs. One vehicle fled the scene. The victim was not at fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642411 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 26 - A woman turned left on Bainbridge. An e-bike hit her hard. She flew, hit the street. Her hip shattered. Blood pooled. She lay awake, torn and gasping, the pavement hot beneath her. No helmet. The crash left her broken.

A 63-year-old woman riding a bike was struck by an e-bike while turning left on Bainbridge Avenue. According to the police report, 'A woman turned left on her bike. An e-bike came straight. They met hard. She flew, hit the street. Her hip shattered. Blood pooled.' The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The woman was ejected from her bike and suffered severe lacerations and a shattered hip. She was conscious at the scene, lying on the hot pavement. No helmet was worn, as noted in the report. The crash highlights the danger when lane usage breaks down and vulnerable road users collide.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641193 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A 23-year-old man on a moped hit the curve on Jerome Avenue fast. He lost control. He flew from the seat. Blood pooled. His leg shattered. Skin split. Unsafe speed and a sharp lane change left him broken on Bronx pavement.

A 23-year-old man riding a moped south on Jerome Avenue at Morris Avenue in the Bronx crashed while traveling at unsafe speed and making an unsafe lane change. According to the police report, 'Speed and a sharp turn wrote the end.' The rider was ejected from the moped and suffered severe lacerations and a shattered leg. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. No helmet was worn, as noted in the data, but the primary causes were speed and lane movement. The crash left blood on the pavement and another mark in the city’s toll.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A car hit a 17-year-old boy riding his bike near East 198th Street. The front end smashed him. His head was torn. Blood spread on the street. He stayed conscious, half-thrown from the bike. Traffic control was ignored. Doors bent. Flesh cut.

A 17-year-old male bicyclist was struck by a vehicle on Grand Concourse near East 198th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash involved the center front end of a vehicle colliding with the right side doors of the bike. The boy suffered severe head lacerations and was partially ejected, but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Traffic control ignored.' The listed contributing factor is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a contributing factor. The data shows a clear failure to obey traffic controls, leading to serious injury for the young cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 23 - A Ford SUV hit a 29-year-old man in the crosswalk at Grand Concourse and East 198th Street. The impact was direct and fatal. The street stayed busy. The man did not get up. The city moved on.

A 29-year-old pedestrian was killed when a 2002 Ford SUV struck him head-on at Grand Concourse and East 198th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the man was crossing at the intersection when the SUV, traveling north, hit him with its center front end. The report states, 'A 29-year-old man stepped into the crosswalk against the light. A 2002 Ford SUV struck him head-on. His body broke on the pavement.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The crash left one person dead and a city unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4615212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 23 - A van struck a 95-year-old woman in a marked Bronx crosswalk. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the street. Another woman, 65, was also hit. Both survived. The van driver failed to yield. Distraction played a role. The danger was clear.

A van traveling east on Thwaites Place near Olinville Avenue struck two women, ages 95 and 65, as they crossed in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the 95-year-old suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The 65-year-old also sustained a head injury and reported pain. Both pedestrians were crossing with no signal present. The police report states: 'A van struck a 95-year-old woman head-on in a marked crosswalk. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. She lived.' The driver, a 64-year-old man, failed to yield the right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted, as listed in the contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk to pedestrians when drivers do not yield and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 11 - A man crossed East Kingsbridge Road with the signal. A car’s left front bumper hit him. His eye was torn. Blood pooled in the crosswalk. He stayed conscious. Failure to yield left him marked and bleeding.

A 50-year-old man was crossing East Kingsbridge Road with the signal when a vehicle’s left front bumper struck him. According to the police report, 'Failure to yield left its mark in skin, not just law.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his eye but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The man was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when he was hit. No other contributing factors were noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581659 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 2 - A Mazda sedan hit a man on Bronx River Parkway. He was outside the crosswalk. The car’s front bumper crushed him. He died in the road. The night was dark. No driver errors were listed. The system failed to protect him.

A 30-year-old man was killed on Bronx River Parkway when a southbound Mazda sedan struck him with its front bumper. According to the police report, 'A 30-year-old man lay outside the crosswalk. A southbound Mazda struck him with its front bumper. His body was crushed. He died there, in the dark, on the road.' The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries. The driver, a 48-year-old man, was not reported injured. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The crash highlights the deadly risk for pedestrians on major roadways, especially at night and outside marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - A Volkswagen SUV hit a 65-year-old man crossing Bronx River Parkway before dawn. The impact killed him instantly. His body was torn open. He died alone in the dark. The SUV’s front end bore the brunt. No other injuries reported.

A 65-year-old man was killed when a northbound Volkswagen SUV struck him head-on as he crossed Bronx River Parkway before sunrise. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The SUV’s center front end took the impact, resulting in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, described as severe lacerations to the entire body. The driver, a 36-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the police report. No other occupants were hurt. The crash left the pedestrian dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574336 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 2 - A sedan veered off East 196th Street. It struck a parked Ford. The driver, 49, died alone in the front seat. Police cite distraction. No seat belt. Morning sun caught the broken glass. The street fell silent.

A sedan traveling on East 196th Street crashed into a parked Ford. The driver, a 49-year-old man, died in the front seat. According to the police report, 'Distraction was the last thing he saw.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the driver was not wearing a seat belt, but this is mentioned only after the primary error of distraction. No other injuries were reported. The parked Ford was unoccupied. The crash left shattered glass and a silent street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561148 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - Steel tore open on East 182nd. Two cars ran the light. Seven people hurt. One man pinned, paralyzed, his leg destroyed. Blood on the street. Head wounds, broken limbs, pain. The night held its breath. Traffic control meant nothing.

Two vehicles—a sedan and an SUV—collided on East 182nd Street at 2:30 a.m. Seven people were hurt. According to the police report, both cars disregarded traffic control. One 26-year-old driver was pinned, conscious, and reported paralysis with severe leg injury. Passengers suffered head trauma, arm and leg injuries, and pain across their bodies. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left the street silent, marked by broken bodies and shattered steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555314 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - A moped struck an SUV turning left on Jerome Avenue. The 16-year-old rider flew from his seat, hit the ground, and suffered a deep leg wound. Blood pooled on the street. Unsafe speed and driver distraction marked the crash.

A violent crash unfolded at Jerome Avenue and East 204th Street in the Bronx. A 16-year-old moped rider, traveling south, collided with a westbound SUV making a left turn. According to the police report, 'A moped slammed into an SUV turning left. The 16-year-old rider flew from the seat, no helmet, no belt. He hit the ground hard. His leg split open. Blood ran toward the curb.' The teen was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV driver, age 46, was not reported injured. The report notes the moped rider wore no helmet, but only after citing driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 29 - An Audi turned left on West 195th. A cyclist rode straight. Metal hit flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, bled. He lay semiconscious, torn open. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The street fell silent.

A crash on West 195th Street involved an Audi SUV making a left turn and a cyclist riding straight. The cyclist, a 27-year-old man, was struck head-on and suffered severe lacerations across his body. According to the police report, 'An Audi turned left. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck him head-on. He flew, hit pavement, bled from everywhere. Semiconscious, torn open. The SUV’s front crumpled. The street went still.' The cyclist was partially ejected and left semiconscious. Both the cyclist and the SUV’s front end took the full force of impact. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were formally cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - A Honda SUV struck a moped head-on near Marion Avenue. The moped rider, helmeted, stood bleeding and shocked, his face torn. The SUV’s front bumper crumpled. A parked Mercedes, scraped and silent, bore witness. Streets in the Bronx ran red.

A Honda SUV collided head-on with a moped near 2654 Marion Avenue in the Bronx. The 40-year-old moped rider suffered severe head lacerations and shock. According to the police report, 'A moped rider, 40, hit head-on by a Honda’s front bumper. Blood leaked through his helmet. He stood, shocked, face torn.' The SUV driver was unlicensed and failed to yield the right-of-way. Driver inexperience was also cited as a contributing factor. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, but the impact left him injured. A parked Mercedes sedan was also damaged in the crash. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540961 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A motorcycle slammed into an SUV on University Avenue. The force threw a 27-year-old woman from the bike. Her head struck the pavement. She died under the streetlights. Driver errors and disregard for traffic control marked the night.

A deadly crash unfolded on University Avenue near West 190th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, a motorcycle struck an SUV head-on. A 27-year-old woman riding as a passenger on the motorcycle was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The motorcycle driver, a 37-year-old man, was also ejected and injured. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Keep Right' as contributing factors for both drivers. The motorcycle operator was unlicensed. The passenger was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but only after the driver errors. The crash left one dead and others injured, underscoring the dangers when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - A Jeep swung wide on Jerome Avenue. An e-bike hit hard into its side. The rider’s leg bled heavy. Metal twisted. The pickup held two. The crash left the e-bike rider hurt, the street stained, the danger plain.

A Jeep pick-up truck made a wide turn across Jerome Avenue near 2575. An e-bike, heading straight, struck the truck’s right side. The 25-year-old e-bike rider suffered severe bleeding from his leg but stayed conscious. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The Jeep carried two men, ages 24 and 51, who were not reported injured. The e-bike rider was unlicensed. The police report details that the Jeep was making a U-turn when the collision occurred. The impact bent metal and left the e-bike’s front end damaged. The crash highlights the risks when drivers turn wide and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 12 - A Nissan tore south on Bronx River Parkway. The driver, alone, changed lanes too fast. Metal twisted. He bled from the head, conscious but hurt. Unsafe speed and fatigue drove the crash. The harness held. The speed did not.

A single-car crash on Bronx River Parkway left a 30-year-old male driver injured. According to the police report, 'A 2003 Nissan tore south, changing lanes too fast. Metal crumpled. The driver, 30, sat bleeding from the head. Conscious. Alone. The harness held him. The speed did not.' The crash occurred at 3:01 a.m. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as contributing factors. The driver suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious and was not ejected, restrained by a harness. No other occupants or road users were involved. The data points to driver error: unsafe speed and fatigue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4501955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19