Four Dead. Hundreds Hurt. Benedetto Shrugs.

A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The driver sideswiped a parked car. The victim fell, suffering head trauma and a shattered leg. He faces amputation. The car was found abandoned. The street bears old scars.

NY Daily News reported on April 26, 2025, that a 32-year-old man in Pelham Bay, Bronx, was critically injured after trying to stop a carjacker. Surveillance video shows the victim sprinting to his double-parked Infiniti as a suspect entered and sped away. The suspect sideswiped a parked car, knocking the victim to the street. He suffered head trauma and a fractured leg, and may require amputation. The article quotes a local, 'This has absolutely happened before,' highlighting repeated car thefts in the area. The car was later found abandoned. The incident underscores persistent dangers for bystanders and the ongoing threat of vehicle theft in city neighborhoods.

• Bronx Carjacking Leaves Man Critically Injured, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-26

A Ford SUV crashes head-on along Charles J Crimi Road near Pelham Parkway. The 42-year-old driver dies at the wheel, harness still buckled. Another man survives. Night air thickens with sirens. The road bears witness to sudden loss.

A fatal crash unfolded on Charles J Crimi Road near Pelham Parkway when a Ford SUV struck head-on, according to the police report. The driver, a 42-year-old man, was found dead behind the wheel, his lap belt and harness still fastened. The report states the vehicle was traveling straight ahead with a center front-end impact, and the driver was licensed. Another man, also 42, survived the crash. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor, offering no further detail on the precise cause. No evidence in the report points to any error or action by the victim beyond his role as driver. The narrative underscores the violence of the collision and the abruptness of loss, while the data leaves the systemic danger and unanswered questions hanging in the night air.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808167, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The vehicle dragged him down the street. Police found him battered, head and leg broken. The car, abandoned, bore scars of violence. The thief vanished. The city’s system failed to stop it.

According to the New York Post (April 25, 2025), a 32-year-old man was critically injured after being dragged by his own car during a daylight theft on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. The article reports, 'Officers found the victim badly injured with trauma to his head and leg a block away.' Surveillance footage shows the man trying to stop the thief by grabbing the car window as it sped away. The Infiniti was later found abandoned with heavy damage. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the Bronx 'the absolute best place' in New York City to steal a car, citing a 3.6% rise in thefts in the borough, despite a citywide decrease. The incident highlights ongoing gaps in car theft prevention and prosecution.

• Man Dragged By Stolen Car In Bronx, New York Post, Published 2025-04-25

A man lies broken on Wilkinson Avenue, his body crushed by metal and rage. Blood stains the Bronx street. Two vehicles, one parked, one battered. Two women stand silent. The city’s indifference echoes in the aftermath.

A 32-year-old man suffered severe crush injuries to his entire body after being struck on Wilkinson Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident involved a 2017 Infiniti sedan and a parked 2024 Toyota SUV. The police report describes the pedestrian as 'semiconscious' and 'broken' in the street, with blood marking the scene. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, explicitly pointing to dangerous driver behavior as the cause of the crash. The parked SUV was unoccupied, while two women present at the scene were unharmed. The focus remains on the aggressive actions of the sedan’s driver, as documented by police. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808056, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The car crashed into parked vehicles. He was crushed and struck again by a fleeing SUV. Blood pooled on the Bronx street. He was left with critical head and leg injuries.

ABC7 reported on April 24, 2025, that a 32-year-old man suffered critical injuries while trying to stop a car thief on Wilkinson Avenue in the Bronx. Surveillance video captured the suspect entering the double-parked Infiniti as the owner ran to intervene. The man was dragged for a block and a half before the car crashed into parked vehicles. ABC7 notes, 'Witnesses described a bloody scene and severe leg injury.' After falling, the victim was also struck by the suspect’s SUV. Police said the suspect abandoned the stolen car and fled on foot. The incident highlights the dangers of vehicle theft and high-speed flight on city streets. No arrests have been made.

• Bronx Car Theft Leaves Man Critically Hurt, ABC7, Published 2025-04-24

An 18-year-old woman crossing E Tremont Ave was struck and left bleeding on the Bronx asphalt. The driver fled. Her leg was crushed. No name, no face, just pain and the echo of vanishing wheels.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old woman was crossing E Tremont Ave near Fink Ave when she was struck by a vehicle. The report states her 'leg [was] crushed' and she was found 'conscious on the cold pavement.' The driver did not remain at the scene, vanishing without providing aid or identification. The police report describes the incident as a hit-and-run, noting there was 'no name, no face. Just blood on the Bronx asphalt.' The report does not list any contributing factors attributed to the driver, but the act of fleeing highlights a systemic danger: drivers leaving injured pedestrians behind. The report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' but does not cite this as a contributing factor to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800524, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal screamed on the Cross Bronx Expressway. An Audi’s left side caved in. The lone driver, 25, was held by his belt but lost part of his leg. He did not wake. The car kept its silence.

A severe crash on the Cross Bronx Expressway left a 25-year-old Audi driver with an amputated leg, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the sedan traveled west, its left side absorbing the impact. The report states, 'An Audi took the hit on its left side. Metal screamed. The driver, 25, alone, lost part of his leg. The lap belt held him. He did not wake.' The driver was found unconscious, suffering a traumatic injury to the lower leg and foot. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on the cause or involvement of other vehicles. The focus remains on the catastrophic outcome and the systemic dangers present on high-speed corridors like the Cross Bronx Expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786044, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan plowed into a slowing Mack truck on Bruckner Expressway. Metal shrieked. The driver’s chest crushed, his arm torn. He stayed conscious as silence followed. Police cite inattention and tailgating. The road swallowed another body.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on Bruckner Expressway when a sedan, traveling north, crashed into the back of a slowing Mack tractor truck. According to the police report, the sedan driver suffered severe injuries, including chest trauma and an arm amputation, but remained conscious at the scene. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a slowing Mack truck,' with the impact crushing the driver’s chest and folding the bumper 'like paper.' Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The truck was slowing or stopping when struck. The report makes no mention of any actions by the truck driver contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the sedan driver’s failure to pay attention and maintain a safe distance, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760999, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man sprawled on East Tremont Avenue, head gashed, blood pooling in the Bronx night. No car lingered. Sirens cut the silence. The street bore witness to violence, leaving a lone pedestrian broken beneath the city’s indifferent lights.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was found bleeding with severe head lacerations on East Tremont Avenue near 3675 in the Bronx. The narrative describes the pedestrian lying in the roadway, his head torn open, with no vehicle present at the scene. The report states the incident occurred away from an intersection and outside a crosswalk. No vehicle type, driver information, or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The silence of the street, the absence of a car, and the presence of severe injury underscore the vulnerability of pedestrians and the persistent dangers that haunt city roads. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions or behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758507, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 66-year-old man crossed Hutchinson River Parkway at night. Four cars hit him in sequence. He died there, body broken under headlights and steel. The road offered no signal, no pause, only relentless speed and impact.

A 66-year-old pedestrian was killed on Hutchinson River Parkway after being struck by four vehicles in succession, according to the police report. The incident occurred at night, with the man crossing the dark roadway outside a crosswalk. The report states, 'Four cars struck him. One after another. Crush injuries. Whole body. No signal. No time. He died there, under headlights, beneath steel and speed.' All vehicles involved were traveling straight ahead, with points of impact listed as undercarriage, right front bumper, center front end, and left front quarter panel. Police data lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the crash and the pedestrian, offering no further detail on driver actions. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The sequence of impacts and the lack of a crossing signal highlight the systemic danger faced by pedestrians on high-speed parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752748, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped collided with a taxi making a U-turn on Westchester Avenue. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, was ejected, suffering a severe head injury. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed as key factors in the violent crash.

According to the police report, near 2511 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, a moped traveling northbound struck a taxi making a U-turn southbound. The point of impact was the taxi's left front bumper and the moped's center front end. The 21-year-old moped rider, unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained a severe head injury with significant bleeding. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the crash. The taxi driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the turn. The moped rider's unlicensed status and lack of helmet are noted but secondary to the primary driver errors. This collision underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving and unsafe speeds, especially to vulnerable road users in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752940, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 2007 Yamaha motorcycle tore down Commerce Avenue, Bronx, turning left at unsafe speed. The unlicensed rider and his 13-year-old passenger, both helmetless, were ejected and struck the pavement headfirst. Both died instantly in the darkness.

According to the police report, a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle was traveling at unsafe speed on Commerce Avenue near Newbold Avenue in the Bronx. The motorcycle, operated by a 21-year-old unlicensed rider, attempted a left turn and lost control. The report states both the rider and his 13-year-old passenger were ejected from the motorcycle, striking the pavement headfirst. Both individuals suffered fatal head injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. Neither the rider nor the passenger was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The crash occurred in the early morning darkness, underscoring the lethal consequences of high speed and improper turning on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747427, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly Member Benedetto backed a campaign donor’s bid to dodge city idling fines. DJ Transportation owes $65,000 for idling. Advocates say fumes harm neighborhoods. The company refuses to electrify. Disabled riders are used as a shield. Health loses. Industry wins.

On May 30, 2024, Bronx Assembly Member Michael Benedetto testified in support of exempting DJ Transportation from New York City’s anti-idling law. The matter, heard by city officials, centered on whether companies serving students with disabilities should avoid fines for running engines. Benedetto argued, "I believe DJ Ambulette should be ... given a variance to let them have their buses idle to properly maintain their temperature on their buses." DJ Transportation, a campaign donor, owes over $65,000 in unpaid fines and has not committed to electrifying its fleet. Benedetto denied any influence from donations. The Department of Environmental Protection and advocates rejected claims that idling is needed for temperature control, citing community health risks. Critics condemned the use of disabled clients as justification for continued pollution. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Bronx Pol Wants City to Exempt Campaign Donor From Idling Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-30

A taxi slammed into a 59-year-old woman crossing Co-op City Boulevard near Dreiser Loop. Blood pooled from her head. She stayed conscious as the cab’s crumpled front end gleamed under tinted glass. The street fell silent around the impact.

A 59-year-old woman was struck and injured by a taxi while crossing Co-op City Boulevard near Dreiser Loop, according to the police report. The collision occurred as the taxi was traveling straight ahead and hit the pedestrian head-on, causing severe bleeding from her head. The report notes the cab’s front end was crumpled and its tinted windows obscured the driver’s face. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Tinted Windows' were listed as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal and was not at an intersection, as documented in the report, but the presence of tinted windows is also cited as a factor. The focus remains on the driver’s visibility and the systemic risks posed by vehicle design and street conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728927, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A van collided with a parked sedan near Elgar Place. Three young men in the back, unbelted, took the brunt. Their necks crushed, pain silent beneath skin and bone. The van showed no damage. The impact left trauma behind.

According to the police report, a van traveling west near 100 Elgar Place in the Bronx struck a parked sedan. The report states, 'a van struck a parked sedan. Three young men in the back, unbelted, suffered crushed necks.' All three passengers, aged 21 to 25, sustained severe neck injuries described as 'crush injuries.' The van showed no visible damage. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both the van's driver and one of the injured passengers. No other contributing factors are cited. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The report does not mention any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The collision underscores the ongoing danger posed by driver inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727990, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Florida pickup turned right on Buhre Avenue. A 47-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck. Her neck crushed, pain etched in the street. She stayed conscious. The truck bore no scars. The city marked another wound.

A 2018 Nissan pickup truck with Florida plates turned right on Buhre Avenue near Bruckner Boulevard, striking a 47-year-old woman who was crossing at the intersection. According to the police report, the woman was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision occurred. She suffered crush injuries to her neck but remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes that the pickup truck showed 'no damage' after the impact. The driver was making a right turn at the time of the crash. The only contributing factors listed in the report are 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the violence of the impact: 'Her neck crushed. She stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The street held her pain.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, emphasizing the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726276, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs collided southbound on Bruckner Expressway at 2:15 a.m. One flipped, crushing steel and bursting airbags. A 20-year-old driver escaped conscious but with a torn arm. Police cite pedestrian confusion as the crash’s key factor.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling southbound on Bruckner Expressway collided at 2:15 a.m. One vehicle overturned and was described as 'demolished.' The 20-year-old male driver crawled out conscious but with severe lacerations to his arm. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are mentioned. The narrative states, 'Pedestrian confusion sparked it,' without further detail on pedestrian actions. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before impact. The focus remains on the violent consequences of the crash and the systemic dangers, with no victim behavior cited beyond the pedestrian confusion noted by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724250, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep swung right on Middletown Road. Its bumper smashed a young man’s face. Blood spilled. The man stood, conscious, pain etched in every breath. Four inside the car rolled on, untouched. The sedan bore no scar. The street bore the wound.

A 26-year-old pedestrian suffered severe facial bleeding when a Jeep sedan making a right turn struck him with its left front bumper on Middletown Road, according to the police report. The report states the man remained upright and conscious after the impact, though blood poured from his face. Four occupants inside the Jeep felt nothing, and the vehicle itself showed no damage. The police report lists the driver’s pre-crash action as 'Making Right Turn' and notes the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the violence of the collision and the physical toll on the pedestrian, while the driver’s actions—turning right—set the stage for the impact. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian behavior contributed to the crash. The pain remained on the street, unshared by those inside the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716626, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 2023 Honda crashed into a stopped sedan on Sackett Avenue near Eastchester Road. The driver of the struck car suffered crushing spinal injuries. Police cite distraction and tailgating. Metal, speed, and inattention closed the gap with brutal force.

According to the police report, a 2023 Honda sedan traveling south on Sackett Avenue near Eastchester Road crashed into the rear of a stopped 2014 Honda sedan at 6:42 a.m. The driver of the stationary vehicle, a 29-year-old woman, was left semiconscious with severe crush injuries to her back, described as 'crushed at the spine, semiconscious, held only by a lap belt.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The narrative states, 'Distraction and speed closed the gap too late.' The driver of the moving vehicle failed to maintain attention and adequate distance, leading to a violent rear-end collision. No contributing factors are attributed to the injured driver. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver distraction and tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701317, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 22-year-old on a Suzuki slammed into a pickup’s rear on East Tremont. A tire failed. He flew off, legs torn, bleeding out on Bronx asphalt. No gear, only pain. The road gave no mercy, just blood and steel.

A violent collision unfolded on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx when a 22-year-old motorcyclist struck the rear of a Ford pickup truck, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 2:00 PM, with both vehicles traveling southeast. The police report cites 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The motorcyclist, operating a 2004 Suzuki, was partially ejected from his bike and suffered severe lacerations to his legs. The narrative states, 'A tire gave out. He flew partway off. Legs torn. Awake. Bleeding.' The report further notes the rider wore no protective gear. Driver actions—specifically following too closely—are listed as primary causes. The pickup truck sustained damage to its left rear bumper, while the motorcycle’s front end was crushed. The crash left the young rider conscious but gravely injured, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver error and mechanical failure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700216, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14