No More Death by Delay: Demand Safe Streets Now

A Mercedes slammed into Darryl Mathis Jr.’s stalled car on the Major Deegan. Mathis called for help. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Mathis to the hospital. He died. The hit-and-run driver remains at large. The highway stayed deadly, silent.

NY Daily News reported on March 24, 2025, that Darryl Mathis Jr. was killed after his disabled car was rear-ended on the Major Deegan Expressway. Mathis, stranded after a battery failure, called friends for help. As he waited, a Mercedes-Benz struck his vehicle from behind. According to the article, 'He called to get a jump, and after that, he got hit from behind, a hit-and-run.' The Mercedes driver fled the scene and has not been caught. Mathis was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The crash highlights the lethal risk faced by stranded motorists and the ongoing danger of hit-and-run drivers on city highways.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Stranded Bronx Motorist, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-24

A Mercedes plowed into a Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. The Ford’s driver died at the wheel, his body broken by the impact. Darkness lingered. Police cite driver inattention. The road bore witness to another life lost to distraction.

According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan traveling southbound on the Major Deegan Expressway struck the rear of a 2009 Ford sedan at 3:47 a.m. The Ford’s driver, a 39-year-old man, died at the scene. The report states the Mercedes 'crushed the rear' of the Ford, leaving the victim dead at the wheel with injuries to his entire body. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The Ford was hit in the right rear bumper by the Mercedes’s left front bumper, consistent with a rear-end impact. The victim was unbelted, but the police report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the deadly consequences of driver distraction, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800421, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A black Mercedes slammed into a Ford on the Major Deegan. Both cars spun out. The Mercedes driver ran. The Ford driver died at St. Barnabas. Police closed the highway for hours. No arrests. The city counts another loss.

NY Daily News reported on March 22, 2025, that a 39-year-old driver was killed in a hit-and-run crash on the Major Deegan Expressway near West Fordham Road in the Bronx. According to police, a black Mercedes-Benz rear-ended the victim’s Ford Crown Victoria around 3:45 a.m., causing both vehicles to lose control and crash. The Mercedes driver fled the scene on foot. The article states, 'EMS rushed the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died.' The southbound lanes were closed for several hours during the investigation. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed impacts and the ongoing problem of drivers fleeing crash scenes.

• Bronx Highway Hit-And-Run Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-22

A 60-year-old e-bike rider crashed headfirst into a parked SUV on Jerome Avenue. Blood streaked his face. He stayed conscious, but the impact left him with severe head lacerations. The SUV never moved. The crash was sudden, brutal, and avoidable.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old man riding an e-bike on Jerome Avenue near East 190th Street collided headfirst with the left side doors of a parked SUV. The narrative states, 'An e-bike struck the side of a parked SUV. A 60-year-old man hit headfirst. Blood ran down his face. He stayed conscious.' The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The SUV was stationary and unoccupied at the time, while the e-bike was traveling straight ahead before the collision. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to the head but remained conscious at the scene. No mention is made of helmet use or other cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The report underscores the role of inattention and improper lane usage in this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792914, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

On Webster Avenue, a turning SUV blocked a moped’s path. The moped struck the SUV’s front. The rider’s helmet split. His head took the blow. He stayed conscious, injured and alone. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The street went silent.

A crash occurred on Webster Avenue near Ittner Place in the Bronx, involving a station wagon/SUV and a moped, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a left turn when the moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV's right front bumper. The moped rider, a 30-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his head. The police report attributes the collision to 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The moped rider's helmet cracked under the impact, but he remained conscious at the scene. The SUV sustained no damage, while the moped absorbed the force. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793291, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorbike slammed into a sedan’s rear on Cross Bronx Expressway. The rider, helmetless, flew headfirst and gashed her neck. She lay conscious, bleeding on the asphalt as traffic moved on. The crash left her broken, the city unchanged.

According to the police report, a motorbike collided with the rear of a sedan on the Cross Bronx Expressway near Monroe Avenue at 13:42. The report states the rider, a 32-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered severe neck lacerations, remaining conscious but bleeding on the roadway. The police cite 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling south and going straight ahead when the motorbike struck the sedan’s right rear quarter panel. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary focus remains on the cited driver errors. The incident underscores the dangers of close following and unsafe passing on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761236, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 35-year-old man sped north on Grand Concourse, lost control of his motorcycle, and was violently ejected. He landed headfirst, unconscious with severe crush injuries. Blood pooled under streetlights as the city moved on, indifferent and roaring.

According to the police report, at 8:50 p.m. on Grand Concourse near East 180th Street in the Bronx, a 35-year-old unlicensed male driver operated a 2023 Fengyuan motorcycle northbound at an unsafe speed. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was ejected after striking hard, landing headfirst, resulting in unconsciousness and severe crush wounds to his head. Blood was noted pooling under the streetlights. The driver was not wearing a helmet, a fact mentioned only after the driver errors. No other victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The motorcycle sustained damage to its center front end. The crash highlights the dangers of unlicensed, distracted, and speeding motorcycle operation in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726471, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep surged from parking on Selwyn Avenue. A 26-year-old woman stood in its path. Metal met flesh. She fell, semiconscious, blood pooling. Lacerations marked her body. The SUV showed no damage. The driver remained unscathed.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV pulled out from parking near 1650 Selwyn Avenue in the Bronx at 11:35 a.m. The vehicle struck a 26-year-old woman who was standing in the street. The report states she was left semiconscious and bleeding, with severe lacerations across her body. The SUV bore no visible damage, and the driver was not injured. Police list 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor in the collision. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s aggressive maneuver as the primary cause of this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722462, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 35-year-old man on a southbound e-bike struck a sedan’s left side on Park Avenue near East 183rd Street. Crushed pelvis. No helmet. The street swallowed the sound. The car’s front crumpled. He died where he fell.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old man riding a southbound e-bike collided with the left side of a sedan on Park Avenue near East 183rd Street in the Bronx at 19:38. The report states the e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no protective equipment. The impact crushed his pelvis, resulting in his death at the scene. The sedan’s front end was also heavily damaged. Police cite 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor in the crash, highlighting a critical driver error that led to the fatal collision. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the sedan driver. The focus remains on the disregard for traffic control, which proved deadly for the vulnerable e-bike rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703164, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 26-year-old man, unlicensed and unhelmeted, slammed his motorscooter head-on at Grand Concourse and East 184th. His skull split. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, gasping, deep cuts across his head. The morning was still dark.

A violent crash unfolded on Grand Concourse at East 184th in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 26-year-old man, operating a motorscooter without a license and without a helmet, crashed head-on. The report describes the aftermath: 'His skull split. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, gasping, deep cuts across his head.' The incident occurred while it was still dark. The police report lists the driver's unlicensed status and lack of helmet as facts, but does not cite any other contributing factors. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unlicensed, unprotected operation of motor vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699571, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a 54-year-old woman at Webster Avenue and East 184th Street. She lay bleeding, scalp torn, head wounded. The car showed no damage. The street fell silent after the crash. Blood marked the spot where she fell.

A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection. She lay conscious, blood running from her head, scalp torn. The car bore no damage. The street held the silence that follows impact.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the report. The vehicle, a sedan, showed no visible damage after the crash. The woman was injured while crossing at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped struck a car making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue. The rider’s legs shattered. He stayed conscious. Sirens came late. The street was quiet except for his scream. The crash left pain and broken bodies behind.

A moped rider, age 32, suffered severe crush injuries to his legs after colliding with a car making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue near East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the moped 'slammed into a car’s left side mid-U-turn.' The rider remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped was traveling straight when it struck the car’s left side doors. No helmet use or signaling issues were cited in the report. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670159, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep smashed into a parked Volvo truck on Major Deegan. The Jeep’s front crumpled. Its driver, 51, bled from the face but stayed awake. Police list distraction as the cause. The truck never moved. Metal, blood, and silence followed.

A 1991 Jeep struck a parked Volvo truck on the Major Deegan Expressway. The Jeep’s front end folded in the crash. The driver, a 51-year-old man, suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The Volvo truck was parked and did not move before the collision. No other injuries were reported. The data lists no errors for the parked truck. The only listed cause is distraction by the Jeep driver. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667683, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman on a moped slammed into a parked garbage truck on University Avenue. She flew from the seat. Her head hit the pavement. Blood pooled in the dark. She lay unconscious, her injuries grave. Distraction behind the handlebars proved deadly.

A 33-year-old woman riding a moped crashed into a parked garbage truck near 2265 University Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was ejected from the moped and suffered severe head lacerations, lying unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary cause cited is driver distraction. The garbage truck was parked and sustained no damage. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665012, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man crossed Grand Concourse with the light. An e-scooter sped through. The frame smashed his face. Blood spilled. He fell, semiconscious. The scooter kept going. The street stayed hard and silent.

A 35-year-old man was crossing Grand Concourse with the signal when an e-scooter hit him at speed. According to the police report, 'A man crossed with the light. An e-scooter came fast. His face met the frame. Blood poured. He dropped, semiconscious, 35 years old. The scooter rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding and facial injuries, left semiconscious at the intersection. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The e-scooter showed no damage and continued on after the crash. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657593, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 7979 would force drivers with a record of reckless speeding or red-light running to install speed-limiting tech. The bill targets those who rack up points or camera tickets. It aims to keep the most dangerous drivers in check.

Assembly Bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, was introduced on August 19, 2023. The bill sits in the Assembly, awaiting committee action. Its summary reads: 'Requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' The primary sponsor is Emily Gallagher (District 50), joined by co-sponsors Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, Patricia Fahy, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, MaryJane Shimsky, Yudelka Tapia, Steven Raga, Anna Kelles, Robert C. Carroll, and Sarahana Shrestha. The bill cracks down on repeat offenders, forcing them to install technology that blocks speeding. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill’s intent is clear: rein in drivers who endanger others again and again.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-19

A Jeep turned left on West Fordham Road. A bike kept straight. Steel hit flesh. The 18-year-old cyclist’s arm split open. Blood pooled on the Bronx street. Sirens broke the morning. The rider stayed conscious, pain sharp and bright.

An SUV collided with a bicyclist on West Fordham Road near the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. The 18-year-old cyclist, traveling straight, was struck by a Jeep making a left turn. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm and was partially ejected from his bike but remained conscious. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the danger when drivers turn across the path of vulnerable road users at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651935, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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

A Ford SUV swung wide on University Avenue. The moped hit head-on. The rider flew, helmetless. His skull split open. Blood pooled on the street. He survived. He remembers. The crash left scars and questions in the Bronx.

A Ford SUV made a wide U-turn on University Avenue near Morton Place. A moped, heading straight, struck the SUV head-on. According to the police report, the SUV driver was inattentive and speeding. The moped rider, unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The moped rider, age 29, survived but sustained a split skull and severe lacerations. The crash left blood on the asphalt and a survivor who remembers every moment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645187, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man, fifty, struck by a westbound vehicle on Jerome Avenue. The car’s front end hit him. His leg was torn from knee to foot. He lay conscious, blood pooling on the asphalt. The street kept moving. The wound was brutal. The pain, unspoken.

A 50-year-old man walking near Jerome Avenue and East 183rd Street in the Bronx was struck by a westbound vehicle’s front end. According to the police report, the impact tore his leg from knee to foot. He remained conscious on the pavement as blood pooled around him. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The vehicle type and driver details are unspecified. The man suffered a traumatic amputation. No information is provided about the pedestrian’s actions or location at the time of the crash. The street kept moving as he lay injured. No helmet or signal use is mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643627, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14