Morris Heights Bleeds—Tapia’s Watch, Still No Justice

Sep 30 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 29 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 23 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 27 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - A young man rode north on Grand Concourse. He swerved from a phantom car. His moped hit the street. He flew. His head struck concrete. He died before help arrived. No helmet. No license. No second chance.

A 23-year-old man was killed while riding a 2023 moped northbound on Grand Concourse near East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, swerved in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. He lost control, was ejected, and suffered fatal head injuries on impact. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The rider's lack of helmet and license are noted in the official report, after the primary cause. The crash left one dead before emergency services arrived.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656320 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 18 - Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it '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.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

Aug 5 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 13 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 13 - A Toyota sedan struck a baby boy on Grand Concourse. His hip shattered. He lay broken and incoherent in the street. The night was silent. The dark pressed in. No driver error listed. The child suffered. The city watched.

A Toyota sedan hit a baby boy near Grand Concourse and East 183rd Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the child’s hip was crushed. He lay in the street, incoherent, with severe injuries. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The boy, a pedestrian, suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. No information is given about the driver’s actions or the circumstances leading up to the crash. The police report does not mention any helmet or signal use. The facts remain stark: a child was struck and gravely hurt by a car in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 7 - Mothers starve for Sammy’s Law. Hochul offers sympathy, not action. Heastie keeps the bill off the floor. The law would let New York City lower speed limits. Assembly support grows. Vulnerable road users wait. Streets stay deadly. Lawmakers stall. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, stalled in the New York State Assembly, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. On June 7, 2023, Governor Hochul expressed sympathy for hunger-striking mothers but refused to pressure Speaker Carl Heastie, who blocks the bill from a vote. The bill passed the Senate and has City Council and mayoral support. The matter summary: 'Hochul has previously expressed support for Sammy's Law, which would allow New York City to set its speed limits below 25 miles per hour.' Amy Cohen, a mother and advocate, demanded action, showing Heastie photos of victims. Seven new Assembly members, including Yudelka Tapia, Al Taylor, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and Brian Cunningham, now back the bill, giving it majority support among NYC Assembly members. Still, the Speaker’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed to speeding drivers and systemic danger.

• Hunger Strike Day 2: Gov. Hochul is ‘Sympathetic,’ But Won’t Pressure Heastie on Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-07

Jun 1 - A car hit a man head-on at West Fordham Road and Loring Place North. His head split. Blood pooled by the curb. He tried to speak but could not. The driver was new. The night stayed silent.

A 41-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a vehicle at West Fordham Road and Loring Place North in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'The driver was new behind the wheel.' The man suffered severe head lacerations and was left incoherent at the scene. The only contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inexperience.' The impact was to the center front end of the vehicle. No other contributing factors, such as helmet or signal use, are noted in the data. The crash left the pedestrian gravely injured, with blood pooling by the curb.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 27 - A 67-year-old man stepped from behind a parked SUV. An Acura sedan struck him head-on. His hip and leg crushed. The driver fled. The street roared on. No warning. No time to react.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was hit by an Acura sedan near 4246 Park Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the man emerged from behind a parked SUV when the northbound Acura struck him head-on, crushing his hip and leg. The driver did not stop and left the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was emerging from behind a parked vehicle, but the primary errors cited are on the part of the driver. No mention of helmet or signal use is included in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4635430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 21 - A sedan hit a moped on 3rd Avenue near East 175th. The rider flew off, head bleeding on the street. He lay semiconscious. The car’s front end crumpled. Driver inattention marked the crash. The street bore the cost.

A sedan struck a northbound moped on 3rd Avenue near East 175th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a northbound moped. The 21-year-old unlicensed rider, helmetless, was thrown to the pavement. His head bled onto the street. He lay semiconscious. The car’s front end crumpled.' The moped rider suffered severe head injuries and was ejected. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, as noted after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630997 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 11 - Two cars slammed head-on. Metal screamed. A young man bled from the face, trapped in the front seat. Both drivers, women, hurt. Alcohol fueled the crash. The SUV rolled south. The sedan stopped. The night stayed cold and loud.

A head-on collision on the Major Deegan Expressway left three people injured. According to the police report, two vehicles—a sedan and an SUV—struck each other front-to-front at 2:50 a.m. A 22-year-old male passenger suffered severe bleeding from the face. Both drivers, women, were also hurt. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The SUV continued south after the crash; the sedan did not. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. According to the police report, driver impairment led to this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 20 - A Nova bus hit a 62-year-old man on an e-scooter at University Avenue and West Burnside. His head split open. Blood marked the street. The bus rolled on, untouched. The man lay broken. The city’s danger did not blink.

A Nova bus struck a 62-year-old man riding an e-scooter at the corner of University Avenue and West Burnside Avenue. According to the police report, the bus hit the man, leaving him semiconscious with severe head lacerations and blood on the pavement. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors are cited in the data. The e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the narrative after the collision details. The bus continued on, unmarked. The crash left the vulnerable road user gravely injured, underscoring the risks faced by those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 22 - A Nissan sped down West Fordham Road. A Tesla turned left. Metal tore. The Nissan’s nose hit the Tesla’s rear. A young man bled from the face. He stayed conscious. The street fell quiet. Unsafe speed left its mark.

A crash unfolded on West Fordham Road at 2:35 a.m. A Nissan sedan, traveling west at unsafe speed, collided with the rear quarter panel of a Tesla sedan making a left turn. According to the police report, 'A Nissan sped west. A Tesla turned left. Metal screamed. The Nissan's nose struck the Tesla’s rear.' A 24-year-old man, the Nissan’s driver, suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The injured man wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger when speed overpowers control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4614839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 17 - An e-bike hit a woman and toddler crossing Webster Avenue. Blood ran down their bodies. The rider did not stop. Both victims stayed conscious. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 19-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl were struck by an e-bike while crossing Webster Avenue near East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider hit them and did not stop. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her entire body but remained conscious. The child bled from the head. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. Both victims were left injured at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591659 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 3 - A BMW SUV turned left too fast on West Burnside Avenue. The bumper hit a 34-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her hip broke. Blood soaked her leg. She stayed awake. The driver had New Jersey plates.

A BMW SUV, registered in New Jersey, made a left turn at West Burnside Avenue and Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. The vehicle struck a 34-year-old woman who was crossing the street with the signal. According to the police report, 'A BMW SUV turned left too fast. The bumper struck a 34-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her hip broke. Blood soaked her leg. She stayed awake.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The woman suffered a broken hip and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The data shows the driver’s actions—unsafe speed and aggression—directly led to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18