Fifteen Dead, Still No Peace: Bronx Streets Bleed, Politicians Stall

Aug 9 - A cab driver died after an SUV, moving at 77 mph in a 25 zone, struck his car in the Bronx. The driver ran. DNA on the airbag led to charges. The street stayed silent. The loss remains.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-09), Imani Williams was charged after her SUV hit a livery cab at 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, killing driver Robert Godwin. Prosecutors say Williams used a bus lane, ran a red light, and fled on foot. DNA from the airbag identified her. District Attorney Darcel Clark said, 'This defendant was allegedly driving three times the speed limit when her SUV slammed into a livery cab.' The case highlights the deadly risk of speeding and reckless driving in city streets.

• Speeding SUV Kills Bronx Cab Driver, New York Post, Published 2025-08-09

Jul 21 - A sedan struck a 24-year-old man crossing E Tremont Ave with the signal. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered back crush injuries. The street stayed loud. The pain lingered.

A sedan hit a 24-year-old male pedestrian as he crossed E Tremont Ave at White Plains Rd in the Bronx. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his back. No vehicle damage was reported. The data shows the driver was making a right turn when the crash occurred. The police report does not mention any errors by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - A pickup truck hit a woman crossing Havemeyer Ave. She suffered severe head cuts. The driver failed to yield. Both were hurt. The street stayed raw and dangerous.

A Ram pickup truck struck a 55-year-old woman as she crossed Havemeyer Ave at Quimby Ave in the Bronx. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her head. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was also injured. Both injuries were linked to the driver’s failure to yield, as listed in the report. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - Two sedans slammed together on Rosedale Ave near Cross Bronx Expressway. Three people suffered crush injuries. Shock and pain filled the night. No cause named. Metal and bodies broke.

Two sedans crashed on Rosedale Ave by the Cross Bronx Expressway in the Bronx. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 30-year-old male driver, a 35-year-old male driver, and a 20-year-old female front passenger. All suffered crush injuries and shock. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are named. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

May 26 - A motorcycle slammed into parked cars on East 174th Street. The rider, thrown from his bike, suffered severe bleeding and a hip injury. Police cite driver inexperience and unsafe speed. The street bore the scars. The system failed again.

A 56-year-old man riding a motorcycle westbound on East 174th Street in the Bronx crashed into parked vehicles, including a pickup truck and an SUV. According to the police report, the motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe bleeding and a hip injury. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the data. No injuries were reported among the occupants of the parked vehicles. The police report highlights the dangers of inexperience and speed behind the handlebars. The crash left one man injured and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

Feb 14 - Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 3 - A BMW SUV turned through White Plains Road, striking a 75-year-old man crossing with the signal. The impact crushed him. He died in the street. The driver did not stop. The SUV showed no damage. The street kept moving.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old man was crossing White Plains Road near Wood Avenue in the Bronx, walking with the signal, when a BMW SUV made a left turn and struck him with its front end. The report states the pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries and died at the scene. The driver did not remain, and the vehicle showed no visible damage. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The victim's behavior—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the documented driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver failure to yield and inattention at Bronx intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790185 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 7 - An 18-year-old e-scooter rider bled onto Lafayette Avenue. The street did not yield. He stayed conscious, his face torn open. The pavement, unmoving, marked his southbound path with blood.

An 18-year-old male riding an e-scooter southbound on Lafayette Avenue near White Plains Road in the Bronx sustained a severe facial injury, according to the police report. The report states the rider was not wearing a helmet and was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The narrative describes, 'Blood ran from his face. He stayed awake. The pavement did not move.' Police classified the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were involved, and there is no indication of driver error by another party. The report notes the rider's lack of helmet use, but lists this detail only after describing the incident and does not attribute it as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the physical consequences and the environment, with no blame assigned to the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784508 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 6 - A Chevy pickup turned left on Seddon Street. A woman, 47, crossing at the intersection, was crushed beneath its wheels. The driver failed to yield. She died under the streetlamp, her life ended by a moment’s inattention.

According to the police report, a Chevy pickup truck was making a left turn at the corner of Seddon Street and St Raymond Avenue in the Bronx when it struck a 47-year-old woman crossing the intersection. The report states the driver 'did not yield,' and lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crushed beneath the vehicle and died at the scene. The incident occurred at 23:41. The police report does not cite any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. The deadly impact and fatal outcome were directly linked to driver actions and the systemic danger posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to people in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 6 - A 43-year-old man, unlicensed and bareheaded, rode his e-bike southwest on Metropolitan Oval. He was thrown. His face struck the street. Blood spread. Flesh tore. The pavement held him, silent and still, pain carving its mark.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old man was riding an e-bike southwest on Metropolitan Oval in the Bronx when he was ejected from the bike. The report states he was 'unlicensed and bareheaded.' The man suffered severe lacerations to his face after striking the street, with blood spreading and flesh torn. Police note the rider was the only occupant and was conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified.' The vehicle record confirms the e-bike driver was unlicensed at the time of the incident. No other vehicles were involved, and no vehicle damage was reported. The narrative and data focus on the unlicensed operation of the e-bike and the resulting serious injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - A Jeep, westbound on Bruckner, struck a 64-year-old man in the intersection. The SUV’s right front bumper broke his head. He died beneath the streetlamps. Police cite driver inattention. The city’s streets claim another life.

A 64-year-old man was killed at the corner of Bruckner Blvd and Castle Hill Ave when a westbound Jeep SUV struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 20:03. The pedestrian died at the scene, suffering fatal head injuries. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the collision. The vehicle, a 2022 Jeep registered in New Jersey, was traveling straight ahead when it struck the man in the intersection. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'crossing against the signal,' but this detail follows the primary fault of driver inattention. The deadly impact underscores the ongoing danger posed by inattentive drivers on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A motorscooter slammed into an SUV turning left on Boston Road. The 19-year-old rider, helmetless, was hurled to the pavement, head torn open. Aggressive driving and failure to yield left blood on Bronx concrete at midday.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at Boston Road and East 179th Street in the Bronx when a station wagon/SUV made a left turn and was struck by a motorscooter traveling straight. The report states the SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and cites 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The 19-year-old male motorscooter rider was ejected from his seat, suffering severe head lacerations and was found conscious at the scene. The narrative describes the rider as not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The SUV sustained damage to its right side doors, while the motorscooter's front end was crushed. The crash unfolded in broad daylight, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver aggression and failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A sedan ran a red light on Castle Hill Avenue, colliding head-on with an SUV. A 27-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died as the airbag deployed. The crash shattered her body. The Bronx night fell silent after the impact.

According to the police report, at 12:49 a.m. on Castle Hill Avenue near Randall Avenue in the Bronx, a sedan disregarded a traffic control signal and caused a fatal head-on collision with a station wagon/SUV. The report states: 'A sedan ran the light. Steel screamed.' The 27-year-old female front-seat passenger, who was wearing a seatbelt and protected by an airbag, suffered fatal injuries to her entire body. The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the driver's failure to obey the traffic signal. No victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash. This collision underscores the deadly consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771632 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - State DOT backs off highway plan. Now weighs bike and pedestrian path. Bronx officials and advocates push back against more lanes, more overpasses. Public left out. Final decision coming. Streets remain dangerous. Lives hang in the balance.

On November 5, 2024, the New York State Department of Transportation announced it is reconsidering its plan for a four-lane bypass road next to the Cross-Bronx Expressway. The agency now weighs three options: the original bypass, a bike-pedestrian path, or a two-lane road with a two-way bike lane. This shift follows a September letter from Bronx elected officials, including Assembly Member Karines Reyes, urging DOT to drop the bypass. The official matter summary states, 'DOT is now presenting three options as part of a $900-million project to rebuild five elevated sections of the expressway.' Environmental advocates remain opposed to more lanes and overpasses, wary of obscuring Starlight Park and the Bronx River. Daniel Ranells of the Bronx River Alliance said, 'We like east-west connections that make things safer for people who are walking and biking,' but called for better public involvement. DOT will release a draft environmental assessment and hold hearings this winter, with a final decision due in spring 2025.

• State Now Considering Car-Free Connector Next To Cross-Bronx Expwy Instead of Covert Highway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-05

Nov 1 - A sedan turns left on Pugsley Avenue. Its bumper slams a young woman’s neck as she crosses with the light. Blood pools on the dark street. The driver looked away. The car is untouched. The woman is not.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on Pugsley Avenue near Seward Avenue struck a 24-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with the signal. The report states she suffered a neck injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Police attribute the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver, licensed and operating a 2015 Honda sedan, looked away during the turn, according to the narrative. The vehicle sustained no damage. The woman’s action—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the driver’s errors are cited as contributing factors. The collision underscores the persistent danger left-turning vehicles pose to pedestrians in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768704 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - A distracted driver’s right front bumper struck a 19-year-old man walking alone on Bruckner Expressway. The impact broke his body. He died beneath the Bronx sky, silent. The system failed him. The driver’s inattention ended a life.

A 19-year-old pedestrian was killed on Bruckner Expressway when a driver, described in the police report as 'distracted,' struck him with the vehicle’s right front bumper. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:35 a.m. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway' when the collision happened. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact caused fatal injuries to the pedestrian’s entire body. No evidence in the police report suggests any contributing behavior by the victim prior to the crash. The driver’s failure to pay attention behind the wheel is the only cited cause, underscoring the persistent danger drivers pose to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 66-year-old man pedaled east on Commonwealth. A northbound GMC pickup hit him head-on. He flew from his bike, skull cracking on Bronx concrete. Blood pooled in the late morning sun. He died there, alone, on the street.

According to the police report, a 66-year-old man was riding his bike eastbound at the corner of Commonwealth and Westchester Avenues in the Bronx when a northbound GMC pickup truck struck him head-on. The report states, 'He flew from the bike, landed hard. His skull hit Bronx concrete. Blood on the street. He died there, alone, in the late morning sun.' The police narrative lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but does not cite any driver-specific errors or violations. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries. The report does not mention helmet use or any other cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the vulnerability of people on bikes when confronted by heavy vehicles in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764528 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19