No More Half Measures: Blood Stains Riverdale’s Streets

A Toyota sedan hit a 57-year-old man at dawn on Mosholu Parkway. Metal crushed his face. He stayed conscious. The car rolled on, untouched. The street held its breath. Blood marked the quiet morning.

A 57-year-old man was struck and seriously injured by a Toyota sedan on Mosholu Parkway near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash occurred at dawn as the man was in the roadway. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan, traveling east, hit the man with its undercarriage, causing severe facial injuries. The victim remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes that the vehicle showed no damage. No driver errors were cited in the data. The Parkway stayed still as emergency crews responded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683135, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 16-year-old on an e-bike hit a turning sedan on Riverdale Avenue. He flew from the bike. Landed hard. Unconscious. Crushed. Speed tore control from his hands. The street fell silent. The city marked another wound.

A 16-year-old riding a Solar e-bike was severely injured after colliding with a Toyota sedan making a left turn at Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor in the crash. The teen was ejected from his e-bike, landed hard, and was found unconscious with crush injuries to his entire body. The sedan was turning left when the crash occurred. The report lists no errors for the sedan driver. The only contributing factor named is unsafe speed. No mention is made of helmet use or signals in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680461, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man walked with traffic on the Major Deegan. No crosswalk. No lights. A vehicle hit him. His head split open. He bled on the cold asphalt, semiconscious and alone in the dark.

A 47-year-old man was walking along the Major Deegan Expressway at night when a vehicle struck him. According to the police report, he was not at an intersection and there were no lights or crosswalk. The impact left him semiconscious with a severe head injury, bleeding on the roadway. The report does not list any specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle type is unspecified. No mention of helmet or signaling is made in the report. The man was left injured and alone on the expressway, highlighting the danger faced by pedestrians on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673574, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW SUV hit a 63-year-old man at East 231st Street and White Plains Road. He fell hard. Blood pooled from his head. The SUV’s front crumpled. Two people sat inside. The street stood silent. The man lay motionless.

A BMW SUV traveling north on White Plains Road struck a 63-year-old pedestrian at the intersection with East 231st Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the man suffered a severe head injury and was found unconscious and bleeding. The impact crushed the SUV’s right front quarter panel. Two people were inside the vehicle. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash. The street was left silent as the man lay motionless, blood pooling from his head.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658523, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai sedan struck an 18-year-old man mid-block on Bainbridge Avenue. The right front hit him hard. Blood poured. He stayed conscious, hurt everywhere. The car kept moving. The boy did not. The street swallowed another body.

An 18-year-old pedestrian was struck by a 2013 Hyundai sedan while crossing Bainbridge Avenue near East 212th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A 2013 Hyundai struck an 18-year-old man crossing mid-block. The right front crushed him. He bled from everywhere. Conscious. Hurt all over. The sedan kept going straight. The boy did not.' The impact left the young man with severe bleeding and injuries across his entire body. The data lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. No driver errors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657838, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV struck the rear-left of an Oldsmobile on Broadway at West 230th. The Oldsmobile’s 83-year-old driver died. Crushed ribs. Whiplash. No sirens. Just steel and silence. Unsafe speed and ignored signals marked the crash.

An 83-year-old man driving an eastbound 1986 Oldsmobile was killed when a southbound SUV hit the rear-left of his car at Broadway and West 230th Street. According to the police report, 'An '86 Oldsmobile, eastbound, took a hit to the rear-left from a southbound SUV. The driver, 83, strapped in and conscious, died with crushed ribs and whiplash. No sirens. Just silence and steel.' The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The victim was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash left one dead. Systemic danger and driver error shaped the outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658238, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel struck flesh on the Major Deegan. Three cars, one Jeep overturned. A young man crushed outside the crosswalk. Pavement slick, the road cold. He did not get up. The city swallowed another life before dawn.

A 22-year-old man was killed on the Major Deegan Expressway at 4:12 a.m. According to the police report, he was struck and crushed outside the crosswalk by multiple vehicles, including two sedans and a Jeep that overturned. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. The police report states: 'A 22-year-old man crushed outside the crosswalk. Two sedans, one Jeep overturned. Slippery pavement. Steel struck flesh in the dark. The road stayed cold. He did not get up.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653696, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle crashed into an SUV making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue. The unlicensed rider flew from the bike, legs torn and bleeding. He lay semiconscious, helmetless, on the street. Driver inattention marked the moment. Blood pooled. No time to brake.

A violent collision unfolded on Jerome Avenue near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, a motorcycle struck the left side doors of an SUV as the SUV attempted a U-turn. The motorcycle rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his legs, lying semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver held only a permit. The crash left the motorcycle's front end and the SUV's side doors damaged. The police report notes the absence of a helmet only after citing driver inattention as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640780, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes SUV rolled driverless on East 234th Street. The machine pinned its only occupant, a 51-year-old woman. She died, conscious, trapped beneath the weight. Metal pressed down. The street stood still. Another life lost to runaway steel.

A 2009 Mercedes SUV rolled driverless near East 234th Street and Vireo Avenue in the Bronx. The vehicle crushed its only occupant, a 51-year-old woman, who died at the scene. According to the police report, 'A 2009 Mercedes SUV rolled driverless. It crushed its only occupant, a 51-year-old woman. She wore no belt. She died conscious, pinned beneath the weight she once controlled.' The contributing factor listed was 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle.' No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash shows the deadly risk when a vehicle moves uncontrolled.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4632264, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A gas scooter smashed into a parked taxi on Fort Independence Street. Two riders thrown. Woman’s leg torn. Man’s head bleeding. No helmets. Unsafe speed listed. Blood on Bronx pavement. The night stood still.

A gas scooter crashed into a parked taxi on Fort Independence Street near Heath Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was ejected from the scooter, suffering a severe leg injury. A 36-year-old man on the scooter bled from the head. The report states, 'A gas scooter slammed into a parked taxi. A 30-year-old woman flew off, leg torn open. A 36-year-old man sat bleeding, head struck. No helmets. Blood pooled.' Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. Both riders wore no helmets, as noted in the report. The taxi was parked at the time of impact. The crash left two people injured, blood on the street, and silence in the Bronx night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631532, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 64-year-old woman walked with traffic on the Major Deegan. Two sedans hit her. One struck with its right front bumper. The other with its center grille. She died on the roadside. The drivers kept going straight. The street stayed deadly.

A 64-year-old woman walking along the Major Deegan Expressway was struck and killed by two northbound sedans. According to the police report, one sedan hit her with its right front bumper, and the other with its center grille. She died at the scene, on the edge of the road. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead when the collisions occurred. The police report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The woman was not at an intersection and was walking with traffic. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left a pedestrian dead and exposed the dangers faced by those on foot near high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628607, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

A taxi crashed into a parked forklift on Webster Avenue. The driver had no license. A 64-year-old passenger in the right rear seat died. The street was quiet. Driver inattention and an oversized vehicle led to tragedy.

A fatal collision took place on Webster Avenue near Parkside Place in the Bronx. According to the police report, an unlicensed taxi driver struck a parked forklift. The crash killed a 64-year-old man riding in the right rear seat of the taxi. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The forklift was parked and too large for the street. The taxi’s right front bumper hit the forklift’s left rear bumper. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash left one dead and others injured, highlighting the dangers of inattentive driving and oversized vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4604527, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pick-up driver killed Edwin Rivera, 62, at Broadway and W. 238th in the Bronx. The driver fled. This stretch has seen hundreds of crashes. Councilmember Eric Dinowitz opposed safety upgrades. The city left this intersection dangerous. Rivera paid the price.

On December 31, 2022, Edwin Rivera was struck and killed by a pick-up truck driver at Broadway and W. 238th Street in Council District 11. The driver fled. The intersection sits in Councilmember Eric Dinowitz’s district. Dinowitz recently opposed a proposal to make Riverdale Avenue safer. The article states, 'Council District 11, which is represented by Eric Dinowitz, who recently opposed an effort to make Riverdale Avenue in his district safer.' The Department of Transportation installed safety measures north of Van Cortlandt Park, but not at the site of Rivera’s death. In 2022, Dinowitz’s district saw 1,659 reported crashes, injuring 135 pedestrians and 27 cyclists. The city’s inaction left a deadly gap. Rivera is the latest victim.

• Pedestrian Killed at a Dangerous Bronx Intersection that City Has Failed to Make Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-04

A Dodge pickup struck a 62-year-old man on Broadway. The driver was distracted. The man’s chest was crushed. He died where he fell. The truck rolled on, undamaged. The street was dark. The crash ended a life in seconds.

A Dodge pickup truck hit and killed a 62-year-old man crossing Broadway at West 238th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. The pedestrian suffered fatal chest injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The truck, traveling north, showed no damage. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary error cited is driver distraction. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4596739, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck cut across Broadway. The motorcycle slammed into its side. The young rider flew from his seat, helmet on. His head struck hard. He died there, pavement cold, sky fading. Failure to yield left him no chance.

A 21-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Broadway near Council District 11. According to the police report, a box truck made a U-turn across the lane. The motorcycle, traveling straight, struck the truck’s side. The rider, who wore a helmet, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The box truck driver was not reported injured. The crash shows the deadly risk when drivers turn across traffic and fail to yield. The victim’s helmet is noted, but the fatal blow came from the impact itself.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586127, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15