Blood on the Bronx Asphalt: Who Will Stop the Next Crash?

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 32-year-old man lies broken on Wilkinson Avenue. A sedan and parked SUV stand damaged. Blood stains the Bronx street. Two women watch, unharmed. The city moves on.

A 32-year-old pedestrian suffered crush injuries and was left semiconscious after a collision involving a sedan and a parked SUV on Wilkinson Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash involved a Toyota SUV and an Infiniti sedan. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was the only person injured; two women, listed as registrants, were unharmed. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met steel at dawn. The box truck flipped. Three people hurt—two in the ambulance, one in the truck. Sirens wailed. All went to Jacobi. The cause is still a question. The Bronx street stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 15, 2025, that an ambulance and a box truck collided at Pelham Parkway South and Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx just after 6:30 a.m. The article states, "The box truck overturned in the crash. Three people were hurt: the box truck driver and two ambulance workers." All were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause remains under investigation. The crash highlights risks at busy intersections and the potential for severe outcomes when large vehicles collide. No driver actions have been detailed yet. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns for workers and drivers on city streets.

• Ambulance, Truck Crash Injures Three Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-04-15

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

A Mercedes slammed into Darryl Mathis Jr.'s stalled car on the Major Deegan. Mathis called for help, then for an ambulance. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Mathis to the hospital. He died. The killer behind the wheel vanished into the night.

NY Daily News reported on March 24, 2025, that Darryl Mathis Jr. was killed when a Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his disabled Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. Mathis, stranded after his battery died, called friends for help. As one friend recounted, '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 dangers faced by stranded motorists on city highways and the deadly consequences when drivers flee. No policy changes or enforcement actions were detailed in the article.

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

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’s roads stay deadly.

NY Daily News reported on March 22, 2025, that a 39-year-old driver was killed after a black Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his Ford Crown Victoria on the Major Deegan Expressway. The article states, “The hit-and-run driver responsible escaped on foot, police said.” Both vehicles lost control and crashed. Emergency services transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The Mercedes driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made. Police closed the southbound lanes for several hours during the investigation. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of rear-end collisions and the persistent risk posed by hit-and-run drivers on New York City highways.

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

A sedan struck a box truck pulling from the curb. The woman driving crushed her shoulder. The man beside her pinned by the seat. Both awake. Both broken. Distraction behind the wheel. Metal and flesh torn in the Bronx dusk.

On Van Nest Avenue near 606 in the Bronx, a sedan collided with a box truck that was pulling from the curb. According to the police report, the sedan's driver, a 34-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her shoulder, while her 33-year-old male passenger was pinned and injured in the back. Both were conscious but sustained serious injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the passenger. The sedan's left front bumper struck the right side doors of the box truck, which sustained no damage. The box truck was starting from parking, while the sedan was going straight ahead. The focus remains on driver distraction as the systemic danger leading to this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797413 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A Toyota pickup tore into the night on Hutchinson River Parkway. Metal crumpled. The driver, alone, stayed conscious, blood streaming from his head. Distraction ruled the cab. Airbag burst. The road kept moving. He did not.

A single-vehicle crash occurred on Hutchinson River Parkway, southbound, involving a 2023 Toyota pickup truck. According to the police report, the driver, a 49-year-old man, was alone in the vehicle and suffered severe head lacerations. The report states the driver was 'conscious' at the scene, with the airbag deployed and seatbelt fastened. The narrative describes the truck slamming 'head-on into the dark,' with the front end caved in and the right front bumper damaged. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No mention is made of any pedestrian or cyclist involvement, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver distraction on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city bus swerved to dodge a double-parked car. It crashed through a wall and dangled over a Bronx overpass. No one was hurt. Debris rained down. The city’s parking chaos left concrete cracked and nerves frayed.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus partially drove off the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass near Kappock Street after the driver swerved to avoid a double-parked car. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz stated, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." The crash damaged the overpass wall and scattered debris onto the street below. No injuries were reported, though conflicting accounts left passenger presence unclear. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz highlighted the broader issue: "We’re seeing all over the city parking regulations not being enforced." The incident underscores the risks posed by illegal parking and the need for stricter enforcement and infrastructure checks.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Businesses in Manhattan’s toll zone pass new $9 congestion fee to customers. Councilman Holden calls it a scam tax. Residents pay even if they don’t drive. Gridlock grows near the border. Critics warn of rising costs and slower emergency response.

On January 5, 2025, New York City began enforcing congestion pricing below 60th Street, charging drivers $9 during peak hours. The measure, discussed in the article 'NYC residents slapped with congestion pricing ‘surcharge’ by fed-up companies paying new toll: ‘Hochul inflation’,' has sparked backlash. Queens Councilman Robert F. Holden, representing District 30, condemned the move, stating, 'It’s no surprise that businesses will pass the Congestion Scam Tax on to consumers.' Companies like CompuVoip and Dream Events & Decor now add surcharges for customers in the zone. Holden’s criticism joins that of Bronx Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato and others, who warn of higher costs and increased gridlock. Emergency unions claim response times will suffer. The bill’s impact on vulnerable road users was not assessed.

• NYC residents slapped with congestion pricing ‘surcharge’ by fed-up companies paying new toll: ‘Hochul inflation’, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-05

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

As congestion pricing begins, unions and politicians rage. They claim tolls hurt workers and raise costs. Facts show most commuters use transit. Fewer cars mean faster emergency response. The toll funds transit upgrades. The drama masks real safety gains for all.

On January 3, 2025, public debate erupted as New York City prepared to activate congestion pricing in Manhattan. The measure, set to fund $15 billion in subway and rail improvements, drew fierce opposition from unions and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who called it a 'cash grab' that would 'increase all costs in our daily lives.' The union for FDNY EMTs argued the toll would burden low-wage workers, but data shows 90% of commuters already use public transit. City officials, including mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia, insisted emergency response would not suffer. The measure's summary notes that reducing car traffic will speed up emergency vehicles and protect passengers. The uproar highlights the tension between entrenched driving privileges and the urgent need to make streets safer for vulnerable road users.

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-03

Before dawn on Bronxdale Avenue, two cars collided head-on. Five young adults, semiconscious, crushed in metal. Parked cars struck, glass and blood on the street. Speed and alcohol tore silence, leaving bodies broken where the morning began.

On Bronxdale Avenue near Cruger Avenue in the Bronx, two vehicles collided head-on, according to the police report. The crash occurred before dawn and left five young adults semiconscious and pinned inside the wreckage, suffering head, chest, and neck injuries. The police report states, 'Five young adults, semiconscious, pinned in twisted steel. Head, chest, neck—broken. Parked cars struck.' The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor, and also notes the presence of alcohol at the scene. Multiple parked vehicles were hit in the aftermath. The data shows all injured persons were vehicle occupants, with no evidence of pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The violence of the impact and the resulting injuries underscore the danger when speed and impairment intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781384 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Ten vehicles slid uncontrollably north on Hutchinson River Parkway, metal screaming in collision. A 45-year-old woman riding front right died at the scene, her body broken. Slippery pavement caused the crash, listed repeatedly as the sole factor.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction crash occurred early morning on Hutchinson River Parkway when ten cars slid northbound on black ice. The report states, "Ten cars slid north on black ice. Metal screamed." The sole contributing factor cited for every vehicle involved is "Pavement Slippery." All vehicles were traveling straight ahead before losing control. A 45-year-old woman, a front right passenger, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The report notes her death repeatedly, once for each vehicle involved. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed, only the hazardous road condition. Another occupant, a 14-year-old rear passenger, was injured with back injuries and whiplash, also linked to slippery pavement. The victim’s safety equipment use is unknown. This crash highlights the systemic danger of multiple vehicles losing traction simultaneously on icy roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck a 13-year-old girl as she crossed Allerton Avenue with the signal. Her neck crushed, she lay semiconscious on the cold pavement. No driver stopped. Sirens broke the silence. The street swallowed her pain.

A 13-year-old girl was struck while crossing Allerton Avenue near Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:00 a.m. The report states the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection when a vehicle hit her, crushing her neck and leaving her semiconscious on the pavement. The police report notes, 'No car stopped.' The girl suffered serious injuries, including crush injuries to her neck. The report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but it documents that the pedestrian was lawfully crossing with the signal. The driver’s failure to stop after the collision is a central fact. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 26-year-old e-bike rider slammed into a turning SUV on Bronxdale Ave. His head split open. Blood streaked the frame. The SUV turned left. The e-bike went straight. The street fell silent.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old man riding an e-bike was severely injured when he collided with the front quarter panel of a Honda SUV making a left turn on Bronxdale Ave near White Plains Rd. The report states the SUV was 'Making Left Turn' while the e-bike was 'Going Straight Ahead.' The e-bike rider suffered severe head lacerations and was not wearing a helmet. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the SUV turning left and the e-bike proceeding straight, resulting in a violent impact that left the rider's head split open and blood on the frame. The data highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04