No More Bodies: Make Fordham Road Safe Now

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 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

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

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 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

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A parked pickup truck struck a 56-year-old cyclist on W Tremont Avenue. The man flew, helmet cracked, hand severed. Blood pooled on the street. The truck never moved, but the cyclist’s life changed in an instant.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man was riding his bicycle southbound on W Tremont Avenue at University Avenue in the Bronx when a parked pickup truck struck him. The narrative states, 'A 56-year-old man pedaled south. A parked pickup struck. He flew. His helmet cracked. His hand did not follow. Blood on the street. The truck never moved. But his life did.' The cyclist suffered an amputation injury to his hand and was ejected from his bike. The report lists the pickup truck as parked at the time of the crash, with the point of impact and vehicle damage noted at the center front end. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, which cracked on impact. Contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The police report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the parked vehicle’s involvement and the catastrophic outcome for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A parked Ford van on Jerome Avenue was struck with violent force. The front passenger, age 39, suffered a shattered shoulder. Metal screamed. Flesh gave. The lap belt held him. The street stayed silent after the impact.

According to the police report, a parked 2012 Ford van was struck hard on Jerome Avenue in mid-afternoon. The collision left the front passenger, a 39-year-old man, with severe crush injuries to his shoulder and upper arm. The report states the van was stationary ('Parked') when it was hit, and the impact targeted the right front quarter panel. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The front passenger, 39, crushed in his seat. His shoulder shattered. The lap belt held. Metal screamed. Flesh gave.' No driver errors or contributing factors are listed in the police data. The focus remains on the devastating outcome for the passenger, who was restrained by a lap belt but still suffered grave injuries. The report does not cite any passenger actions as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A westbound SUV veered on the Cross Bronx. Its bumper struck a woman walking. She fell, head split, blood pooling on the asphalt. Sirens broke the night. She did not rise. The road claimed another life beneath indifferent wheels.

A 34-year-old woman was killed on the Cross Bronx Expressway just after midnight when a westbound SUV changed lanes and struck her, according to the police report. The report states, 'A westbound SUV shifted lanes. Its right front bumper struck a 34-year-old woman on foot.' The pedestrian suffered severe head injuries and lacerations, and was found unconscious at the scene. The police narrative describes her as bleeding from the head and unresponsive. The SUV was in the process of changing lanes when the collision occurred, with the point of impact listed as the right front bumper. No contributing factors were specified beyond the vehicle's lane change. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the SUV's movement and the fatal consequences for the woman on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A 62-year-old cyclist, helmeted and westbound on Albany Crescent, struck headfirst and was ejected. He suffered crush injuries to the head. The bike’s front end bore the mark. Confusion clouded the cause, pain marked the aftermath.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Albany Crescent near Bailey Avenue was involved in a violent crash. The report states he was 'struck headfirst' and 'ejected,' suffering 'crush wounds to the head.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the impact. The front of the bike was damaged, described as bearing 'the scar.' The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion as a cause. No other vehicles or persons are cited in the report. The data does not indicate any driver errors by a motor vehicle operator, and mentions helmet use only after describing the crash and injury. The focus remains on the confusion that led to the cyclist’s severe injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old boy bled in the Bronx night, struck head-on by a speeding SUV. His arm split open. He stayed conscious, pain echoing down Undercliff Avenue. Steel met flesh. The street bore witness. The driver’s speed left no room for mercy.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle on Undercliff Avenue near 1501 in the Bronx at 10:40 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the boy was crossing the street outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the SUV, traveling at an unsafe speed, hit him head-on. The impact caused severe bleeding from his arm, but he remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the crash. The driver was traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred, and the vehicle’s center front end struck the boy. The police report does not list any pedestrian actions as contributing factors, focusing solely on the driver’s unsafe speed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams killed the Fordham Road bus lane redesign. Buses crawl at five miles per hour. NYPD ticketing does little. Riders stew in traffic. Council Member Sanchez backed the upgrade. Council Member Feliz opposed. Both stay silent. The street remains hostile.

On July 29, 2024, Mayor Adams’ cancellation of the Fordham Road offset bus lane left Bronx riders stranded in slow traffic. The Department of Transportation had proposed moving the bus lane off the curb to block double-parking, but Adams scrapped the plan. The matter: 'Mayor Adams' decision to shelve plans for an upgraded bus lane to Fordham Road last year has had a predictable result: buses on the crosstown Bronx route are still crawling at the same slow speed.' Council Member Pierina Sanchez supported the redesign. Council Member Oswald Feliz opposed it. Both declined comment. NYPD enforcement replaced design, but ticketing is weak and driver behavior unchanged. Riders remain frustrated, waiting for city leaders to act. Vulnerable road users—bus passengers—bear the cost.

• Fordham Rd. Still Hell for Bus Riders After Mayor Adams Scrubbed a Better Road Design, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-29

Three SUVs slam together in Bronx darkness. Steel crushes a 34-year-old man behind the wheel. His belt holds him, but the force is absolute. The night stays silent. One life ends, pinned by metal and momentum.

According to the police report, three SUVs collided near Major Deegan Expressway and West 230th Street in the Bronx at 2:01 a.m. A 34-year-old male driver, strapped in with a lap belt and harness, died from crush injuries to the head. The report states, 'Three SUVs collide in the dark. A man, 34, strapped in the driver's seat, dies from crush wounds to the head. The belt held him. The steel closed in.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for all involved drivers, providing no further detail on the precise errors that led to the crash. No evidence in the report points to victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when multiple large vehicles converge at speed, leaving a driver dead and the cause unresolved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738193 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT wants a two-way busway on Tremont Avenue. Cars and taxis must turn off. Buses crawl at 4.5 mph here. Most travelers ride the bus. Council members urge careful planning. Committee backs the plan. DOT will study traffic and consult the community.

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Transportation proposed an 11-block, 0.6-mile two-way busway on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. The plan, discussed in the Municipal Services Committee, would force cars and taxis to turn off, leaving the lane for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles. The matter summary notes, 'The Bx36 bus, which travels this corridor, is among the slowest in the Bronx, with speeds dropping to as low as 4.5 miles per hour.' Council Members Pierina Sanchez and Oswald Feliz, who represent the area, expressed cautious optimism and called for community engagement. Committee Chair Lucia Deng reported, 'There was zero pushback on the concept of busways or bus lanes.' The committee even pushed for a longer route. DOT will conduct further analysis and present detailed plans to local boards in the fall. No formal safety assessment for vulnerable road users was provided.

• City Proposes Short Busway For Clogged Cross-Bronx Roadway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-18

A moped cut right on University Avenue. An SUV turned. A girl, fifteen, flew from the back seat. She struck the pavement, motionless. No helmet. The street claimed her before the day could finish.

According to the police report, a moped attempted to pass on the right at University Avenue and West 192nd Street as a Honda SUV made a right turn. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The moped's male driver was unlicensed. The collision ejected a fifteen-year-old girl riding as a rear passenger on the moped. She was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The narrative states, 'The girl on the back flew off. No helmet. Fifteen years old. She hit the pavement and lay still.' The impact killed her. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of improper passing and unlicensed operation, as documented by the responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728164 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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