Who Owns the Streets: Broken Bodies, Broken Promises in District 16

A 71-year-old passenger died. A 79-year-old driver struck two cars, then a pole. Metal twisted. Lives changed. The street stayed silent.

CBS New York (2025-07-12) reports a 71-year-old passenger died after a crash in Co-op City, Bronx. Police said a 79-year-old driver 'slammed into two cars before hitting a light pole.' The sequence ended in fatal injury. The article highlights the impact but does not detail causes. The crash underscores risks for passengers and raises questions about driver fitness and street design. No blame is assigned. The facts stand stark.

• Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-12

A cyclist on E 163 St struck by a vehicle. Severe bleeding. Police cite traffic control disregarded. The Bronx street left another vulnerable road user hurt.

A cyclist riding west on E 163 St at Morris Ave in the Bronx was injured after a crash. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and another unspecified vehicle. The cyclist suffered severe bleeding to the lower leg and foot. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report does not mention any helmet use or other cyclist actions. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned on Jerome Ave. Two pedestrians crossing with signal hit. Both suffered severe injuries. Police cite alcohol and driver distraction. System failed to protect those walking.

Two pedestrians, a 51-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man, were struck and injured by an SUV making a right turn on Jerome Ave at Edward L Grant Hwy. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Both pedestrians suffered injuries to their entire bodies, including severe lacerations and crush injuries. The driver and another occupant, both 85, were uninjured. The system allowed a distracted, impaired driver to endanger people walking with the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829606 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

A car slammed into three men at Hunts Point. One lies in critical condition. Metal twisted. Sirens wailed. The driver faces charges. Blood stains the Bronx night.

ABC7 reported on June 28, 2025, that a driver struck three pedestrians at Hunts Point Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard. Police say Charles Jenkins, 28, collided with a Mercedes, then hit three men and several parked cars. One victim, age 33, was critically hurt; two others are stable. Jenkins faces multiple vehicular assault charges. ABC7 notes, 'Authorities are trying to determine what led up to the collision.' The crash highlights the danger at busy Bronx intersections and the consequences when drivers lose control.

• Bronx Driver Hits Three Pedestrians, ABC7, Published 2025-06-28

A scooter slammed into a Honda Pilot before dawn. The passenger, eighteen, hit the road hard. The driver fled. Three more hurt in the cars. Sirens wailed. No arrests. The street stayed cold and dangerous.

According to the New York Post (published June 21, 2025), an 18-year-old scooter passenger was left in critical condition after a crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx. Police said the scooter collided with a Honda Pilot around 4 a.m., triggering a chain reaction that involved a Honda Accord. The article reports, "The moped's driver fled with the bike before cops arrived." Three passengers in each car were also injured and taken to Jacobi Hospital. No arrests had been made by Saturday afternoon. The incident highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users and raises questions about driver accountability and the effectiveness of current enforcement on city parkways.

• Scooter Crash Leaves Teen Critical in Bronx, New York Post, Published 2025-06-21

Drag racers struck a car. Words were exchanged. Gunfire followed. Keino Campbell, Navy vet, fell in the Bronx night. Three shots to the chest. His mother grieves. The street stays dangerous. The system failed to keep him safe.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-18), Keino Campbell, 27, was shot and killed in a road rage incident after confronting two drag racers who had bumped his car in the Bronx. The article reports, "Keino Campbell, 27, was shot three times in the chest in a road rage incident." Police arrested Michael Aracena, 20, charging him with murder, manslaughter, and weapon possession. Another suspect, accused of handing over the gun, remains at large. The incident highlights the lethal risks of illegal street racing and the easy escalation of violence on city roads. Systemic failures in preventing reckless driving and gun access contributed to the tragedy.

• Bronx Navy Veteran Killed In Road Rage, New York Post, Published 2025-06-18

A 14-year-old fell from a Bronx No. 5 train. He hit the tracks hard. Medics rushed him to Jacobi. His face and body took the blow. Police charged another teen. Subway surfing keeps taking young lives.

NY Daily News reported on June 17, 2025, that a 14-year-old boy suffered critical injuries after falling from the top of a northbound No. 5 train near Baychester Ave. Police said he was with two other teens. One, age 17, was arrested for reckless endangerment and trespass. The third fled. The article notes, 'Six people, most of them teens, died subway surfing in the city last year. The youngest was just 11.' This year, two have died already. The NYPD and MTA have increased enforcement and launched campaigns to deter subway surfing, including drone patrols and public messaging. The incident highlights persistent dangers on the transit system and ongoing risks for young riders.

• Teen Critically Hurt In Bronx Subway Fall, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-17

A Navy veteran died in the Bronx. A driver shot him. Police made an arrest. The street became a killing ground. Metal, anger, and a gun ended a life. The city mourns. The danger remains.

CBS New York reported on June 16, 2025, that Keino Campbell, 27, a U.S. Navy veteran, was shot and killed in the Bronx during an alleged road rage incident. The article states, “An arrest was made after Keino Campbell, 27, was shot and killed over the weekend in New York City.” The incident highlights the lethal mix of driver aggression and firearms on city streets. Road rage escalated to deadly violence, turning a routine drive into tragedy. The arrest points to a clear driver action—use of a gun following a traffic dispute. The case underscores the urgent need for policy solutions addressing armed drivers and the dangers they pose to all road users.

• Navy Veteran Shot Dead In Bronx, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-16

Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

A teen cyclist struck an SUV’s side in the Bronx. He flew from his bike, face torn. Police cite passenger distraction. The city’s streets cut deep.

A 16-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations after colliding with the right side doors of a parked SUV on 3rd Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'Passenger Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The SUV was stationary, and the cyclist hit the vehicle’s center front end. No injuries were reported for the SUV’s occupants. The crash left the teen conscious but badly hurt. No other contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A black Mercedes struck Kelvin Mitchell as he crossed Webster Avenue. The driver fled. Mitchell died steps from home. Police have not caught the driver. The street stayed quiet. The loss cut deep. The danger remains.

NY Daily News reported on May 11, 2025, that Kelvin Mitchell, 43, was killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Webster Ave. near E. 168th St. in the Bronx. The article states, "Mitchell was crossing Webster Ave. midblock... when he was mowed down by the driver of a black Mercedes-Benz." Surveillance video showed the Mercedes speeding in a bus lane before the crash. The driver did not stop. NYPD could not confirm if police were pursuing the car. Mitchell was a father and community figure. The crash highlights the lethal risk of speeding and hit-and-run drivers, and the lack of immediate accountability. No arrests have been made.

• Bronx Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-11

A sedan struck and killed a man at Webster Avenue and East 168th. Unsafe speed. The car hit the pedestrian head-on. The man died at the scene. The street stayed silent after impact.

A 43-year-old man walking at the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 168th Street in the Bronx was killed when a sedan struck him. According to the police report, the sedan was traveling south and hit the pedestrian with its center front end. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries. Two vehicle occupants were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of speeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver struck a pedestrian in the Bronx. The driver fled. The victim died. Police search for answers. The street holds the mark. Another life lost to speed and steel.

CBS New York reported on May 10, 2025, that a pedestrian was killed in the Bronx by a driver who fled the scene. The article states, 'Police are searching for a driver who allegedly fled after striking and killing a pedestrian in the Bronx early Saturday morning.' The incident highlights the lethal risk faced by people on foot and the ongoing problem of hit-and-run crashes in New York City. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene is a clear violation of traffic law. The case underscores the need for stronger enforcement and systemic changes to protect vulnerable road users.

• Pedestrian Killed In Bronx Hit-And-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-10

A BMW driver without a license struck and killed Dwight Downer outside his Bronx home. Police charged the driver with manslaughter. Speeding violations followed the crash. Downer’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged. The danger persists.

NY Daily News reported on May 8, 2025, that Sheydon McClean, an unlicensed BMW driver, was charged with manslaughter after a November 30 crash killed Dwight Downer, a retired correction officer and football coach, in Baychester. McClean remained at the scene, but police only charged him after further investigation. The article notes McClean’s BMW received at least three speeding violations from city cameras after the fatal crash. Downer’s mother said, 'These arrests cannot bring back my child. Still, something has to be done.' The case highlights the ongoing risks posed by unlicensed and repeat speeding drivers, and the limits of enforcement in preventing deadly crashes.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Bronx Coach, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-08

Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Blood pooled on 149th Street. A man, beaten by a group after a roadside argument, lay with head trauma. The attackers fled. Police searched the night. The victim survived, but the scars of violence lingered in Mott Haven.

CBS New York reported on April 28, 2025, that a 37-year-old man was hospitalized after a violent road rage incident in the Bronx. The confrontation began as an argument between occupants of two cars near 149th Street and Brook Avenue. According to police, 'both parties got out of their cars,' and a group then 'started kicking and punching the 37-year-old victim, causing him to sustain significant head trauma.' The attackers fled before officers arrived. The victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition. The incident occurred near a police precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers when disputes escalate on city streets. Police are searching for the suspects.

• Bronx Road Rage Leaves Man Hospitalized, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-28

Sedan cuts left on Webster. Moped takes the hit head-on. Two riders fly. Blood on the street. Woman, 24, torn and screaming. Nineteen-year-old driver bruised. No helmet for her. No mercy in the Bronx dawn.

A sedan turned left near 1538 Webster Avenue and struck a moped head-on. Two moped riders were ejected. According to the police report, a 24-year-old woman suffered severe leg lacerations and had no helmet. The 19-year-old moped driver was bruised and conscious. The moped driver was unlicensed. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The crash left blood and pain on the Bronx street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808597 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The driver sideswiped a parked car. The victim fell, suffering head trauma and a shattered leg. He faces amputation. The car was found abandoned. The street bears old scars.

NY Daily News reported on April 26, 2025, that a 32-year-old man in Pelham Bay, Bronx, was critically injured after trying to stop a carjacker. Surveillance video shows the victim sprinting to his double-parked Infiniti as a suspect entered and sped away. The suspect sideswiped a parked car, knocking the victim to the street. He suffered head trauma and a fractured leg, and may require amputation. The article quotes a local, 'This has absolutely happened before,' highlighting repeated car thefts in the area. The car was later found abandoned. The incident underscores persistent dangers for bystanders and the ongoing threat of vehicle theft in city neighborhoods.

• Bronx Carjacking Leaves Man Critically Injured, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-26

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