Blood on Webster: Salamanca Must Choose Sides—Victims or Vehicles

A man crossed East 160th Street. A black Mercedes hit him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed the man to Lincoln Hospital. He died. Police search for the driver. The street holds silence. Another life lost to speed and steel.

ABC7 reported on May 10, 2025, that a 43-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run at East 160th Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The article states, "A preliminary investigation found that the man was crossing the street when he was struck by a black Mercedes traveling southbound on Webster Ave." The driver did not stop and has not been apprehended. Emergency services transported the victim to Lincoln Hospital, where he died from his injuries. ABC7 quotes an area resident: "That was like my brother. He remember he was a good guy, a family guy. A whole father." The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes. No arrests have been made.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Bronx Pedestrian, ABC7, Published 2025-05-10

A man lay bleeding on E 149th Street. A westbound vehicle hit him. His head was torn open. He was not at an intersection. No one else was hurt. The street ran straight. The man did not stand a chance.

A 37-year-old man was hit by a westbound vehicle on E 149th Street near Brook Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A man, 37, lay unconscious in the road, his head torn open. A westbound vehicle kept straight. No one else was hurt. He was not at an intersection. He did not stand a chance.' The man suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The police narrative gives no details about the vehicle or driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809488, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck pulled from its spot near Coster Street and Oak Point Avenue. A 61-year-old man stood in the roadway. The truck hit him head-on. His body was crushed. He died there as the Bronx morning began.

According to the police report, a box truck started from a parked position near Coster Street and Oak Point Avenue in the Bronx. A 61-year-old man was standing in the roadway when the truck struck him head-on. The report states, 'His body crushed. He died there, in the Bronx morning, as the city stirred.' The point of impact was the center front end of the truck. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time. No driver errors are cited in the report. The focus remains on the deadly consequences of a truck pulling out as a person stood in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807051, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three SUVs collided in the Bronx. A 52-year-old man lay in the road, crushed beneath rolling steel. Daylight offered no mercy. The weight of traffic ended his life on E 149th Street, near Morris Avenue.

According to the police report, three station wagons or sport utility vehicles collided on E 149th Street near Morris Avenue in the Bronx. The crash occurred in daylight, at 15:16, when a 52-year-old man was in the roadway. The report states, 'A 52-year-old man lay in the road. Three SUVs collided. One rolled over him. His body was crushed beneath the weight. He died there, in daylight, under wheels that did not stop in time.' All vehicles were traveling west; two were stopped in traffic, one was going straight ahead. The victim was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway' at the time. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on specific driver errors, but the sequence left a pedestrian dead beneath the mass of multiple SUVs.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803347, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal clashed on Melrose Avenue. A cyclist, helmet strapped, was hurled from his bike. Blood pooled on the pavement. He clutched his torn waist, conscious, waiting for help. The crash left pain, sirens, and a city’s danger exposed.

A 48-year-old man riding north on Melrose Avenue at East 157th Street was violently ejected from his bicycle after a collision, according to the police report. The report states the crash was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his abdomen and pelvis, lying conscious and bleeding on the street as help arrived. The police narrative describes, 'Metal strikes metal. He is thrown. Blood pools on the pavement, torn open at the waist.' The only contributing factor cited in the official data is improper lane usage. The report notes the cyclist was wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the documentation of driver error. The crash underscores the persistent threat faced by people navigating city streets on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805516, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus swung left on Brook Ave. An e-bike rider, 57, kept straight. Metal struck flesh. He flew, pelvis shattered, and died beneath the streetlights. Police cite improper lane usage. No helmet. No chance. Another life ended on Bronx asphalt.

According to the police report, a bus making a left turn collided with a man riding an e-bike who was traveling straight on Brook Ave near East 149th Street in the Bronx. The report states the cyclist, age 57, was struck mid-frame by the bus, ejected, and suffered fatal pelvic injuries, dying at the scene. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error in the crash. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the primary fault attributed to improper lane usage by the vehicle operator. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver mistakes and the vulnerability of those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795059, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 55-year-old man pedaled south on Westchester Avenue at dawn. A vehicle struck him from behind. His head was crushed, blood pooled, but he stayed conscious. The street was quiet. The driver followed too closely and was distracted.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man was riding his bicycle south on Westchester Avenue near Home Street in the Bronx at 6:05 a.m. when a vehicle struck him from behind. The report states the cyclist suffered crush injuries to his head but remained conscious as blood pooled on the pavement. The police report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The narrative describes the street as quiet at the time of the collision and notes that the driver was distracted. No contributing factors related to the cyclist's behavior or equipment were listed in the report. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance and attention, which led to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790889, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A flatbed truck turned right at Franklin Avenue and East 169th Street. Its bumper struck a 65-year-old woman’s legs as she crossed. She fell. The truck rolled on, crushing her legs. She died at the scene. The truck was undamaged.

According to the police report, a flatbed truck made a right turn at the corner of Franklin Avenue and East 169th Street. The truck’s right front bumper struck a 65-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection. The impact knocked her down, and the truck continued forward, rolling over her legs and causing fatal crush injuries. The report states the truck sustained no damage. The driver’s actions are listed as 'unspecified' in the contributing factors, but the narrative details the truck’s movement and its direct role in the fatal outcome. The report notes the woman was 'crossing against the light,' but this is mentioned after describing the truck’s maneuver and impact. The focus remains on the truck’s turn and the systemic danger posed by large vehicles at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790193, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a southbound e-scooter was hit from behind at E 174 St and Boston Rd. Blood streaked his face. Deep cuts marked his skin. He stayed upright, awake, while the cold morning and the street moved on.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man operating a HUEB e-scooter southbound at the corner of E 174 St and Boston Rd was struck from behind. The report describes 'blood on his face' and 'deep cuts,' with the rider remaining conscious and upright after the collision. The point of impact and vehicle damage are both listed as 'center back end,' indicating a rear-end strike. The report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified,' providing no further detail on the actions of the striking vehicle or its operator. No evidence in the report suggests any error or unsafe behavior by the e-scooter rider. The collision left the rider with severe lacerations to the face. The police narrative and injury data point to a systemic danger for vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790339, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan surged north on Longfellow Avenue. An infant boy lay crushed in the street. The driver did not stop. The child’s cries pierced the night. Aggressive driving and failure to yield left a baby broken on Bronx asphalt.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Longfellow Avenue struck an infant boy who was in the roadway near 817 Longfellow Ave in the Bronx at 20:10. The report states the woman driving the sedan did not stop after the collision. The infant suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was conscious but injured. Police cite 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors in the crash. The report notes the child was a pedestrian not at an intersection, engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but lists driver errors first and foremost. The sedan sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of aggressive driving and a driver’s failure to yield, with a vulnerable child left injured in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787231, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi slides down Boone Avenue, brakes useless on slick pavement. The left bumper slams a man, crushing his neck. He lies broken and conscious in the harsh glare, blood pooling on cold asphalt. Systemic failures leave flesh shattered.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on Boone Avenue near 1829 struck a 48-year-old man who was in the roadway. The report states the taxi 'slides on wet asphalt' and that 'brakes fail,' resulting in the vehicle’s left front bumper striking the pedestrian. The man suffered severe crush injuries to his neck and was found conscious but gravely hurt in the street. The police report lists 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors to the crash. No driver error beyond these mechanical and environmental failures is cited, but the systemic danger is clear: a vehicle unable to stop, a vulnerable pedestrian left exposed, and a city street transformed into a site of trauma. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian’s behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787112, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep barreled through a blinking light on Melrose Avenue, striking a 14-year-old girl crossing with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the front end. She stayed conscious. The street was quiet. The light kept blinking.

A 14-year-old girl was struck and seriously injured by a Jeep SUV on Melrose Avenue near East 161st Street in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:15, when the Jeep, traveling west, 'ran the light' and hit the girl as she crossed the intersection 'with the signal.' The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting the driver's failure to obey the traffic signal. The impact crushed the girl's leg beneath the vehicle's front end. The report notes she remained conscious at the scene. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784043, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan barreled down Colgate Avenue and slammed into a parked dump truck. A 32-year-old man working in the street was crushed, breaking his leg. He remained conscious amid the wreckage. The driver’s distraction caused the brutal impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Colgate Avenue in the Bronx collided with a parked dump truck. The impact crushed a 32-year-old man working in the street, breaking his leg. The report states the man remained conscious after suffering severe crush injuries to his lower leg and foot. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The dump truck was stationary, parked facing south, and the sedan struck its center back end with its center front end. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian. The crash highlights the sedan driver’s failure to maintain attention, resulting in a devastating injury to a worker performing his job in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781233, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus rolled down E 174th Street. A 56-year-old man stepped into its path. Metal met flesh. His face hit pavement. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious as the bus idled, unscathed, eight passengers inside.

A 56-year-old man was struck by a bus at the intersection of E 174th Street and Vyse Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The collision occurred as the bus traveled east with eight passengers aboard. The report states, 'A 56-year-old man stepped into the street against the light. A bus struck him. His face hit the pavement. Blood spread. He lay semiconscious.' The bus sustained no damage. The police report lists the pedestrian's action as 'Crossing Against Signal' and notes 'Unspecified' for contributing factors, providing no evidence of driver error or specific contributing factors by the bus operator. The focus remains on the impact and the severe injuries suffered by the pedestrian, who was left semiconscious with severe lacerations to the face.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775700, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel rolled north on Bergen Avenue. A man stood in the road. The bus merged, its weight crushing his shoulder. He stayed awake as pain filled the street. The bus rolled on, unmarked, leaving flesh and bone behind.

A 36-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his shoulder after being struck by a northbound bus on Bergen Avenue near Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the collision occurred as the bus was merging and the pedestrian was in the roadway. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, highlighting a failure in visibility or driver awareness. The bus sustained no damage and continued on, while the pedestrian remained conscious despite severe injuries. The police narrative states, 'Steel met flesh. His shoulder crushed beneath the weight. He stayed awake. The bus rolled on, unmarked.' The data does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by limited visibility and the actions of the bus driver in a merging maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766969, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A baby boy lay bleeding on East 163rd Street, head split open, silence swallowing the Bronx night. No car stopped. No names given. Just blood, asphalt, and the echo of a hit-and-run.

A baby boy was struck and severely injured on East 163rd Street near Trinity Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The narrative states: 'A baby boy struck. Head split. Blood pooled on the Bronx pavement. No car stayed. No name given. Just silence where cries should be.' The report confirms the child suffered severe lacerations and head trauma, and was found unconscious. No vehicle remained at the scene; the driver fled, leaving the victim without aid. The police report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors, but the absence of the vehicle and driver underscores the hit-and-run nature of this crash. No information is provided about the victim's actions or location prior to the collision. The report centers on the violence of the impact and the failure of the driver to remain at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761473, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

A Ford SUV tore through Westchester Avenue, its right front bumper crushing a 56-year-old man in the marked crosswalk. He died instantly, the morning sun rising over broken bones and shattered calm at East 163rd Street.

A 56-year-old man was killed at the intersection of Westchester Avenue and East 163rd Street in the Bronx when a northbound Ford SUV struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The report states the victim was crossing in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. The SUV was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative details that the pedestrian died at the scene from crush injuries to his entire body. No driver actions such as yielding or speed are specified in the report, but the impact location and the victim's presence in a marked crosswalk underscore the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians at Bronx intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758741, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan cut left on Southern Boulevard, steel slamming into a man’s head. He crossed with the signal. Blood pooled beneath Bronx streetlights. The driver, unlicensed, failed to yield. The man lay conscious, bleeding, as midnight pressed in.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was crossing Southern Boulevard at Westchester Avenue with the signal when a 2013 Nissan sedan turned left and struck him head-on. The report states the driver was unlicensed and failed to yield the right-of-way. The collision occurred at midnight, with the vehicle’s center front end impacting the pedestrian’s head, causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was left conscious but bleeding heavily beneath the streetlights. The police narrative makes clear the driver’s actions—turning left without yielding and operating without a license—directly led to the crash. The pedestrian was crossing lawfully with the signal, as documented in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756276, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW sedan merging eastbound struck a westbound Jiaju motorcycle head-on on East 156th Street in the Bronx. The 19-year-old unlicensed, helmetless rider was thrown, face torn, and left unconscious. A passenger was ejected and injured.

On East 156th Street near Saint Anns Avenue in the Bronx, a BMW sedan merging eastbound collided head-on with a westbound Jiaju motorcycle. According to the police report, the BMW's point of impact was its center front end, striking the motorcycle's left front bumper. The 19-year-old motorcycle rider was unlicensed and helmetless, ejected from the vehicle with severe facial lacerations and unconscious at the scene. The report states: 'The 19-year-old rider, unlicensed, helmetless, thrown to the pavement. Face torn. Unconscious.' The BMW driver was licensed and merging at the time of impact. A female passenger on the motorcycle was also ejected, sustaining injuries to her lower leg and foot, and was in shock. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the collision resulted from the BMW merging into the motorcycle's path, causing a violent head-on crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751463, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14