Eight Dead, a Thousand Hurt—District 17 Bleeds While City Hall Waits

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

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

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

A Toyota SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Hewitt Place. Flames erupted. The Honda’s driver, thirty-four, burned and injured, stayed conscious. Smoke and pain filled the Bronx street. Driver inattention marked the moment of impact.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV traveling west on Hewitt Place in the Bronx struck a parked Honda SUV from behind. The collision caused a fire to break out in the Honda. The driver of the Honda, a 34-year-old man, suffered severe burns and back injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The Honda was stationary at the time, and no victim actions are cited as contributing factors. The impact and subsequent fire transformed a quiet street into a scene of chaos and pain, underscoring the dangers posed by driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774754 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council weakened Adams’s zoning plan. Parking mandates stay in low-density zones. Central areas lose mandates. Housing projections drop. Some neighborhoods bear the burden. Car-centric rules persist. Vulnerable road users see little relief. The city’s streets remain dangerous.

""Taking into account the apprehensions of our constituents, the City Council balanced these concerns against the very real need to respond to the housing crisis this City is indisputably facing," said Council Member Rafael Salamanca of The Bronx. "In the process, we secured $5 billion in investments [in] a plan that makes New York City more affordable and sustainable."" -- Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

Bill: City of Yes zoning reform. Status: Amended and advanced by City Council on November 22, 2024. The Council’s action, described as 'watering down' the mayor’s plan, keeps mandatory parking in low-density neighborhoods while ending it in central areas. The matter summary states: 'ending mandatory parking in areas with the best transit while keeping the costly mandate in low-density neighborhoods where it most hinders development.' Council Member Crystal Hudson voted yes, urging all neighborhoods to share the housing burden. Council Member Kevin Riley defended single-family zones. Council Member Rafael Salamanca cited balancing concerns and securing $5 billion for affordable housing. Borough President Antonio Reynoso warned of increased housing pressure elsewhere. The Council’s changes preserve car-centric zoning, leaving vulnerable road users exposed and limiting progress on safer, less car-dependent streets.

• Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-22

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

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 - 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

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

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

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

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 young man on a motorcycle struck an SUV’s side on Saint Anns Avenue. The light was ignored. He flew from his bike, his head hitting pavement. He died where he landed. Systemic disregard for traffic control proved fatal.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound on Saint Anns Avenue collided with the right side doors of an SUV traveling east on East 156th Street. The report states that 'the light was ignored' and lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, underscoring a critical driver error. The motorcyclist, described as unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries upon impact with the pavement. The police report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The crash resulted in the death of the motorcycle rider at the scene. The data highlights the deadly consequences of ignoring traffic signals and failing to observe safe speeds, with systemic danger compounded by the lack of licensing and safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747426 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped struck head-on on Elder Avenue. The 38-year-old rider was hurled from the machine, torn open, and left bleeding on the quiet Bronx street. Blood pooled beneath him. The night stood still. He remained conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, a moped was struck head-on near Elder Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx at 11:37 p.m. The 38-year-old rider was ejected from the moped, suffering severe lacerations to his entire body. The report describes the rider as 'conscious' but left bleeding on the pavement, with blood pooling beneath him. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center front ends, indicating a direct collision. The police report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors, and no other vehicle types or parties are identified. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the moped rider, who was the only person injured in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel shrieked on Manida Street. Two sedans collided in the dark. One ran the light. A 21-year-old woman in the front seat died, her body broken in silence. The parked box truck watched, untouched, useless.

According to the police report, two sedans collided near Manida Street and Viele Avenue in the Bronx at 2:40 a.m. The report states that 'one ran the light.' The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' This means a driver ignored a traffic signal, a critical error that led to the crash. The impact was severe: a 21-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger, was killed. Her injuries were described as affecting her entire body, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The report notes a parked box truck was present but was not involved in the collision. No driver or vehicle errors are attributed to the victim. The fatal outcome stemmed from a driver’s failure to obey traffic controls, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council members and developers vow to build up to 200 parking spaces per project near new Bronx Metro-North stations. Despite no city parking mandates, car storage dominates debate. Transit access takes a back seat. Vulnerable road users face more cars, more risk.

On July 10, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on proposed rezonings around new Metro-North stations in the Bronx. The matter, titled 'Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council,' focused on whether to require parking in new residential and commercial projects. Council Members Amanda Faris, Kevin C. Riley, Rafael Salamanca, and Kristy Marmorato all pressed for developers to include parking, despite the city's move to waive mandates. Riley called parking 'a huge issue.' Developers, including Baker Development, promised up to 200 spaces per project. Bronx City Planning Director Paul Philips said, 'We certainly expect developers to provide parking.' The debate ignored the danger more parking brings: more cars, more conflict, more risk for people walking and biking. No safety analyst weighed in, but the outcome is clear—transit-oriented in name, car-centric in practice.

• Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-10

A taxi turned left at East 163rd and Cauldwell. An SUV, moving too fast, smashed its front into the cab. Steel twisted. Two men, trapped and conscious, suffered crush injuries as sirens cut through the night.

At the intersection of East 163rd Street and Cauldwell Avenue in the Bronx, a violent collision left two men injured and trapped in the wreckage. According to the police report, a taxi was making a left turn when a station wagon/SUV, traveling west, struck the cab at the center front end. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, underscoring the role of excessive speed in the crash. Both the right rear passenger and the driver, men aged 50 and 37, were conscious but suffered crush injuries to their entire bodies and required extrication. Airbags deployed, but the force of the impact left both men trapped in the twisted metal. The police report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the danger posed by vehicles traveling at unsafe speeds on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739588 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi struck a 61-year-old man crossing East 149th Street. The driver, distracted, kept his hands on the wheel. The man’s head hit the pavement. He lay still. He died there, another life ended by inattention behind the wheel.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was killed on East 149th Street when a taxi hit him with its right front quarter panel, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 1:46 a.m. The report states the man was crossing the street when the taxi, traveling east, struck him. The impact caused the pedestrian’s head to hit the pavement, leaving him unconscious and fatally injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was cited as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained at the wheel after the collision. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian error contributed to the crash. The data underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735638 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council grilled delivery apps on June 21. Seven bills target reckless e-bike riding, battery fires, and low pay. Lawmakers want apps to answer for worker traffic violations and vehicle safety. Pedestrians and cyclists face daily danger. Councilmember Schulman called for accountability.

On June 21, 2024, the NYC Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held a hearing on seven bills regulating delivery apps. The bills aim to address 'myriad health and safety concerns' from e-bike crashes, battery fires, and low pay. Councilmember Lynn Schulman, District 29, spoke out: 'Right now, delivery workers are essentially incentivized for speed... This often results in driving recklessly, often putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.' Three bills would make apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash responsible for vehicle safety and compliance, require them to provide safety-compliant e-bikes, and ensure mopeds are registered. Other bills target pay transparency and tip protections. Councilmembers Shaun Abreu and Rafael Salamanca also spoke in support. The measures seek to hold companies accountable for dangers faced by vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• Delivery apps in NYC could be held responsible for workers following traffic laws, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-21

Council and mayor strike deal to rein in last-mile warehouses. Delivery vans choke streets. Residents breathe fumes. Councilmember Alexa Avilés and others demand rules. New permits, pollution checks, and safety reviews loom. City promises action. Advocates vow to watch.

On May 30, 2024, the New York City Council and Mayor Adams' administration agreed to pursue regulation of last-mile delivery warehouses. The deal emerged during negotiations over the 'City of Yes for Economic Opportunity' zoning plan, which the Council approved. The matter summary notes, 'the administration has pledged to support future legislation to cut pollution from these warehouses and propose rules to restrict new facilities.' Councilmember Alexa Avilés (District 38) and 28 colleagues sent a letter demanding stricter oversight. Avilés and advocates want special permits and environmental reviews to protect neighborhoods from traffic, pollution, and safety hazards. Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer promised a bill empowering the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate warehouse vehicle emissions. Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. stressed the Council’s leverage: 'It gets to a point where you have to use your power of voting to get the attention of the city.' The City Planning Commission and Council must vote again before rules take effect. Advocates and councilmembers will monitor the administration’s follow-through.

• NYC's 'last-mile' delivery warehouses face a potential reckoning with regulation, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-30