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

An ambulance slammed left-front on East 149th. Inside, a woman’s arm was crushed. Blood pooled beneath red lights. She stayed conscious, seatbelt tight, pain sharp. Sirens cut the night. Metal and flesh bore the cost.

A 30-year-old woman riding as a front passenger in a westbound ambulance on East 149th Street in the Bronx suffered severe crush injuries to her arm when the vehicle was struck on its left front quarter panel. According to the police report, the woman was belted and remained conscious as blood pooled beneath the flashing lights. The report lists her injury as 'Elbow-Lower-Arm-Hand' with a severity of 4 and describes her complaint as 'Crush Injuries.' The ambulance, a Ford truck, was traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred. The police report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, instead listing them as 'Unspecified.' No mention is made of passenger behavior contributing to the crash. The incident underscores the persistent danger even inside emergency vehicles when systemic risks and collision forces converge.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford sedan sat parked on Southern Boulevard. Impact caved its right front bumper. Inside, a driver took a blow to the chest. His passenger’s shoulder pinned. Both conscious. Both belted. Metal pressed flesh. The street swallowed their calm.

At 1490 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, a parked Ford sedan suffered severe damage to its right front bumper, according to the police report. Two occupants were inside: a 57-year-old male driver and a 50-year-old female passenger. Both were wearing seat belts and remained conscious after the crash. The police report states the driver sustained chest injuries while the passenger was trapped by her shoulder, both suffering crush injuries. The vehicle was stationary at the time of the incident, with the impact focused on the right front bumper. The report lists contributing factors as 'unspecified' and does not cite any driver errors or external causes. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The event underscores the vulnerability of vehicle occupants even when parked, as metal and force converge without warning.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722659 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council pushes for borough-based DOT teams. Staff must answer traffic requests fast. Response tied to need. Three-month deadline. Action targets slow fixes. Vulnerable road users wait less.

Int 0853-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 18, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating borough-based traffic request response teams,' requires the Department of Transportation to assign staff to each borough, matching staff numbers to request volume. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, and Rafael Salamanca, Jr. back the measure. The teams must respond to traffic requests within three months. The bill aims to cut delays that leave dangerous conditions unaddressed, giving vulnerable road users a better shot at safer streets.

• File Int 0853-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council members blasted DOT for street redesigns that cut crashes and injuries. They claimed community harm, ignoring hard data. Bike lanes and safer streets faced political fire. DOT stood firm, citing lives saved and broad support. Vulnerable road users caught in the crossfire.

On March 19, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on DOT street safety projects and Streets Plan implementation. The hearing, led by Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens), Christopher Banks (D-Brooklyn), and Rafael Salamanca Jr. (D-Bronx), focused on the DOT's progress under the Streets Plan, which mandates annual targets for protected bike lanes and bus lanes. Brooks-Powers objected to the Seagirt Boulevard bike lane, claiming DOT ignored community wishes, despite previously calling for more investment. Banks demanded removal of new protected bike lanes in East New York, citing parking and safety issues, though data showed fewer crashes and injuries. Salamanca criticized a Bronx street redesign for congestion, despite lower crash rates. He also accused DOT of neglecting communities of color, though data shows these areas receive more redesigns. DOT officials defended their process, emphasizing community engagement and prioritizing high-need areas. The council's opposition stands in stark contrast to the projects' proven safety benefits for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Cycle of Rage: Council Members Slam DOT for Successful Safety Projects, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-19

Council bill demands DOT fix NYCHA sidewalks first. Seniors come before all. Broken walks trip, injure, kill. Law forces city to show its work. No more hiding behind red tape.

Bill Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. It orders the DOT to prioritize sidewalk repairs at NYCHA sites, with senior housing first. The bill summary reads: 'establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Sandy Nurse, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Farah N. Louis. The law also requires public reporting of repairs and timelines. Sidewalk neglect endangers NYCHA residents—this bill aims to force action and transparency.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council targets fake and expired plates. Bill sets fines. Ten-day grace for expired tags. Crackdown aims at cars that dodge law and endanger streets. Committee on Public Safety holds the measure.

Int 0177-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates,' makes it illegal to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day cure period. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill targets drivers who hide behind illegal plates, a tactic often linked to hit-and-runs and reckless driving.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A young man on an e-bike crashed into a parked Jeep on Melrose Avenue. He flew from his seat, helmet on, and died before dawn. The SUV never moved. The street claimed him. Speed and control lost him to the Bronx night.

A 24-year-old man riding an e-bike died after colliding with a parked Jeep near Melrose Avenue and East 161st Street in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:58 a.m. The report states the e-bike rider was traveling at 'unsafe speed' and 'disregarded traffic control.' The narrative details that the rider 'hit a parked Jeep at speed,' was 'ejected,' and 'died before dawn.' The police report notes the victim was wearing a helmet. The Jeep, registered in Pennsylvania, was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The e-bike was described as 'demolished.' The police report centers contributing factors on 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' No driver error from the SUV is cited, as the vehicle was stationary. The focus remains on the systemic dangers of speed and control loss on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs slammed together at East 167th and Fox. One turned left, one barreled straight. Alcohol in the mix. A 36-year-old woman thrown from her vehicle, leg torn, blood pooling. Airbag burst. She stayed awake as the city roared on.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided head-on at the corner of East 167th Street and Fox Street in the Bronx at 21:35. One vehicle, a 2018 Honda SUV, was making a left turn while the other, a 2005 Toyota SUV, was traveling straight. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor in the crash. The impact was severe: a 36-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to her leg. She remained conscious at the scene, with blood visible on the street and her airbag deployed. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when alcohol and driver error intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703076 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 53-year-old woman entered the Melrose Avenue crosswalk. Two Jeeps, steel and speed, converged from opposite sides. She was struck and killed at the intersection. The street claimed her life in the cold Bronx night.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old woman was killed while crossing Melrose Avenue at East 157th Street in the Bronx. The incident occurred at 19:11, when two Jeeps—one traveling south, the other north—approached the intersection. Both vehicles struck the woman as she was in the crosswalk. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, providing no evidence of evasive action or yielding. The narrative states, 'Steel met flesh. She died where she fell.' The victim's action is noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the absence of any driver error cited in the data. The report underscores the lethal danger at this intersection, with two vehicles converging and a pedestrian left dead in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man lost control on Bruckner Boulevard. His sedan slammed into two parked cars. Metal crumpled. Glass flew. He died alone in the driver’s seat. The Bronx kept moving. No other injuries reported.

A 69-year-old man died after losing consciousness behind the wheel on Bruckner Boulevard near 653. According to the police report, his sedan veered into two parked vehicles. The impact folded metal and scattered glass. The driver died at the scene. No pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers were hurt. The police report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left two parked cars damaged but no other injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a moped from behind on Fox Street near Intervale Avenue. The 23-year-old moped rider was thrown to the pavement, bleeding and unconscious. The sedan’s front end crumpled. The street held the rider’s body as daylight faded.

A deadly crash unfolded on Fox Street near Intervale Avenue. According to the police report, a sedan traveling south struck a moped from behind. The 23-year-old moped rider was ejected and landed on the pavement, suffering severe bleeding and losing consciousness. He died from his injuries. The sedan’s front end was crushed in the impact. Police cited 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after listing the driver’s errors. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers ignore speed limits and traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683237 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man rode north on Southern Boulevard before dawn. He wore a helmet. He had alcohol in his blood. The motorcycle smashed front-first. He flew from the seat. He died. The street fell silent.

A 23-year-old man was killed while riding a motorcycle north on Southern Boulevard at 3:35 a.m. According to the police report, he was unlicensed and had alcohol in his blood. The 2023 Fly E motorcycle struck hard, crushing the front end. The rider, wearing a helmet, was ejected and died from injuries to his entire body. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unspecified' as contributing factors. No other vehicles or people were involved. The street remained quiet after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 34-year-old man struck a parked Honda on East 167th Street. The crash was hard. He stayed inside the car. He did not survive. The street was quiet. The sedan did not move. The man’s life ended there.

A 34-year-old man died after his vehicle collided with the rear bumper of a parked 2013 Honda sedan near 1025 East 167th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A 34-year-old man died after crashing into the rear bumper of a parked 2013 Honda sedan. He was not thrown from the car. He stayed inside. He did not survive.' The crash involved only the man’s vehicle and the stationary sedan. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the police data. The parked Honda was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

The Bronx has no DOT borough commissioner. Crashes rise. Council Member Salamanca demands answers. Leadership is missing. Accountability is thin. Other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits. Streets stay dangerous. DOT promises a hire. The clock ticks.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s leadership and street safety in the Bronx. Council Member Rafael Salamanca (D-Concourse Village) pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, "There is no borough commissioner in the borough of the Bronx." The Bronx has lacked a permanent commissioner since November 2021. Salamanca demanded a timeline for filling the role, arguing, "There needs to be a level of accountability and our level of accountability is reaching out to that borough commissioner. Please speed it up." DOT responded that street safety projects are not planned or implemented by borough commissioners, but Salamanca insisted the vacancy leaves the Bronx exposed as crashes and injuries rise. All other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits for leadership as danger mounts.

• Amid Rash of Crashes, DOT Has No Bronx Borough Commissioner, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-13

A drunk, unlicensed man crashed his Honda into a city bus on 3rd Avenue. Doors buckled. A Hyundai struck next. Blood ran down his legs. No seatbelt. Steel screamed. The street held its breath. One man suffered severe leg wounds.

A violent crash unfolded near 3rd Avenue and East 149th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, a drunk, unlicensed man driving a Honda sedan slammed into a city bus. The bus doors buckled from the impact. A Hyundai SUV then struck the scene. The unlicensed sedan driver, a 34-year-old man, was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered severe lacerations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The driver’s lack of a license and absence of safety equipment are also noted. No injuries to bus passengers or other drivers are reported in the data. The crash left blood on the street and steel twisted, underscoring the danger when impaired, unlicensed drivers operate vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Tiffany Street. An e-bike rider kept straight. The truck’s bumper crushed his head. He was 29. He died there, half thrown, on the street. No helmet. No time. The Bronx claimed another life.

A 29-year-old e-bike rider was killed at Tiffany and Barry Streets in the Bronx when a dump truck turned right and struck him. According to the police report, 'A dump truck turned right. An e-bike kept straight. The truck’s bumper crushed the rider’s head. No helmet. No time. He was 29. He died there, half thrown, on the street.' The crash involved a dump truck making a right turn and an e-bike traveling straight. The point of impact was the truck’s right front bumper and the e-bike’s left front quarter panel. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Unspecified' as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary danger came from the truck’s movement and impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652722 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man crashed his motorbike on Saint John Avenue. No helmet. No armor. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake, pain sharp, staring at the pavement. The bike stood untouched. Inexperience cost him flesh.

A 25-year-old man riding a motorbike west on Saint John Avenue near 1034 in the Bronx suffered severe lacerations to his knee and lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' was listed as the contributing factor. The report states the rider wore no helmet or armor. The motorbike itself was undamaged, and no other vehicles or people were involved. The injured man remained conscious at the scene. The data highlights driver inexperience as the primary cause, with lack of safety equipment noted only after the error. No blame is placed on the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649575 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04