Bronx Streets Run Red—Lower the Speed, Save a Life

Steel met steel at dawn. The box truck flipped. Three people hurt—two in the ambulance, one in the truck. Sirens wailed. All went to Jacobi. The cause is still a question. The Bronx street stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 15, 2025, that an ambulance and a box truck collided at Pelham Parkway South and Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx just after 6:30 a.m. The article states, "The box truck overturned in the crash. Three people were hurt: the box truck driver and two ambulance workers." All were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause remains under investigation. The crash highlights risks at busy intersections and the potential for severe outcomes when large vehicles collide. No driver actions have been detailed yet. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns for workers and drivers on city streets.

• Ambulance, Truck Crash Injures Three Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-04-15

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

A Mercedes slammed into Darryl Mathis Jr.'s stalled car on the Major Deegan. Mathis called for help, then for an ambulance. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Mathis to the hospital. He died. The killer behind the wheel vanished into the night.

NY Daily News reported on March 24, 2025, that Darryl Mathis Jr. was killed when a Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his disabled Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. Mathis, stranded after his battery died, called friends for help. As one friend recounted, 'He called to get a jump, and after that, he got hit from behind, a hit-and-run.' The Mercedes driver fled the scene and has not been caught. Mathis was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The crash highlights the dangers faced by stranded motorists on city highways and the deadly consequences when drivers flee. No policy changes or enforcement actions were detailed in the article.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Stranded Bronx Motorist, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-24

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

An 18-year-old woman crossing E Tremont Ave was struck and left bleeding on the Bronx asphalt. The driver fled. Her leg was crushed. No name, no face, just pain and the echo of vanishing wheels.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old woman was crossing E Tremont Ave near Fink Ave when she was struck by a vehicle. The report states her 'leg [was] crushed' and she was found 'conscious on the cold pavement.' The driver did not remain at the scene, vanishing without providing aid or identification. The police report describes the incident as a hit-and-run, noting there was 'no name, no face. Just blood on the Bronx asphalt.' The report does not list any contributing factors attributed to the driver, but the act of fleeing highlights a systemic danger: drivers leaving injured pedestrians behind. The report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' but does not cite this as a contributing factor to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An 81-year-old man lay bleeding and unconscious beneath the streetlights at Westchester and Metcalf. No driver stopped. No car remained. Only silence and the old man alone in the dark, another pedestrian left behind in the Bronx night.

According to the police report, an 81-year-old pedestrian was struck while crossing at the corner of Westchester Avenue and Metcalf Avenue in the Bronx. The report states the man was found unconscious with a head injury and severe bleeding. No driver remained at the scene, and no vehicle description was provided. The report notes, 'No driver stayed. No car described.' The pedestrian was left alone, with no witnesses or aid from the motorist responsible. The absence of any driver information or vehicle details underscores the systemic danger faced by pedestrians, especially when drivers flee and accountability vanishes. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 17-year-old on a motorbike collided head-on with an SUV on Metcalf Avenue. He was thrown from his seat, his skull striking the street. He died there, broken and still, as dusk closed in over the Bronx.

A 17-year-old male riding a motorbike was killed in a violent head-on collision with an SUV on Metcalf Avenue near East 172nd Street in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 18:44, with both vehicles listed as 'Going Straight Ahead' before impact. The police report states the motorbike struck the SUV's right front quarter panel, resulting in the teen being ejected and suffering fatal head injuries. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet at the time. Both contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the official documentation. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'He flew from the seat. His skull met the street. He died there, broken and still, as dusk closed in.' No driver errors are specifically cited in the police report, and no mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor beyond the absence of a helmet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794705 - 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

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 BMW SUV turned through White Plains Road, striking a 75-year-old man crossing with the signal. The impact crushed him. He died in the street. The driver did not stop. The SUV showed no damage. The street kept moving.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old man was crossing White Plains Road near Wood Avenue in the Bronx, walking with the signal, when a BMW SUV made a left turn and struck him with its front end. The report states the pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries and died at the scene. The driver did not remain, and the vehicle showed no visible damage. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The victim's behavior—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the documented driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver failure to yield and inattention at Bronx intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790185 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A 71-year-old woman crossing Boynton Avenue in a marked crosswalk was struck and left bleeding by a fleeing driver. Blood pooled on the pavement. She suffered head wounds and deep cuts. The driver vanished, leaving only silence behind.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was crossing Boynton Avenue near 1030 in the Bronx, using a marked crosswalk. The incident occurred at approximately 16:50. The narrative states she was struck by a vehicle while crossing, resulting in severe head wounds and deep lacerations. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver did not remain at the scene; the report notes, 'The driver vanished. Only silence remained.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified' and provides no details about the vehicle or driver. The pedestrian's actions are described as 'Crossing, No Signal, Marked Crosswalk,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to remain at the scene and the systemic danger posed by hit-and-run incidents.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786004 - 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 crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

An 18-year-old e-scooter rider bled onto Lafayette Avenue. The street did not yield. He stayed conscious, his face torn open. The pavement, unmoving, marked his southbound path with blood.

An 18-year-old male riding an e-scooter southbound on Lafayette Avenue near White Plains Road in the Bronx sustained a severe facial injury, according to the police report. The report states the rider was not wearing a helmet and was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The narrative describes, 'Blood ran from his face. He stayed awake. The pavement did not move.' Police classified the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were involved, and there is no indication of driver error by another party. The report notes the rider's lack of helmet use, but lists this detail only after describing the incident and does not attribute it as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the physical consequences and the environment, with no blame assigned to the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784508 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chevy pickup turned left on Seddon Street. A woman, 47, crossing at the intersection, was crushed beneath its wheels. The driver failed to yield. She died under the streetlamp, her life ended by a moment’s inattention.

According to the police report, a Chevy pickup truck was making a left turn at the corner of Seddon Street and St Raymond Avenue in the Bronx when it struck a 47-year-old woman crossing the intersection. The report states the driver 'did not yield,' and lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crushed beneath the vehicle and died at the scene. The incident occurred at 23:41. The police report does not cite any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. The deadly impact and fatal outcome were directly linked to driver actions and the systemic danger posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to people in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 43-year-old man, unlicensed and bareheaded, rode his e-bike southwest on Metropolitan Oval. He was thrown. His face struck the street. Blood spread. Flesh tore. The pavement held him, silent and still, pain carving its mark.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old man was riding an e-bike southwest on Metropolitan Oval in the Bronx when he was ejected from the bike. The report states he was 'unlicensed and bareheaded.' The man suffered severe lacerations to his face after striking the street, with blood spreading and flesh torn. Police note the rider was the only occupant and was conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified.' The vehicle record confirms the e-bike driver was unlicensed at the time of the incident. No other vehicles were involved, and no vehicle damage was reported. The narrative and data focus on the unlicensed operation of the e-bike and the resulting serious injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep, westbound on Bruckner, struck a 64-year-old man in the intersection. The SUV’s right front bumper broke his head. He died beneath the streetlamps. Police cite driver inattention. The city’s streets claim another life.

A 64-year-old man was killed at the corner of Bruckner Blvd and Castle Hill Ave when a westbound Jeep SUV struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 20:03. The pedestrian died at the scene, suffering fatal head injuries. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the collision. The vehicle, a 2022 Jeep registered in New Jersey, was traveling straight ahead when it struck the man in the intersection. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'crossing against the signal,' but this detail follows the primary fault of driver inattention. The deadly impact underscores the ongoing danger posed by inattentive drivers on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan ran a red light on Castle Hill Avenue, colliding head-on with an SUV. A 27-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died as the airbag deployed. The crash shattered her body. The Bronx night fell silent after the impact.

According to the police report, at 12:49 a.m. on Castle Hill Avenue near Randall Avenue in the Bronx, a sedan disregarded a traffic control signal and caused a fatal head-on collision with a station wagon/SUV. The report states: 'A sedan ran the light. Steel screamed.' The 27-year-old female front-seat passenger, who was wearing a seatbelt and protected by an airbag, suffered fatal injuries to her entire body. The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the driver's failure to obey the traffic signal. No victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash. This collision underscores the deadly consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771632 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04