Parkchester Bleeds While Politicians Stall—Lower the Speed, Save a Life

• Dirt bike driver shoots two teens who nearly collided with him in the Bronx: NYPD, amny, Published 2025-10-25

Sep 7 - An SUV driver going north hit a bicyclist turning left on Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx. The rider went down with arm abrasions. Police recorded driver inattention and other vehicular factors.

A northbound SUV driver going straight and a northbound bicyclist making a left turn collided at 1725 Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx at 6:59 p.m. The bicyclist, 26, suffered arm abrasions and was conscious. The SUV was a 2023 Lexus; damage was to the left rear quarter panel. The bike showed front-end impact. "According to the police report," contributing factors included Driver Inattention/Distraction and Other Vehicular. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the SUV driver. The crash left the bicyclist hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840606 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

• 30-year-old man struck and killed on Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx, NYPD says, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-07

Aug 11 - A Mercedes hit two men on scooters. Both died. The crash tore through the Bronx River Parkway. Police arrested the driver. Metal met flesh. Lives ended. Streets stayed dangerous.

CBS New York reported on August 11, 2025, that a Mercedes sedan driver "struck two men on scooters, who then suffered fatal injuries" on the Bronx River Parkway. Police arrested the driver at the scene. The article highlights the deadly impact of car-on-scooter crashes and the vulnerability of those outside vehicles. The incident underscores ongoing risks for non-drivers on city roads and may prompt scrutiny of driver behavior and enforcement on major parkways.

• Scooter Riders Killed On Bronx Parkway, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 9 - A cab driver died after an SUV, moving at 77 mph in a 25 zone, struck his car in the Bronx. The driver ran. DNA on the airbag led to charges. The street stayed silent. The loss remains.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-09), Imani Williams was charged after her SUV hit a livery cab at 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, killing driver Robert Godwin. Prosecutors say Williams used a bus lane, ran a red light, and fled on foot. DNA from the airbag identified her. District Attorney Darcel Clark said, 'This defendant was allegedly driving three times the speed limit when her SUV slammed into a livery cab.' The case highlights the deadly risk of speeding and reckless driving in city streets.

• Speeding SUV Kills Bronx Cab Driver, New York Post, Published 2025-08-09

Jul 31 - A driver veered into a bus lane, struck a car wash worker, pinned him, then fled. The worker died. Police arrested the driver two years later. The crash left another man injured.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-31), Trina Bryant was arrested two years after allegedly striking and killing Felix Thomas Bontia, a car wash worker, in Morrisania. Police say Bryant "veered her 2011 Ford Escape directly into the path" of a Toyota Rav4, pinning Bontia and causing fatal injuries. She was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article notes Bryant fled on foot after the crash. The case highlights risks for workers near traffic and the consequences of reckless driving.

• Bronx Car Wash Worker Killed By Driver, New York Post, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - Seventeen years. Two deaths. Hundreds hurt. The city finally moves to rebuild a Bronx intersection where danger stalks every crossing. Concrete, signals, and sidewalks will change the ground, not the memory.

Patch reported on July 30, 2025, that New York City approved $45 million to reconstruct the hazardous intersection at East 177th Street, Devoe Avenue, and East Tremont Avenue. The area saw at least 246 crashes, 358 injuries, and two deaths since 2011. The plan, stalled for 17 years, will shorten crossings, add sidewalks, and upgrade signals. The corridor serves schools, bus stops, and parks. DDC spokesperson Ian Michaels called it an 'incredibly complex project.' Delays left vulnerable road users exposed. The redesign aims to reduce conflict and injury at a site long marked by systemic danger.

• City Funds Overdue Bronx Intersection Fix, Patch, Published 2025-07-30

Jun 30 - 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

Jun 30 - 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

Jun 29 - A left turn on Pelham Parkway. Metal meets flesh. The rider falls. The driver stays. One life ends. The system investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports a fatal crash near the Bruckner Expressway. A 31-year-old motorcyclist, Nathaniel Martinez, died after a Chevrolet Equinox turned left onto the I-95 ramp and struck him. The article states, "the Equinox driver stayed at the scene" and both were taken to the hospital. No arrests have been made. NYPD Highway District is investigating. The crash highlights the danger of left turns at busy intersections and the vulnerability of riders in traffic.

• Motorcyclist Killed In Bronx Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 28 - Five hospitalized after Bronx crash. Pedestrians struck. Driver fled. Police made arrest. Metal and bodies met on city streets. System failed to shield the vulnerable.

CBS New York (2025-06-28) reports a Bronx man was arrested after a multivehicle crash sent five people, including pedestrians, to the hospital. The article states, "The suspect allegedly fled the scene after the crash, which injured several pedestrians." The incident highlights the danger of hit-and-runs and the failure to protect those on foot. The crash underscores persistent risks for pedestrians and the urgent need for safer streets.

• Bronx Crash Injures Pedestrians, Driver Flees, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-28

Jun 21 - 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

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - A teenager fell from a Bronx subway train. He struck the track bed. The train hit him. His head and wrist were injured. He now lies in critical condition. The city’s system failed to keep him safe.

CBS New York reported on June 17, 2025, that a teenager was critically injured after falling from a 5 train at Baychester Avenue station in the Bronx. Police said the victim, aged 14 to 16, suffered head and wrist injuries after making contact with the train. The incident occurred just after 4 p.m. as the train approached the northbound platform. The MTA recently launched a campaign called 'Ride Inside, Stay Alive' and is testing barriers between subway cars to deter such incidents. According to the NYPD, at least one person has died from subway surfing this year; in 2024, six died, 15 were injured, and 229 were arrested. No driver error was involved, but the event highlights ongoing risks and the need for systemic safety improvements.

• Teen Critically Injured In Bronx Subway, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - A fender bender turned fatal at Givan and Palmer. Keino Campbell, 27, was shot three times in his car. Police arrested Michael Aracena. Family mourns a calm man lost to sudden violence. The street remains stained by gunfire.

ABC7 reported on June 16, 2025, that Keino Campbell, a 27-year-old Navy veteran, was shot and killed after a minor car crash in the Bronx. The incident occurred at Givan and Palmer avenues around 2 a.m. Saturday. Police arrested 20-year-old Michael Aracena, charging him with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. According to the article, Campbell's family said he tried to resolve the crash through insurance, but the suspect demanded money and then opened fire. ABC7 quotes Campbell’s father: "If you have insurance, you use insurance. Stop jumping out of car and shooting people." The case highlights the deadly risk of road rage and the failure of conflict resolution on city streets.

• Navy Veteran Killed In Bronx Shooting, ABC7, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 13 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13