Crash Count for Melrose
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,002
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 569
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 147
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 13
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 6
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 26, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Melrose?

Melrose Bleeds—City Shrugs

Melrose Bleeds—City Shrugs

Melrose: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025

The Deaths Keep Coming

In Melrose, the street is a gauntlet. Six people killed. Twelve left with serious injuries. In the past year alone, three more lives ended and three more bodies were broken. The numbers are steady. The pain does not fade.

In April, Inza Fofana, a hospital cleaner, crossed E. 149th Street after his shift. He was going to buy socks. A van turned left. He never made it home. “He was going to buy socks. That’s why he crossed the street,” said his sister-in-law. The driver stayed. No arrest. The street stayed the same.

Fofana’s family stood at the corner and asked for what should be basic. “There has to be a cross guard over there for the pedestrian to cross the street safely and for the loved one of everybody to get home with no problem, for something like Inza to never happen again,” said Nanssira Cisse.

The Pattern Is the Policy

SUVs, sedans, vans, taxis, motorcycles. They all kill here. The dead are not just numbers. They are the old and the young. A 52-year-old man, a 61-year-old man, a 53-year-old woman, a 21-year-old rider. Most were walking. Most were hit by drivers going straight or turning. The street is wide. The crossings are long. The danger is routine.

What Has Been Done—And What Has Not

City leaders talk about Vision Zero. They say one death is too many. They point to new laws like Sammy’s Law, which lets the city lower speed limits. But in Melrose, the speed stays high. The crossings stay wide. The cameras are not everywhere. The deaths keep coming.

No local leader has stood at this corner and said, ‘Enough.’ No law has forced the street to change. The families wait. The bodies pile up.

Act Now—Or Wait for the Next Name

Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real changes to crossings. Demand cameras that never go dark.

Every day of delay is another day someone does not come home. The street will not fix itself. The dead cannot speak. You must.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Chantel Jackson
Assembly Member Chantel Jackson
District 79
District Office:
780 Concourse Village West Ground Floor Professional, Bronx, NY 10451
Legislative Office:
Room 547, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Rafael Salamanca Jr.
Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr.
District 17
District Office:
1070 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10459
718-402-6130
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1776, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7505
Twitter: CMsalamancaJr
Jose Serrano
State Senator Jose Serrano
District 29
District Office:
335 E. 100th St., New York, NY 10029
Legislative Office:
Room 418, Capitol Building 172 State St., Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

Melrose Melrose sits in Bronx, Precinct 40, District 17, AD 79, SD 29, Bronx CB1.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Melrose

Cyclist Hit By Driver In Washington Heights

A driver struck a cyclist in Washington Heights. The cyclist survived. Neighbors say the intersection breeds danger. The driver fled. NYPD searches. Streets remain unsafe.

CBS New York reported on August 4, 2025, that a driver hit a cyclist in Washington Heights and left the scene. The article notes, "local residents say the intersection has been a problem for some time." The NYPD is searching for the driver. The incident highlights ongoing risks at this location and points to persistent systemic hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. No mention of charges or arrests. The crash underscores the need for stronger street design and enforcement.


Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack

A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.


SUV and Sedan Crash Leaves Elderly Passenger Injured

SUV slammed into sedan at E 158 St and Trinity Ave. Elderly woman in front seat crushed. Driver failed to yield. Aggressive driving fueled the wreck.

An SUV and a sedan collided at E 158 St and Trinity Ave in the Bronx. An 84-year-old woman riding in the sedan’s front seat suffered crush injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. The 67-year-old male driver of the sedan reported neck pain. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' contributed to the crash. Both injured occupants wore lap belts. The impact struck the sedan’s right front, showing the force of the collision. No pedestrians were involved.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831836 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be

A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.


Taxi Strikes Child Crossing at Tinton Avenue

A taxi hit a six-year-old boy in the Bronx. The child was crossing against the signal. He suffered a facial injury. The street stayed loud and cold. Metal met flesh. The city moved on.

A taxi traveling north on Tinton Avenue struck a six-year-old boy at the intersection with East 161st Street. According to the police report, the child was crossing against the signal and suffered a facial injury. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported among the taxi’s occupants. The crash underscores the danger faced by children on city streets, especially at intersections.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Elderly Pedestrian Fractured by Distracted Driver

A 70-year-old man was struck at Melrose Avenue. His arm broke. The driver was distracted. Blood on the crosswalk. The city failed to protect him.

A 70-year-old male pedestrian suffered a fractured arm after being struck at the intersection of 610 Melrose Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The victim was conscious but injured, with a dislocated and distorted arm. The report lists no other contributing factors. The vehicle type was unspecified. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted drivers to people crossing city streets.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831834 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Improper Lane Use Injures Bronx E-Bike Rider

A sedan struck a 60-year-old e-bike rider at E 149th Street. The cyclist suffered severe leg cuts. Police cite improper lane use by both drivers. Streets remain perilous for Bronx cyclists.

A sedan and an e-bike collided at 346 E 149th Street in the Bronx. The 60-year-old e-bike rider suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg. According to the police report, both drivers engaged in 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The sedan was starting from parking; the e-bike was traveling straight. The crash left the cyclist injured while the sedan occupants were unhurt. Driver error—improper lane use—was the key factor cited by police. No other contributing factors were listed.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Stolen Car Kills Two In Chinatown

A stolen Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck and killed a pedestrian and a cyclist. The driver tried to flee. Eyewitnesses stopped her. Broken bodies, broken laws, broken city.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-22), Autumn Donna Ascension Romero crashed a stolen rental car at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok and Kevin Cruickshank. Prosecutors say Romero admitted to drinking before driving and tried to flee the scene with her passenger. An open tequila bottle and loaded pistols were found in the car. The article quotes, 'They then tried to flee the scene followed by multiple eyewitnesses who told them to stop.' Romero faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. The crash highlights dangers from impaired driving, stolen vehicles, and failures in preventing reckless use of rentals.


Chinatown Crash Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian

A speeding car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The driver faces murder charges. The car was a long-overdue rental. Debris scattered. Lives ended in seconds.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a driver faces murder and manslaughter charges after a deadly Chinatown crash. The car, a weeks-overdue rental, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck a cyclist and a pedestrian, killing both. Police found two 9mm pistols in the trunk. The article states, "the car was traveling westbound off the Manhattan Bridge at a high rate of speed" and "struck Cruickshank, Kwok and an unoccupied NYPD vehicle." The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons possession. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.


Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown

A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a crash months before. System let her walk. Steel met flesh. The city failed to stop it.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown with a stolen rental car. Months earlier, she hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail eligible under state law. The article notes, "Three months before the fatal high-speed Saturday morning smash up... the 23-year-old driver allegedly clipped a woman... and fled." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat offenders.


Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two in Chinatown

A car sped off the Manhattan Bridge, jumped the curb, struck a cyclist and a pedestrian. Both died. The driver and passenger tried to flee. Police caught them. Metal, speed, and chaos at Canal and Bowery.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that a Chevy Malibu jumped the curb near Canal Street and Bowery, killing a cyclist in his 30s and a pedestrian in her 60s. The two women in the car attempted to flee but were arrested. Mayor Eric Adams cited 'the rate of speed was pretty high' and called for action against reckless driving. The car also struck a parked police van. Charges are pending as police investigate. The crash highlights ongoing dangers at busy intersections and the deadly impact of speed.


2
Distracted Driver Hits Pedestrian on Westchester Ave

A distracted driver struck a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Both suffered arm injuries. The street saw blood and confusion. Distraction left its mark.

A 16-year-old operating a motorized vehicle struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed Westchester Ave at Tinton Ave in the Bronx. Both were injured in the shoulder and upper arm. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The crash left the woman with a fracture and dislocation, while the driver suffered a contusion. Systemic danger and driver distraction converged at the intersection, injuring two people.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828906 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown

A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.


Fifth Avenue Redesign Cuts Bike, Bus Lanes

Adams’s Fifth Avenue plan drops bike and bus lanes. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. Sidewalks widen, but cars keep space. Board calls for real safety, not delay.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-14) reports Mayor Adams cut a bus lane and bike lane from the Fifth Avenue redesign, keeping two lanes for cars and widening sidewalks. The Manhattan Community Board 5 called this move not a "real solution" to safety, urging a return to the 2021 plan with protected bike lanes and faster bus service. "We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue," said CB 5 Vice Chair Samir Lavingia. The board warns that without bike lanes, cyclists will ride sidewalks, risking conflict. The plan, shaped with business interests, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and delays safer changes until at least 2028.


Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash

A 71-year-old passenger died. A 79-year-old driver struck two cars, then a pole. Metal twisted. Lives changed. The street stayed silent.

CBS New York (2025-07-12) reports a 71-year-old passenger died after a crash in Co-op City, Bronx. Police said a 79-year-old driver 'slammed into two cars before hitting a light pole.' The sequence ended in fatal injury. The article highlights the impact but does not detail causes. The crash underscores risks for passengers and raises questions about driver fitness and street design. No blame is assigned. The facts stand stark.


Sedan Strikes Seven Pedestrians on Courtlandt Ave

A Ford sedan making a left turn hit seven pedestrians in the Bronx. Victims suffered broken bones, pain, and trauma. Police cite driver inattention as the cause.

A Ford sedan, registered in Florida, struck seven pedestrians while making a left turn at Courtlandt Ave and E 149 St in the Bronx. According to the police report, all injured pedestrians ranged in age from 30 to 79. Injuries included fractures, pain, and trauma to the body and limbs. Two vehicle occupants also reported unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. One pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted driving.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Cyclist Charged After Unicycle Collision

A cyclist struck an electric unicycle rider in Central Park. The rider was left in critical condition. Police say the cyclist fled but later turned herself in. Details remain sparse. The street stays dangerous.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-02) reports a crash on Central Park's West Drive. Carolyn Backus, a cyclist, faces charges for leaving the scene after colliding with a 40-year-old electric unicycle rider, who suffered critical injuries. NYPD says Backus turned herself in after her photo was circulated. The article notes, 'EMS transported the critically injured one-wheeler to New York-Presbyterian with serious injuries.' Electric unicycles can exceed 40 mph and are illegal in New York City. The incident highlights risks from high-speed devices and gaps in enforcement on shared paths.


Int 0857-2024
Salamanca votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


Bronx Driver Hits Three Pedestrians

A car slammed into three men at Hunts Point. One lies in critical condition. Metal twisted. Sirens wailed. The driver faces charges. Blood stains the Bronx night.

ABC7 reported on June 28, 2025, that a driver struck three pedestrians at Hunts Point Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard. Police say Charles Jenkins, 28, collided with a Mercedes, then hit three men and several parked cars. One victim, age 33, was critically hurt; two others are stable. Jenkins faces multiple vehicular assault charges. ABC7 notes, 'Authorities are trying to determine what led up to the collision.' The crash highlights the danger at busy Bronx intersections and the consequences when drivers lose control.


2
Distracted Drivers Collide on E 160 St Bronx

Two sedans crashed at E 160 St and Tinton Ave. A passenger and a driver suffered head and leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and glass, pain and shock, all in seconds.

Two sedans collided at E 160 St and Tinton Ave in the Bronx. According to the police report, driver inattention and distraction led to the crash. One right rear passenger, age 23, suffered knee and foot injuries. A 45-year-old driver sustained a head injury. Both reported whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left metal twisted and lives changed in an instant.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04