Melrose: five pedestrians dead, and the street keeps moving

May 14 - A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 12 - A Fisker SUV making a U-turn hit a 19-year-old cyclist on Westchester Ave. The cyclist suffered a head injury. No injuries reported for the SUV occupants. The crash left the bike and SUV undamaged.

A Fisker Ocean SUV collided with a 19-year-old woman riding a bike at 700 Westchester Ave in the Bronx. According to the police report, the SUV was making a U-turn when it struck the cyclist, causing a head injury and contusions. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. The SUV driver and another occupant, both 27, were not injured. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted after the contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

May 12 - A sedan hit an 85-year-old woman crossing E 161 St at St Anns Ave. She suffered leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed open. The pain lingered.

An 85-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing E 161 St at St Anns Ave in the Bronx. She was in a marked crosswalk, crossing without a signal, and suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The sedan, driven by a 62-year-old man, was making a right turn when the crash occurred. No injuries were reported for the driver or a young male passenger. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

May 11 - A black Mercedes struck Kelvin Mitchell as he crossed Webster Avenue. The driver fled. Mitchell died steps from home. Police have not caught the driver. The street stayed quiet. The loss cut deep. The danger remains.

NY Daily News reported on May 11, 2025, that Kelvin Mitchell, 43, was killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Webster Ave. near E. 168th St. in the Bronx. The article states, "Mitchell was crossing Webster Ave. midblock... when he was mowed down by the driver of a black Mercedes-Benz." Surveillance video showed the Mercedes speeding in a bus lane before the crash. The driver did not stop. NYPD could not confirm if police were pursuing the car. Mitchell was a father and community figure. The crash highlights the lethal risk of speeding and hit-and-run drivers, and the lack of immediate accountability. No arrests have been made.

• Bronx Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-11

May 10 - A man crossed East 160th Street. A black Mercedes hit him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed the man to Lincoln Hospital. He died. Police search for the driver. The street holds silence. Another life lost to speed and steel.

ABC7 reported on May 10, 2025, that a 43-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run at East 160th Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The article states, "A preliminary investigation found that the man was crossing the street when he was struck by a black Mercedes traveling southbound on Webster Ave." The driver did not stop and has not been apprehended. Emergency services transported the victim to Lincoln Hospital, where he died from his injuries. ABC7 quotes an area resident: "That was like my brother. He remember he was a good guy, a family guy. A whole father." The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes. No arrests have been made.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Bronx Pedestrian, ABC7, Published 2025-05-10

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - A cyclist died in Manhattan. Two vehicles struck. Both drivers stayed. Police have not charged anyone. The street claimed another life. Metal and speed met flesh and bone. The city keeps moving. The loss remains.

Patch reported on May 4, 2025, that a bicyclist was killed in Manhattan after a collision involving two vehicles. According to the NYPD, 'Both drivers remained at the scene.' The article notes that 'it is not yet clear if either of the drivers will be charged in connection to the incident.' No further details on the crash circumstances or contributing factors were provided. The case highlights ongoing risks for cyclists in New York City streets, where multi-vehicle collisions can have fatal consequences. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by vulnerable road users and the need for continued scrutiny of street design and traffic enforcement.

• Bicyclist Dies In Manhattan Collision, Patch, Published 2025-05-04

May 3 - A van door swung open. The cyclist struck it. He fell. A truck crushed him. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The street stayed busy. The drivers waited. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (May 3, 2025), Georgios Smaragdis, 44, was killed while riding his e-bike west on Broome Street in Soho. The article states, "he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had just flung open," sending him into the path of a red delivery truck that ran him over. Both drivers remained at the scene. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy." Police have not announced charges. The crash highlights the persistent danger of dooring and the lethal consequences for cyclists when drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors. The incident underscores ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in Manhattan’s dense traffic.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Dooring in Soho, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 1 - SUV struck e-scooter at Westchester Ave. Three injured. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. Head, leg, and back injuries. Pain and whiplash. Streets remain hostile for the unprotected.

An SUV collided with an e-scooter at 654 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. Three people were injured: the SUV driver suffered head injuries, the front passenger had back injuries, and the e-scooter rider sustained leg injuries. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' was a contributing factor. The SUV's right front bumper hit the e-scooter. No helmet or signal use was listed as a factor. The crash left all injured but conscious. The data points to driver aggression as the cause, underscoring the danger faced by those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810049 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

May 1 - A man on an e-bike struck a van door on Broome Street. The door swung open. He fell into the path of a box truck. The truck ran him over. Medics tried to save him. He died at Bellevue Hospital.

NY Daily News reported on May 1, 2025, that an e-bike rider died in Manhattan after being doored by a Mercedes van and then run over by a box truck. The crash happened around 10:10 a.m. on Broome Street near Centre Street. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy. I only saw the accident." The collision forced the cyclist into the path of a red delivery truck, which then struck him. The 54-year-old truck driver stayed at the scene. Police had not determined if charges would be filed. The article highlights the lethal risk of dooring and the vulnerability of cyclists in mixed traffic. The incident underscores systemic dangers at curbside and the consequences of inattentive door opening.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Van Door Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 29 - A woman crossed Amsterdam Avenue. An ambulance turned left. Metal struck flesh. Bones broke. Blood spilled. She died in the hospital. The driver stayed, but charges followed. The street remains wide, busy, and dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 29, 2025, that Juan Santana, an ambulance driver, was arrested months after fatally striking Miriam Reinharth, 69, in Manhattan. Police said Santana failed to yield as Reinharth crossed Amsterdam Avenue at West 96th Street. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad found Santana turned left into her path. He was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Reinharth died from severe injuries, including a broken leg and pelvis fractures. The article notes, 'The police officer said the accident was not Miriam's fault at all.' The crash occurred on a double-wide, truck route artery, highlighting ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy intersections.

• Ambulance Driver Charged After Fatal Turn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-29

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 26 - A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The driver sideswiped a parked car. The victim fell, suffering head trauma and a shattered leg. He faces amputation. The car was found abandoned. The street bears old scars.

NY Daily News reported on April 26, 2025, that a 32-year-old man in Pelham Bay, Bronx, was critically injured after trying to stop a carjacker. Surveillance video shows the victim sprinting to his double-parked Infiniti as a suspect entered and sped away. The suspect sideswiped a parked car, knocking the victim to the street. He suffered head trauma and a fractured leg, and may require amputation. The article quotes a local, 'This has absolutely happened before,' highlighting repeated car thefts in the area. The car was later found abandoned. The incident underscores persistent dangers for bystanders and the ongoing threat of vehicle theft in city neighborhoods.

• Bronx Carjacking Leaves Man Critically Injured, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-26

Apr 23 - Motorscooter and SUV collided on Westchester Ave. Rider thrown, arm fractured. Police cite following too closely. Wrecked scooter, shaken passengers. Streets stayed hard and unforgiving.

A motorscooter and an SUV crashed on Westchester Ave at Tinton Ave in the Bronx. An 18-year-old motorscooter rider was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. Two other men, aged 27 and 39, were listed as occupants and reported unspecified injuries. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor for all involved. The motorscooter was demolished. No other contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

Apr 23 - A new floating freight dock opens at Hunts Point. One thousand trucks a month will vanish from Bronx streets. Boats and cargo bikes will haul food across the city. Less diesel. Fewer big rigs. The city shifts freight off the road, onto water.

On April 23, 2025, city officials and Con Agg Global announced a new floating freight dock at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center. The project, backed by the Economic Development Corporation and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, aims to move food by boat and e-cargo trike instead of trucks. The matter summary states: 'Replacing truck trips with boat trips and cargo bikes is a key feature of the city's urgent push to shift cargo trips out of big trucks.' EDC President Andrew Kimball said, 'The goal is, over time, to move more and more of this food out of Hunts Point not by truck, but by water with e-cargo trikes.' The dock will remove one thousand trucks per month from South Bronx streets. Officials plan to expand docks citywide. The bill’s status is an active infrastructure rollout, not a legislative vote. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided, but the shift promises fewer trucks where people walk and ride.

• ‘Blue Highways’ Moves Forward With New Freight Dock At Hunts Point Market, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 16 - A woman crossing 3rd Avenue with the signal was hit by a speeding SUV. She suffered a head injury. Unsafe speed and lane changing led to the crash. The street turned violent in a blink.

A 41-year-old woman was crossing 3rd Avenue at E 152nd Street with the signal when a station wagon/SUV struck her. She suffered a head abrasion. According to the police report, unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing were contributing factors. The driver, a 37-year-old woman, was traveling south in the SUV. The report lists no errors by the pedestrian. The crash left the pedestrian injured at the intersection, underscoring the danger posed by driver actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

Apr 15 - 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