Longwood Bleeds: City Stalls, Streets Kill

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

Apr 12 - A bus hit a man crossing Westchester Ave at E 160 St. The impact left him with chest injuries. He was conscious. The crash happened in the crosswalk. The bus struck with its right front bumper.

A bus traveling west on Westchester Ave struck a 40-year-old man crossing at E 160 St in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered internal chest injuries but remained conscious. The bus hit him with its right front bumper. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A Ford sedan hit a woman crossing Westchester Ave with the signal. She suffered leg injuries. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

A Ford sedan struck a 26-year-old woman as she crossed Westchester Ave at E 163 St in the Bronx. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The woman suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other causes or circumstances are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805268 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 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

Apr 10 - Senate bill S 7336 pushes more speed cameras and targets hidden plates. Sponsors want sharper eyes on reckless drivers. School zones stay under watch. The city’s most vulnerable stay exposed.

Senate bill S 7336, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, titled 'Relates to the use of certain photo speed violation monitoring systems for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction; repealer,' lets cameras catch drivers who hide or alter plates and extends speed camera use in school zones. Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill’s focus: more enforcement, less evasion. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear—more eyes on the street, more pressure on reckless drivers.

• File S 7336, Open States, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 8 - A sedan slows on Westchester Ave. Metal slams metal. A man clutches his neck, stunned. A woman sits silent. The Bronx street holds its breath.

A sedan was struck from behind near Westchester Ave and E 162 St in the Bronx. According to the police report, metal struck metal at the center back of the sedan. A 40-year-old man driving the car suffered a neck injury and shock. A 38-year-old woman passenger was also involved. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The impact left the street silent, the toll clear in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 6 - Inza Fofana left work, crossed E. 149th Street. A van hit him midblock. Two more cars struck as he lay in the road. Medics rushed him back to Lincoln Hospital. He died. His family mourns. The intersection stays dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 6, 2025, that Inza Fofana, a 52-year-old hospital cleaner and immigrant, was fatally struck after his shift at Lincoln Hospital. The crash occurred midblock at E. 149th St. and Morris Ave. Police said a 2019 Ford Transit van, turning left, hit Fofana as he crossed. The article quotes his sister-in-law: "He was going to buy socks. That's why he crossed the street." Police told the family that after the initial impact, two more vehicles struck Fofana. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. Family members called for more safety measures at the busy intersection, noting, "There has to be a cross guard over there for the pedestrian to cross the street safely." The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians at wide, high-traffic Bronx crossings.

• Bronx Hospital Worker Killed Crossing Street, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-06

Mar 22 - 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

Mar 20 - A sedan driver without a license made a left turn on Westchester Ave in the Bronx, striking an 18-year-old bicyclist traveling straight. The cyclist was ejected and suffered an upper arm injury, left in shock at the scene with no visible complaint.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5 p.m. on Westchester Ave near Intervale Ave in the Bronx. The sedan driver, a male with an unlicensed New York driver's license, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The impact point was the right front quarter panel of the sedan and the center front end of the bicycle. The bicyclist, an 18-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained an upper arm injury classified as severity level 3. The report notes no visible complaint from the bicyclist but lists his emotional status as shock. The report does not specify any contributing factors from the bicyclist but highlights the driver's unlicensed status and left turn maneuver as critical elements in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800271 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 5 - A 12-year-old girl suffered shoulder bruises after being struck by a right-turning pick-up truck on Westchester Ave in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, but confusion and traffic control disregard contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:45 on Westchester Ave near Simpson St in the Bronx. A 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing the street with the signal. The vehicle involved was a 2015 Ford pick-up truck traveling east and making a right turn. The report cites driver errors including 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to the shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious. The truck showed no damage and the driver was licensed. The report highlights driver failure to yield and disregard for traffic controls as primary causes, without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 3 - Senate bill S 5801 demands licenses and insurance for e-scooter riders. No license, no sale. Sponsors push manuals and safety lessons. The city’s streets stay risky for those outside cars.

Senate bill S 5801, sponsored by Luis R. Sepúlveda and co-sponsored by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., sits at the sponsorship stage. Filed March 3, 2025, it aims to 'establish a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual' and require licenses and insurance for e-scooter riders in New York City. The bill bars sales to unlicensed, uninsured buyers. It also folds scooter safety into driver education. No safety analyst has weighed in on the impact for vulnerable road users. The measure’s focus is paperwork, not street design or driver accountability.

• File S 5801, Open States, Published 2025-03-03

Feb 26 - A city bus turned onto Brook Avenue. The driver struck a cyclist. The man died at the scene. Police stayed. No charges filed. Another crash in Queens left one dead, one charged. The city’s streets remain hostile to the unprotected.

Gothamist reported on February 26, 2025, that an MTA bus driver fatally struck a 57-year-old cyclist while turning from East 149th Street onto Brook Avenue in the Bronx. The crash happened around 10:45 p.m. The bus, running as a subway replacement shuttle, was empty. The driver stayed at the scene and was not charged. NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article also details a separate fatal crash in Queens involving a suspected drunk driver. As Gothamist notes, 'Police are investigating two fatal crashes in the Bronx and Queens.' The Bronx crash highlights the persistent risks at intersections where turning vehicles endanger cyclists. No policy changes were announced.

• MTA Bus Turns, Cyclist Killed Bronx, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 25 - 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

Feb 18 - A garbage truck struck a sedan’s right rear quarter panel on Westchester Ave in the Bronx. Two female passengers suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash unfolded in the early morning hours with both drivers traveling straight ahead.

According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling south on Westchester Ave rear-ended a sedan moving southwest. The point of impact was the sedan’s right rear quarter panel, causing damage to its right rear bumper. The sedan carried three occupants, including two female passengers aged 38 and 39, who were injured with back pain and whiplash. Both passengers were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The garbage truck showed no vehicle damage. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The injuries highlight the violent force of the impact on the sedan’s occupants despite proper restraint use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 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

Feb 12 - A USPS truck hit a 21-year-old woman crossing E 167 St. She suffered knee and leg injuries. The crash left her conscious but hurt. The street saw another clash between steel and flesh.

According to the police report, a USPS vehicle traveling east on E 167 St in the Bronx struck a 21-year-old female pedestrian at 17:50. The pedestrian was crossing outside an intersection. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck, damaging the right front bumper. The woman sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious with internal complaints. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors beyond the pedestrian's action of 'Crossing Against Signal.' The crash highlights the persistent danger faced by people on foot in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792395 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - SUV turned right. Firetruck turned left. Metal met metal. The SUV driver, sixty-three, took back abrasions. Sirens and steel tangled in the Bronx night.

According to the police report, a 2019 SUV heading south on E 167 St made a right turn and collided with a northbound firetruck making a left turn near Southern Blvd in the Bronx at 12:20 AM. The SUV's left rear quarter panel struck the firetruck's center front end. The SUV driver, a 63-year-old man, suffered back abrasions but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risks when large emergency vehicles and passenger SUVs cross paths in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 4 - A 55-year-old man pedaled south on Westchester Avenue at dawn. A vehicle struck him from behind. His head was crushed, blood pooled, but he stayed conscious. The street was quiet. The driver followed too closely and was distracted.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man was riding his bicycle south on Westchester Avenue near Home Street in the Bronx at 6:05 a.m. when a vehicle struck him from behind. The report states the cyclist suffered crush injuries to his head but remained conscious as blood pooled on the pavement. The police report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The narrative describes the street as quiet at the time of the collision and notes that the driver was distracted. No contributing factors related to the cyclist's behavior or equipment were listed in the report. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance and attention, which led to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - A city bus teetered over a Bronx overpass after swerving to dodge a double-parked car. Steel scraped concrete. Debris rained down. No one was hurt. The wall broke. The rules broke first.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus nearly plunged from the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass after the driver swerved to avoid an illegally double-parked car. The bus crashed into the wall, leaving it hanging over the edge. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said, "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." No injuries were reported, but the crash caused structural damage and scattered debris below. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz noted, "It speaks to the importance of enforcing our parking rules because it was going around a double-parked car." The incident highlights the danger posed by lax parking enforcement and infrastructure vulnerable to impact.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13