Blood on Webster: Morrisania’s Streets, City Hall’s Silence

Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

A sedan struck an e-scooter at Melrose Avenue and East 163rd Street. The e-scooter rider was ejected and injured, suffering a facial contusion. Both vehicles took damage to their front ends. No driver errors were listed in the police report.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east made a left turn and collided with an e-scooter heading west on Melrose Avenue at East 163rd Street in the Bronx. The e-scooter rider, a 33-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a facial bruise. He was reported in shock at the scene. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, and another occupant reported unspecified injuries. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center front ends. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The e-scooter rider was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report, but no helmet or signaling issues were cited as contributing factors. No driver errors or violations were identified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Crotona Ave in the Bronx. A child and an adult suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Lives changed. The street bore the cost.

Two sedans crashed on Crotona Ave near Crotona Park East in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2023 Dodge sedan making a left turn and a 2014 Audi sedan going straight. Six people were involved. A 31-year-old male driver suffered a neck injury and whiplash. A 3-year-old female passenger was also injured. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left metal wrecked and people hurt. The system failed to protect its most vulnerable.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817070 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

A speeding SUV hit a 16-year-old girl at the intersection on Prospect Avenue. She suffered a bruised leg. The impact came from the front of the vehicle. Unsafe speed was the cause. The street bore the mark of force and failure.

A 16-year-old female pedestrian was struck and injured by a station wagon or SUV at the intersection of 1431 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the vehicle was traveling north and hit the pedestrian with its center front end, causing a contusion to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The pedestrian was at the intersection when the collision occurred. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit an e-bike from behind on Melrose Avenue. The cyclist, 31, was ejected and injured. The crash left him conscious but hurt across his entire body.

A sedan struck an e-bike from behind on Melrose Avenue near East 160th Street in the Bronx. The 31-year-old male cyclist was ejected and suffered injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, the cyclist was conscious after the crash and complained of whiplash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. The e-bike sustained damage to its center back end. The sedan's details were not fully reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped and sedan collided on Cauldwell Ave. The moped driver suffered a head injury. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A moped and a sedan crashed at Cauldwell Ave and E 163 St in the Bronx. The 26-year-old moped driver suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Other Vehicular' factors contributed to the crash. The moped was struck on its left rear quarter panel. The sedan sustained front-end damage. The report lists no helmet or signal issues. The collision left the moped driver hurt, exposing the dangers faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A driver struck a pedestrian in the Bronx. The driver fled. The victim died. Police search for answers. The street holds the mark. Another life lost to speed and steel.

CBS New York reported on May 10, 2025, that a pedestrian was killed in the Bronx by a driver who fled the scene. The article states, 'Police are searching for a driver who allegedly fled after striking and killing a pedestrian in the Bronx early Saturday morning.' The incident highlights the lethal risk faced by people on foot and the ongoing problem of hit-and-run crashes in New York City. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene is a clear violation of traffic law. The case underscores the need for stronger enforcement and systemic changes to protect vulnerable road users.

• Pedestrian Killed In Bronx Hit-And-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-10

A BMW driver without a license struck and killed Dwight Downer outside his Bronx home. Police charged the driver with manslaughter. Speeding violations followed the crash. Downer’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged. The danger persists.

NY Daily News reported on May 8, 2025, that Sheydon McClean, an unlicensed BMW driver, was charged with manslaughter after a November 30 crash killed Dwight Downer, a retired correction officer and football coach, in Baychester. McClean remained at the scene, but police only charged him after further investigation. The article notes McClean’s BMW received at least three speeding violations from city cameras after the fatal crash. Downer’s mother said, 'These arrests cannot bring back my child. Still, something has to be done.' The case highlights the ongoing risks posed by unlicensed and repeat speeding drivers, and the limits of enforcement in preventing deadly crashes.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Bronx Coach, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-08

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

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

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

A sedan turned left on 3rd Avenue, striking a southbound e-bike. The 19-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. Police cite traffic control disregarded. System failed to protect the rider.

A sedan making a left turn on 3rd Avenue at East 163rd Street collided with a southbound e-bike. The 19-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured lower leg. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan’s right front quarter panel was damaged. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users at Bronx intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810191 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Blood pooled on 149th Street. A man, beaten by a group after a roadside argument, lay with head trauma. The attackers fled. Police searched the night. The victim survived, but the scars of violence lingered in Mott Haven.

CBS New York reported on April 28, 2025, that a 37-year-old man was hospitalized after a violent road rage incident in the Bronx. The confrontation began as an argument between occupants of two cars near 149th Street and Brook Avenue. According to police, 'both parties got out of their cars,' and a group then 'started kicking and punching the 37-year-old victim, causing him to sustain significant head trauma.' The attackers fled before officers arrived. The victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition. The incident occurred near a police precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers when disputes escalate on city streets. Police are searching for the suspects.

• Bronx Road Rage Leaves Man Hospitalized, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-28

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

A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The vehicle dragged him down the street. Police found him battered, head and leg broken. The car, abandoned, bore scars of violence. The thief vanished. The city’s system failed to stop it.

According to the New York Post (April 25, 2025), a 32-year-old man was critically injured after being dragged by his own car during a daylight theft on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. The article reports, 'Officers found the victim badly injured with trauma to his head and leg a block away.' Surveillance footage shows the man trying to stop the thief by grabbing the car window as it sped away. The Infiniti was later found abandoned with heavy damage. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the Bronx 'the absolute best place' in New York City to steal a car, citing a 3.6% rise in thefts in the borough, despite a citywide decrease. The incident highlights ongoing gaps in car theft prevention and prosecution.

• Man Dragged By Stolen Car In Bronx, New York Post, Published 2025-04-25

A garbage truck struck a cyclist turning right on Prospect Ave. The oversized vehicle left the rider with arm abrasions. Metal met flesh. The street stayed hard and unforgiving.

A garbage truck collided with a cyclist at Prospect Ave and Crotona Park E in the Bronx. The 43-year-old cyclist suffered abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, an oversized vehicle contributed to the crash. The truck was making a left turn while the cyclist was turning right. The impact struck the cyclist at the center front end. No other contributing factors were listed. The report does not mention any helmet use or signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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