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

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 2025-11-02

Aug 11 - A car struck two mopeds on Bronx River Parkway. Both riders died. Police arrested the driver. Charges include vehicular manslaughter and intoxication. The crash investigation continues.

According to amny (2025-08-11), a Mercedes-Benz tried to pass a Volkswagen on Bronx River Parkway, striking it and then hitting two mopeds. Both moped riders, Enrique Martinez and Manuel Amarantepenalo, died. The driver, Mauricio Neyra Yuyes, was arrested and faces charges including vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. The article notes, "Neyra Yuyes was arrested on Monday... He faces a list of charges including vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired." NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is handling the ongoing investigation. The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and impaired operation.

• Bronx Parkway Crash Kills Two Riders, amny, 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

Aug 8 - A woman lay dead in Morris Heights. A driver fled. The street stayed silent. Another life lost to speed and steel.

CBS New York reported on August 8, 2025, that a woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Morris Heights, Bronx. The article states, "A Bronx woman is dead after a hit-and-run in Morris Heights." The driver left the scene, a clear violation of law. The incident highlights ongoing dangers for pedestrians and the persistent problem of drivers fleeing after deadly crashes. Policy gaps remain as enforcement and street design fail to protect vulnerable road users.

• Bronx Woman Dies In Hit-And-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - A driver struck a woman crossing 174th Street in the Bronx. The car fled. Police search for answers. Another fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Pedestrians pay the price. Streets stay dangerous. No arrests. No closure.

Gothamist (2025-08-07) reports a driver killed a 44-year-old woman crossing 174th Street and Macombs Road in the Bronx late at night, then fled. Police said, "they're looking for the driver" and have not released a description. The article also details a separate Brooklyn hit-and-run where a man was dragged over 50 feet. NYPD data shows Brooklyn leads in pedestrian injuries this year. Both cases highlight ongoing dangers for people on foot and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Bronx Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-07

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 13 - A car struck two vehicles and a pole on Bartow Ave. Eight people hurt. Stella Nyarko-Dei, 71, died. Metal twisted. Sirens wailed. The street bore the scars. All drivers stayed. Police investigate.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-13), a 79-year-old driver crashed into two cars and a light pole in the Bronx, killing his 71-year-old passenger, Stella Nyarko-Dei, and injuring seven others. The article states, "The impact sent the Hyundai careening into an unoccupied parked car." All drivers remained at the scene. Police said, "The cause of the crash was not immediately known." No arrests were made. The crash highlights the dangers of multi-vehicle collisions and the vulnerability of passengers. Authorities continue to investigate the sequence and cause of the crash.

• Bronx Crash Kills Passenger, Hurts Seven, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 12 - 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.

• Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 3 - An officer shot an unarmed man during a Bronx traffic stop. The NYPD judge called for firing. The commissioner overruled. The man’s family called it outrage. The system shielded the shooter.

Gothamist (2025-07-03) reports NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch overruled a departmental judge and cleared Lt. Jonathan Rivera, who fatally shot Allan Feliz, unarmed, during a 2019 Bronx traffic stop. Judge Maldonado found Rivera's use of deadly force unjustified, writing it 'requires more than the mere possibility of danger.' Tisch disagreed, citing a 'split-second decision' and risk to another officer. The stop began over a seatbelt. Feliz tried to flee; Rivera fired once, killing him. Tisch's decision echoes the state attorney general, who declined charges. The case highlights the commissioner's power over discipline and ongoing debate about police accountability.

• Commissioner Clears Officer In Bronx Killing, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-03

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 28 - A driver ran a red. Cars slammed. Three pedestrians fell. Sirens cut the night. One man clings to life. The street holds the scars. The driver fled, but police caught him.

CBS New York (2025-06-28) reports a multivehicle crash at Bruckner Boulevard and Hunts Point Avenue. Police say Charles Jenkins "allegedly ran a red light," triggering a collision that sent both vehicles onto the sidewalk. Jenkins' car struck three pedestrians, critically injuring one. Jenkins then "got out of his vehicle and ran away, but he was later arrested." Charges include vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and unlicensed driving. The investigation continues.

• Red Light Run Crushes Bronx Pedestrians, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-28

Jun 21 - Seven people hurt. An 18-year-old thrown from a moped, left in critical shape. The crash struck near the Whitestone Bridge. The driver fled. Metal, bodies, and silence on the Hutchinson River Parkway.

CBS New York reported on June 21, 2025, that seven people were injured in a crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway near the Whitestone Bridge. According to the NYPD, 'An 18-year-old was in critical condition after being thrown from a moped in the hit-and-run.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users and the ongoing threat of hit-and-run crashes on city parkways. No information was provided about arrests or contributing factors. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and the risks posed by high-speed corridors.

• Seven Injured In Parkway Hit-And-Run, CBS New York, 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 16 - A Navy veteran died in the Bronx. A driver shot him. Police made an arrest. The street became a killing ground. Metal, anger, and a gun ended a life. The city mourns. The danger remains.

CBS New York reported on June 16, 2025, that Keino Campbell, 27, a U.S. Navy veteran, was shot and killed in the Bronx during an alleged road rage incident. The article states, “An arrest was made after Keino Campbell, 27, was shot and killed over the weekend in New York City.” The incident highlights the lethal mix of driver aggression and firearms on city streets. Road rage escalated to deadly violence, turning a routine drive into tragedy. The arrest points to a clear driver action—use of a gun following a traffic dispute. The case underscores the urgent need for policy solutions addressing armed drivers and the dangers they pose to all road users.

• Navy Veteran Shot Dead In Bronx, CBS New York, 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