Bodies Break, Leaders Stall—Pelham Bay Streets Still Bleed

May 13 - Senate bill S 533 seeks to kill congestion pricing and order a forensic audit of the MTA. The committee vote failed. Streets stay clogged. Danger for walkers and riders lingers.

Senate bill S 533, introduced on May 13, 2025, in committee, aimed to repeal congestion pricing and require an independent audit of the MTA. The bill summary reads: 'Repeals congestion pricing (Part A); directs the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for the provision of an independent, comprehensive, forensic audit of the authority (Part B).' Primary sponsor Jack M. Martins led the push, joined by George Borrello, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and others. The committee voted it down. No safety analyst reviewed the bill’s impact on vulnerable road users. The fight over street safety and traffic chaos continues.

• File S 533, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 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 2025-05-13

May 13 - 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 2025-05-13

May 13 - Senate passes S 346. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. Pushes work zone safety. Sets up new enforcement fund. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 346 cleared committee on May 13, 2025. The bill, titled 'Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promotes work zone safety awareness; establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement,' aims to crack down on drivers who threaten highway workers. Senator Jeremy Cooney led as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, Christopher Ryan, and James Skoufis. The committee voted yes. The bill targets reckless driving in work zones, boosting penalties and funding enforcement. It marks a step to protect those most exposed to traffic danger.

• File S 346, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

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 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 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 - An ambulance hit an unconscious man on a Bronx street and drove off. The victim, left bleeding, waited for help. Police and a second EMS crew arrived later. The man survived. The FDNY is investigating the ambulance crew’s actions.

According to NY Daily News (April 29, 2025), an FDNY ambulance driver struck an unconscious man lying in the roadway at E. 149th St. and Brook Ave., then left without rendering aid. The victim had been knocked out moments earlier during a road rage assault. The article states, 'The entire incident is under review,' quoting FDNY spokeswoman Amanda Farinacci. The ambulance crew was responding to another emergency at the time. The driver has been placed on modified duty while the department investigates whether the crew realized they struck the victim. A second EMS crew and police arrived minutes later, transporting the man to Lincoln Hospital. The incident highlights risks faced by vulnerable road users and raises questions about emergency response protocols.

• Ambulance Strikes Unconscious Bronx Man, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-29

Apr 29 - 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 2025-04-29

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 24 - A 32-year-old man lies broken on Wilkinson Avenue. A sedan and parked SUV stand damaged. Blood stains the Bronx street. Two women watch, unharmed. The city moves on.

A 32-year-old pedestrian suffered crush injuries and was left semiconscious after a collision involving a sedan and a parked SUV on Wilkinson Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash involved a Toyota SUV and an Infiniti sedan. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was the only person injured; two women, listed as registrants, were unharmed. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 24 - A man clung to his car as a thief sped off. The car crashed into parked vehicles. He was crushed and struck again by a fleeing SUV. Blood pooled on the Bronx street. He was left with critical head and leg injuries.

ABC7 reported on April 24, 2025, that a 32-year-old man suffered critical injuries while trying to stop a car thief on Wilkinson Avenue in the Bronx. Surveillance video captured the suspect entering the double-parked Infiniti as the owner ran to intervene. The man was dragged for a block and a half before the car crashed into parked vehicles. ABC7 notes, 'Witnesses described a bloody scene and severe leg injury.' After falling, the victim was also struck by the suspect’s SUV. Police said the suspect abandoned the stolen car and fled on foot. The incident highlights the dangers of vehicle theft and high-speed flight on city streets. No arrests have been made.

• Bronx Car Theft Leaves Man Critically Hurt, ABC7, Published 2025-04-24

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 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 2 - Two cars raced down Southern Boulevard. Gunshots cracked the air. A red sedan crashed, riddled with bullets. The driver called a cab, bleeding, desperate. He died at the hospital. The other car vanished. The street bore the scars.

According to NY Daily News (April 2, 2025), two drivers exchanged gunfire while speeding down Southern Blvd. near the Bronx Zoo. The 27-year-old victim, shot in the torso, crashed his red Hyundai into a stop sign at Southern Blvd. and Garden St. before calling a cab to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. A deli worker described, 'There were a whole lot of rounds... It was like a movie.' The other driver, in a black Honda CR-V, fled the scene. No arrests were made as police continued their investigation. The incident highlights the lethal mix of reckless driving and gun violence on city streets, endangering everyone nearby.

• Gunfire Erupts On Bronx Boulevard, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-02

Mar 24 - A northbound SUV struck the right rear quarter panel of a box truck making a right turn on Country Club Road in the Bronx. The SUV driver, a 40-year-old woman, suffered head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:20 on Country Club Road in the Bronx. A 2023 Chevrolet SUV traveling north went straight ahead and impacted the right rear quarter panel of a box truck making a right turn northeast. The SUV's left front bumper was damaged. The SUV driver, a 40-year-old female occupant, was injured with head trauma and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness, and was not ejected. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver error was identified. The box truck driver’s license and sex were not reported. The collision highlights the dangers of vehicle interactions during turning maneuvers on Bronx streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 22 - A black Mercedes struck a southbound driver from behind on the Major Deegan. The Mercedes driver fled on foot. The victim died at St. Barnabas. Police closed lanes to investigate. The search for the fleeing driver continues.

ABC7 reported on March 22, 2025, that a deadly hit-and-run occurred around 3:45 a.m. on the Major Deegan Expressway near West Fordham Road in the Bronx. According to the NYPD, 'a 39-year-old man was driving southbound on the expressway when he was struck by a black Mercedes Benz sedan from behind.' The Mercedes driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving the victim critically injured. First responders took the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. All southbound lanes were closed for the investigation. The incident highlights the ongoing danger of hit-and-run crashes and the challenges police face in holding fleeing drivers accountable.

• Hit-and-Run Kills Driver on Deegan, ABC7, Published 2025-03-22

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 dirt bike and minivan collided in Soundview. Two teens thrown. Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo died. His passenger survived. The driver stayed. No charges. The street claimed another young life. Family left to mourn. The city moves on.

According to NY Daily News (published February 25, 2025), 17-year-old Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo died after his dirt bike collided with a Honda Odyssey minivan at Metcalf Ave and E. 172nd St. in the Bronx. The crash happened around 6:45 p.m., with both Naranjo and his 14-year-old passenger thrown from the bike. The girl is expected to recover. The article notes, 'The 42-year-old man driving the Honda Odyssey remained at the scene. No charges were immediately filed as police continued to investigate.' The report highlights the ongoing investigation and the lack of immediate charges, pointing to systemic risks at the intersection. Family members shared memories and grief, underscoring the human toll of traffic violence.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Dirt Bike Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-25

Feb 24 - A 51-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan made an improper turn on Westchester Ave in the Bronx. The collision caused abrasions and left the cyclist conscious but injured, highlighting driver errors in lane use and turning.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:15 on Westchester Ave in the Bronx. A 2019 Kia sedan, traveling west and making a U-turn, collided with a bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with abrasions reported. The police cited 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The bicyclist was not ejected and was conscious after the impact. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's center front end, while the sedan showed no damage. The report emphasizes driver errors in improper turning and lane usage as the cause, with no contributing factors assigned to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18