Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Co-Op City?
One Crash, One Death, One Demand: Slow Bartow Down Now
Co-Op City: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 14, 2025
The Crash That Shook Co-Op City
On July 11, a 79-year-old driver slammed into two cars and a light pole on Bartow Avenue. His 71-year-old passenger, Stella Nyarko-Dei, died at Jacobi Hospital. Seven others were hurt. The street was left scattered with glass and the sound of sirens. A witness described the scene: “I saw one lady was out on the ground. They was giving her medical attention, checking her body. She was laid out.”
No arrests. No answers. The cause is still under investigation. The survivors are expected to recover, but the loss is permanent. Another neighbor recalled, “It was a terrible sound – it was a terrible incident that happened.”
The Relentless Numbers
In the past 12 months, Co-Op City saw 140 crashes, 96 injuries, and no deaths—until now. Since 2022, the toll is heavier: 495 crashes, 255 injuries, 7 serious injuries, and 1 death. The deadliest machines are cars and trucks. Pedestrians have been struck most often by sedans, SUVs, and trucks. No bikes or mopeds killed anyone here, but the threat from cars never lets up.
What Leaders Have Done—and Not Done
Council Member Kevin Riley has co-sponsored bills for speed humps, curb extensions, and safer crosswalks. He voted to legalize jaywalking and expand crash investigations. But the pace is slow. No law has yet forced a citywide 20 mph speed limit.
State Senator Jamaal Bailey voted yes on the Stop Super Speeders Act, which would force repeat dangerous drivers to install speed-limiting tech. Assembly Member Michael Benedetto voted to extend school speed zones. These are steps, not leaps. The street where Stella Nyarko-Dei died is still a speedway.
The Call: Demand More Than Words
One crash. One death. It is enough. Call your council member. Demand a 20 mph limit. Demand speed cameras everywhere. Demand action, not delay. The next crash is waiting at the light.
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ Where does Co-Op City sit politically?
▸ What types of vehicles caused injuries and deaths to pedestrians in Co-Op City?
▸ Are these crashes just 'accidents'?
▸ What can local politicians do to stop traffic violence?
▸ What is CrashCount?
▸ How many serious injuries and deaths have happened in Co-Op City recently?
▸ Who are the most vulnerable on Co-Op City streets?
Citations
▸ Citations
- Three-Car Crash Kills One in Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11
- Three-Car Crash Kills One in Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636301 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-14
- Bronx Crash Kills Passenger, Hurts Seven, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13
- Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-12
- Truck Overturns, Asphalt Floods Bronx Road, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-09
- Bronx Mustang Plows Into Scaffolding, Six Hurt, ABC7, Published 2025-07-03
- File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12
- File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17
- File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28
- MTA begins major accessibility upgrades at three Bronx Metro-North stations, AMNY, Published 2025-06-18
Other Representatives
District 82
3602 E. Tremont Ave. Suite 201, Bronx, NY 10465
Room 836, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
District 12
940 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10469
718-684-5509
250 Broadway, Suite 1865, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6873
District 36
250 S. 6th Ave., Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Room 609, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
▸ Other Geographies
Co-Op City Co-Op City sits in Bronx, Precinct 45, District 12, AD 82, SD 36, Bronx CB10.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Co-Op City
S 3897Bailey votes yes to require safer complete street designs, improving safety.▸Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.
Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.
-
File S 3897,
Open States,
Published 2022-03-02
S 5130Bailey votes yes, boosting street safety and access for everyone.▸Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.
Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.
-
File S 5130,
Open States,
Published 2022-03-02
Sedan Driver Injured in Left Turn Crash▸A 21-year-old woman driving a sedan in the Bronx was injured during a left turn. The vehicle struck an object or another vehicle with its center front end. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. No ejection occurred.
According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver was making a left turn in a 2017 Toyota sedan when the crash occurred at Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The driver sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash involved no ejection and no other road users were reported injured.
Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.
Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.
- File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-03-02
S 5130Bailey votes yes, boosting street safety and access for everyone.▸Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.
Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.
-
File S 5130,
Open States,
Published 2022-03-02
Sedan Driver Injured in Left Turn Crash▸A 21-year-old woman driving a sedan in the Bronx was injured during a left turn. The vehicle struck an object or another vehicle with its center front end. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. No ejection occurred.
According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver was making a left turn in a 2017 Toyota sedan when the crash occurred at Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The driver sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash involved no ejection and no other road users were reported injured.
Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.
Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.
- File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02
Sedan Driver Injured in Left Turn Crash▸A 21-year-old woman driving a sedan in the Bronx was injured during a left turn. The vehicle struck an object or another vehicle with its center front end. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. No ejection occurred.
According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver was making a left turn in a 2017 Toyota sedan when the crash occurred at Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The driver sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash involved no ejection and no other road users were reported injured.
A 21-year-old woman driving a sedan in the Bronx was injured during a left turn. The vehicle struck an object or another vehicle with its center front end. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. No ejection occurred.
According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver was making a left turn in a 2017 Toyota sedan when the crash occurred at Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The driver sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash involved no ejection and no other road users were reported injured.