One Crash, One Death, One Demand: Slow Bartow Down Now

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 28 - A man was attacked in Mott Haven. The beating followed a road rage incident. Police search for suspects. The street became a scene of sudden violence. Another day, another danger for New York’s vulnerable.

CBS New York reported on April 28, 2025, that a man was beaten during an apparent road rage incident in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The NYPD is searching for suspects after 'a man was beaten in what police are calling an apparent road rage attack.' The article highlights the eruption of violence linked to driver aggression, turning a city street into a crime scene. No details on the victim’s actions or condition were provided. The incident underscores the risks faced by people on New York streets and points to the ongoing threat posed by unchecked driver behavior. No charges or arrests have been made at this time.

• Man Beaten In Bronx Road Rage, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-28

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 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 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 12 - A distracted driver struck a carry-all vehicle from behind on Tillotson Avenue in the Bronx. Both driver and front passenger in the carry-all suffered back injuries. The impact damaged the center front and rear ends of the vehicles involved.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Tillotson Avenue in the Bronx around 3:30 PM. The driver of a station wagon/SUV was stopped in traffic when a carry-all vehicle traveling southwest struck it from behind. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The carry-all driver, a 69-year-old male, and his 66-year-old female front passenger were both injured, sustaining back injuries classified as severity level 3. Both occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The vehicles sustained damage to the center front end of the carry-all and the center back end of the SUV. The police report identifies driver distraction as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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

Jan 30 - A female SUV driver slammed into the rear of a sedan while both traveled northbound on the New England Thruway ramp. The sedan driver, 64, suffered full-body injuries and shock. Police cited following too closely and unsafe speed as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:21 on the New England Thruway ramp. A female driver in a 2021 Kia SUV struck the left rear bumper of a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling in the same direction. The sedan driver, a 64-year-old woman, was injured with complaints of pain and nausea and suffered injuries to her entire body. She was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt. The report identifies the SUV driver's errors as 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The sedan driver was merging at the time of impact. The SUV sustained roof damage at the right front bumper, indicating a forceful rear collision. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating and excessive speed on highway ramps.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789807 - 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 10 - A 26-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan hit her at a Bronx intersection. The vehicle's right front bumper made impact as it traveled northbound. The pedestrian was left in shock with complaints of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Baychester Avenue and Darrow Place in the Bronx at 8:06 AM. The pedestrian was struck by a northbound 2016 Hyundai sedan, which impacted her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock and complaints of pain and nausea. The report lists the pedestrian's actions as 'Other Actions in Roadway' but does not specify any contributing driver errors or violations. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited in the report. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The focus remains on the collision caused by the vehicle's movement and impact, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785541 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Dec 9 - SUV and sedan crashed head-on on Baychester Ave. SUV driver hurt his leg. Police cite unsafe speed and distraction. Both cars struck left front. System failed to protect. Danger clear. No blame for victims.

According to the police report, at 18:06 on Baychester Ave near Tillotson Ave, an SUV and a sedan collided head-on. The 27-year-old male SUV driver suffered contusions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Pavement was slippery. Both vehicles were going straight in opposite directions and hit left front bumpers. The SUV carried two occupants, the sedan one. The crash exposes driver distraction and speed as key failures. No victim actions contributed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A southbound SUV improperly changed lanes and collided with the rear of a box truck traveling straight. Both drivers, aged 57, suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed dangers of lane misuse and driver distraction on New England Thruway.

According to the police report, at 1:28 AM on New England Thruway, a 2007 Ford SUV driven by a 57-year-old male was changing lanes southbound when it struck the right rear bumper of a 2015 box truck also traveling south. Both the SUV driver and the front passenger, both 57 years old, sustained head injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated as moderate (3). The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error in lane changing maneuvers. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were conscious after the crash. The collision caused damage to the SUV's right rear bumper and the truck's center front end. No victim behaviors contributed to the crash; the focus remains on the SUV driver's improper lane change and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 25 - A 64-year-old woman suffered full-body injuries after an SUV failed to yield right-of-way on Co-Op City Blvd in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle impact caused shock and pain throughout her body.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:13 p.m. on Co-Op City Blvd near Bartow Ave in the Bronx. A 64-year-old female pedestrian was crossing the street with the signal when she was struck by a 2009 Dodge SUV. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the collision. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body, experienced shock, and complained of pain or nausea. The SUV, which had no occupants other than the driver, impacted the pedestrian at an unspecified point and sustained other damage. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior, focusing solely on the driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775689 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19