No More Excuses: Slow the Cars or Count the Bodies

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 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 27 - A 36-year-old male driver suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation after his SUV, initially parked, was involved in a crash on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. The impact damaged the vehicle's right front bumper. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male driver was injured in a crash involving his 2024 Chevrolet SUV on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx at 4:48 AM. The vehicle was initially parked before the crash, which resulted in damage to the right front bumper. The driver sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists the driver's contributing factors as unspecified, with no mention of pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The crash involved only one vehicle and one occupant. No explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801790 - 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 23 - A northbound e-scooter and southbound bicycle collided head-on on Waters Place. Both drivers were ejected and suffered fractures to their arms. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both riders were conscious but seriously injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:00 on Waters Place involving an e-scooter traveling north and a bicycle traveling south. Both drivers were ejected from their vehicles and sustained fractures and dislocations to their elbows, lower arms, and hands. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male wearing a helmet, and the 21-year-old male e-scooter driver, who was unlicensed and wearing no safety equipment, were both conscious after the collision. The report explicitly attributes the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for both parties. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles, indicating a head-on collision. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The injuries were severe enough to be classified as injury severity level 3, underscoring the serious consequences of driver distraction in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794360 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 26 - Sedan slammed into SUV’s rear on Stillwell Ave. SUV driver, 60, took the hit. Neck injury. Both cars westbound. No pedestrians. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Stillwell Ave in the Bronx struck the rear of a westbound SUV at 11:44 AM. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old man, suffered a neck injury described as whiplash. He was conscious at the scene and not ejected. Both vehicles were going straight before the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not detail any driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the risk of rear-end collisions for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788562 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 - Two sedans collided at a Bronx intersection during left turns. A 75-year-old female driver suffered back injuries and was semiconscious. Police cited improper turning and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors in the midday crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:18 in the Bronx near Bassett Avenue. Both vehicles were sedans making left turns when they collided. The 75-year-old female driver of one sedan was injured, sustaining back injuries and was semiconscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and complained of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factors to the collision. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left sides, indicating impact during the left-turn maneuvers. The drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally, but driver errors in executing left turns led to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784981 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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