Bronx Park: Seven Dead, 540 Hurt Since 2022

Sep 21 - A 72-year-old man driving an SUV on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx suffered head injuries in a collision. The SUV struck a sedan on its right front quarter panel. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx involving a 2017 Ford SUV and a 2023 Acura sedan. The SUV was making a right turn when it collided with the sedan, impacting the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The 72-year-old male driver of the SUV was injured, sustaining head trauma but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as the contributing factor twice, indicating driver error related to vehicle operation. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - A pick-up truck struck the rear of an SUV stopped in traffic on Bronx River Parkway. The impact injured a 56-year-old male passenger in the SUV. The passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling south on Bronx River Parkway rear-ended a stopped SUV. The collision injured a 56-year-old male occupant seated in the right rear passenger seat of the SUV. He sustained back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV was stopped in traffic when struck at its center back end by the pick-up truck, which was traveling straight ahead. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center back ends. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - A 27-year-old man died on Bronx River Parkway. He rode a moped at unsafe speed. Alcohol played a role. He struck headfirst, ejected, killed on the cold asphalt. No helmet. The night ended in silence and loss.

A deadly crash took place near Southern Boulevard on Bronx River Parkway in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 27-year-old man riding a moped was killed after being ejected and striking headfirst. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The man was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary causes cited are speed and alcohol. The crash left the rider dead at the scene, with severe head injuries. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The tragedy unfolded in the early morning darkness, leaving a life lost to preventable danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663145 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 16 - A fast SUV crashed into stopped traffic on Bronx River Parkway. Metal buckled. A 31-year-old passenger took abrasions to his knee and leg. The crash left scars on bodies and steel.

According to the police report, a 2023 SUV heading north on Bronx River Parkway struck the rear of stopped vehicles. The listed contributing factor was unsafe speed. The SUV hit a stopped SUV and a sedan, damaging the center back ends of both. A 31-year-old male passenger suffered abrasions to his knee and lower leg. He was conscious and not ejected. The report notes the SUV driver was licensed and driving straight ahead but failed to slow, causing the collision. No other contributing factors or victim errors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662957 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - Two women were injured in a crash on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. Both drivers failed to yield right-of-way. The sedan was turning left and hit the SUV going straight. Injuries included whiplash and back pain. Both were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old female driver in a sedan was making a left turn on East Gun Hill Road when she collided with a 33-year-old female driver in an SUV traveling straight eastbound. Both drivers failed to yield right-of-way, contributing to the crash. The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, and the SUV's right front bumper was damaged. Both occupants in the sedan were injured, suffering whiplash and back injuries but remained conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report lists driver errors as failure to yield right-of-way and traffic control disregarded. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 31 - Three vehicles collided southbound on Bronx River Parkway. A sedan struck two SUVs in a rear-end crash. The sedan driver, 25, suffered a concussion and full-body injuries. Driver inattention and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on the Bronx River Parkway involving a sedan and two SUVs all traveling southbound. The sedan driver, a 25-year-old male, was injured with a concussion and injuries to his entire body. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists driver errors as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The sedan struck the rear ends of the two SUVs, which were slowing or stopped. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving and tailgating on city roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 20 - Two vehicles crashed head-on on Bronx River Parkway. An 8-year-old passenger in the SUV suffered a head injury and whiplash. The pickup truck driver was unlicensed. Both drivers were distracted. The child was restrained but injured in the collision.

According to the police report, a 2015 SUV and a 2021 pickup truck collided on Bronx River Parkway. The SUV carried one occupant, an 8-year-old boy seated in the middle front seat, who was injured with a head wound and whiplash. He was restrained with a lap belt and harness and remained conscious. The pickup truck had six occupants, driven by an unlicensed male. Both drivers were traveling north and going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The SUV was hit on its right front quarter panel, and the pickup truck on its left rear bumper. Driver errors listed include Driver Inattention/Distraction and Unsafe Speed. The unlicensed status of the pickup truck driver is also noted. No contributing factors related to the passenger were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655635 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 19 - SUV rear-ends sedan on Bronx River Parkway. Ten-year-old boy in back seat suffers chest injury and whiplash. Police cite reaction to another vehicle. Impact is sudden, pain is real.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Bronx River Parkway. The SUV hit the sedan's left front bumper with its center front end. A 10-year-old boy riding in the sedan's middle rear seat was injured, suffering chest trauma and whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle" as the contributing factor, showing the SUV driver's response to another vehicle led to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight. No other driver errors or victim factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656392 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - Rep. Adriano Espaillat worked behind closed doors to stall Fordham Road bus lane improvements. Bronx lawmakers, once supportive, fell silent or opposed. The project, meant to speed up buses for 85,000 riders, now faces more delays. Vulnerable riders remain stuck in slow, dangerous traffic.

On August 3, 2023, Rep. Adriano Espaillat quietly lobbied Bronx officials against proposed Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. The project, under city review since 2022, aimed to speed up buses for 85,000 daily riders by installing dedicated busways or offset lanes. According to Streetsblog, Espaillat leaned on younger electeds to align with Council Member Oswald Feliz, a vocal critic. 'He defers to the local elected officials, and all of them seem to be in agreement,' said Espaillat’s chief of staff, Aneiry Batista. Lawmakers who once supported the upgrades grew silent or opposed them after Espaillat’s intervention. The Department of Transportation, MTA, and governor’s office met with Espaillat to discuss the project, but delays persisted. The opposition from Feliz and business groups led DOT to scrap the most ambitious safety options. Riders, many without cars, remain exposed to slow, hazardous conditions as cars block bus lanes and traffic crawls.

• Rep. Adriano Espaillat Rallying Bronx Pols Against Fordham Road Bus Lane Fixes: Sources, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

Aug 3 - Council passed Intro. 289. The bill forces DOT to map every bike lane and show disruptions. Cyclists will see closures, detours, and hazards in real time. No more guessing. No more dead ends. Riders get the same alerts drivers do. Streets get safer.

On August 3, 2023, the New York City Council passed Intro. 289, a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to create a searchable map of every city bike lane. The map must show disruptions, detours, hazards, and closures in real time. The bill summary states: 'Cyclists deserve the same attention and information already given to the city's drivers and transit riders in the form of notifications, updates, and well-marked detours.' Council Member Carlina Rivera sponsored the bill and led its passage. Rivera and Bike New York’s Jon Orcutt wrote, 'Disruption of any city bikeway requires public information, working detours and operational attention—not just an unheralded shut-down.' The law aims to end the chaos and danger of sudden bike lane closures, giving half a million daily riders the information they need to stay safe and keep moving.

• OPINION: A Cycling ‘Current Conditions’ Report Will Keep Biking New Yorkers Safe and Informed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

Jul 20 - MTA leaders press Mayor Adams to revive Fordham Road bus lane plans. Council Member Feliz stands opposed. Business groups resist. Eighty-five thousand daily riders face slow, crowded buses. City’s promise for safer, faster transit stalls. DOT offers compromise. Vulnerable commuters wait.

On July 20, 2023, the MTA called on Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support renewed bus lane expansion on Fordham Road. The city had canceled a planned busway after pushback from business owners and Council Member Oswald Feliz, who remains a vocal critic. MTA New York City Transit President Richard Davey said, "Our hope is that we DOT stays with us and we're implementing this, hopefully, later this year." MTA CEO Janno Lieber stressed, "We can't deemphasize and under-prioritize the lives of people of the Bronx and also Upper Manhattan who are trying to get east and west across this incredibly busy corridor." DOT spokesperson Vin Barone described a new proposal with dedicated curbside loading and minimal traffic diversions. The city’s earlier pledge for 20 new miles of bus lanes per year has not been met. Eighty-five thousand daily bus riders, many vulnerable, remain at risk on slow, crowded streets. No formal safety analysis was provided.

• MTA’s ‘Hope’ for Eric Adams: ‘Stay With Us’ On Fordham Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-20

Jun 21 - A sport utility vehicle slammed into the rear left of a sedan on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. Both driver and front passenger of the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing the crash.

According to the police report, a 2003 SUV traveling north on East Gun Hill Road rear-ended a 2009 sedan. The impact struck the sedan's left rear bumper, damaging its center back end. The sedan carried two occupants: a 56-year-old male driver and a 51-year-old female front passenger. Both were injured, suffering neck injuries and whiplash, and remained conscious. The SUV driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both sedan occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639756 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - A 33-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe full-body injuries on Bronx River Parkway. The crash involved a sedan and multiple vehicles, all traveling south. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor. The rider wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Bronx River Parkway involving a 2021 Kawasaki motorcycle and a 2015 Toyota sedan, among other vehicles. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old male, was ejected and sustained fractures, distortions, and dislocations affecting his entire body. He was conscious at the scene and was wearing a helmet. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling south, going straight ahead, with impact points on the motorcycle's right front quarter panel and the sedan's left rear bumper. The report does not specify other driver errors or victim actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639067 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-08

Jun 6 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06

Jun 6 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06

Jun 1 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2023-06-01

May 31 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2023-05-31

May 30 - Bronx business groups and local institutions want Mayor Adams to stop bus lane improvements on Fordham Road. They claim the changes will hurt traffic and business. Data shows most shoppers arrive by transit, walking, or biking—not by car. The city weighs next steps.

On May 30, 2023, Bronx business leaders and institutions sent a letter opposing the Department of Transportation’s plan to expand bus lanes on Fordham Road. The matter, titled 'Bronx Business Leaders and Local Institutions Want to Halt Bus Fixes on Fordham Rd,' highlights their demand for Mayor Adams to halt improvements meant for 85,000 daily bus riders. The Belmont and Fordham Business Improvement Districts, along with the Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, Fordham University, Monroe College, and St. Barnabas Hospital, argue the changes would 'significantly impact crucial traffic flow' and burden side streets. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera voiced support for transit equity but awaits a traffic study. DOT claims to work with the community. Despite business concerns, advocates and city data show most shoppers use transit, walking, or biking, not cars. Similar fears about bus improvements hurting business have not come true elsewhere.

• Bronx Business Leaders and Local Institutions Want to Halt Bus Fixes on Fordham Rd, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-30

May 27 - Four cars slammed together on Bronx River Parkway. Drivers followed too close. Metal crumpled. A front passenger’s arm was scraped. She stayed conscious, belted in. The crash left one hurt, many shaken.

According to the police report, four vehicles collided northbound on Bronx River Parkway. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the main driver error for multiple vehicles. The crash caused center front and back end damage. A 31-year-old female front passenger suffered an abrasion to her elbow and lower arm. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. All drivers were licensed and were slowing or stopping before impact. The report does not cite any other contributing factors. The crash left one passenger injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19