Nineteen Dead, Thousands Hurt—Who Will Stop the Blood on Bronx Streets?

Senate Bill S 9718 passed. It pushes for complete street design. The aim: safer roads for everyone. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers stand to gain. The vote split. Some senators said no. But the bill moved forward. Streets may change.

Senate Bill S 9718, titled "Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles," advanced through the Senate with committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) and co-sponsored by Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, passed both votes despite opposition. The measure calls for redesigning streets to protect all users, not just drivers. The vote was not unanimous—several senators voted no, but the majority carried it through. The bill’s focus is clear: safer streets for people on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is to cut danger at the curb and crosswalk.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Midnight on Broadway. An SUV crushed its right front, steel twisted. Inside, a woman slumped semiconscious, neck torn, blood pooling. No passengers. Only the hum of streetlights and the slow drip of injury in the Bronx night.

According to the police report, a station wagon or SUV traveling southbound on Broadway near 6421 in the Bronx crashed at midnight. The right front of the vehicle was crushed. The sole occupant, a 34-year-old woman, was found semiconscious, suffering severe neck lacerations and bleeding. She was wearing a lap belt. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor, indicating a vehicle-related error or malfunction played a role in the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The focus remains on the vehicle's failure and the resulting harm to its driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727082, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 35-year-old man sped north on Grand Concourse, lost control of his motorcycle, and was violently ejected. He landed headfirst, unconscious with severe crush injuries. Blood pooled under streetlights as the city moved on, indifferent and roaring.

According to the police report, at 8:50 p.m. on Grand Concourse near East 180th Street in the Bronx, a 35-year-old unlicensed male driver operated a 2023 Fengyuan motorcycle northbound at an unsafe speed. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was ejected after striking hard, landing headfirst, resulting in unconsciousness and severe crush wounds to his head. Blood was noted pooling under the streetlights. The driver was not wearing a helmet, a fact mentioned only after the driver errors. No other victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The motorcycle sustained damage to its center front end. The crash highlights the dangers of unlicensed, distracted, and speeding motorcycle operation in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726471, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV cut across Pelham Parkway. Metal screamed. Six cars smashed. A young woman, trapped, bled from her arm, her hand refusing to clot. She stayed awake as chaos reigned. Unsafe lane change left blood and twisted steel behind.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV made an unsafe lane change on Pelham Parkway near Bronx River Parkway, triggering a six-vehicle pileup. The report states, 'A Ford SUV cut lanes. Six cars hit. Metal folded.' The violence of the crash left a 21-year-old woman, trapped behind the wheel, bleeding severely from her arm and hand. She remained conscious throughout, as noted in the report: 'Her hand would not stop bleeding. She stayed conscious.' The police report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the primary contributing factor. No victim actions are listed as contributing to the crash. The chain reaction of impacts and the scale of injury underscore the systemic danger when drivers disregard lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724467, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 2007 Jeep sped north on Bronx River Parkway. The unlicensed driver lost control at unsafe speed. Ejected from the SUV, she died with shattered pelvis and torn flesh. The vehicle lay demolished, a brutal testament to reckless velocity.

According to the police report, a 2007 Jeep SUV driven by an unlicensed 30-year-old woman crashed on Bronx River Parkway at 3:17 AM. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was traveling northbound and lost control, resulting in a catastrophic impact that demolished the vehicle and twisted its frame beyond saving. The driver, who wore no seat belt, was ejected from the SUV and suffered fatal injuries including a shattered pelvis and severe lacerations. The police report explicitly notes the driver's unlicensed status and unsafe speed as causes of the crash. A front-seat passenger, a 34-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured with internal complaints and shoulder-upper arm trauma but was not ejected. No victim behaviors contributed to the crash according to the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal twisted on Bronxdale Avenue. A sedan’s front end gone, two young men trapped inside, bruised but conscious. Distraction behind the wheel tore flesh and steel. The silence after impact held only pain and the echo of inattention.

Two young men, both 26, were injured when a sedan crashed near 1753 Bronxdale Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The report states the vehicle’s front end was destroyed, with both occupants—driver and front passenger—suffering crush injuries to their entire bodies. Both men were conscious but bruised beneath their seat belts. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The narrative describes a head-on collision, metal folding inward, and the aftermath marked by silence and pain. No other contributing factors are listed for the victims. The focus remains on the driver’s distraction, as documented by police, which led directly to the violent impact and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718502, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 34-year-old unlicensed moped rider struck a parked SUV on Waring Avenue. Thrown from his vehicle, chest crushed, he died alone beneath the streetlight. The police cite traffic control disregarded. No helmet. The Bronx pavement claimed another life.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old man riding a moped northbound on Waring Avenue collided with the left front bumper of a parked SUV near Barker Avenue in the Bronx. The crash occurred at 21:22. The rider, who was unlicensed and wore no helmet, was ejected from the moped and suffered fatal chest injuries. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a parked SUV. The unlicensed rider, 34, wore no helmet. Thrown hard, chest crushed. He died under the streetlight, alone on the cold pavement.' Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped rider's lack of helmet use and license status are noted in the report after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The parked SUV was unoccupied at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 71-year-old woman, crossing Jerome Avenue with the signal, was struck and left bleeding in the crosswalk. The driver vanished. Blood marked the intersection. No name, no car, only the echo of impact and silence.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was crossing Jerome Avenue at East Burnside Avenue in the Bronx, using the crosswalk and following the signal, when she was struck by a vehicle. The report states she was found unconscious, suffering severe lacerations and injuries to her entire body. The driver did not remain at the scene; the vehicle and its operator vanished, leaving no identifying information. The narrative notes: 'A 71-year-old woman lay unconscious in the crosswalk, blood on the pavement, body torn. She crossed with the signal. A vehicle struck her and vanished.' The police report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but the act of fleeing the scene after striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk underscores the systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users. The victim’s compliance with the crossing signal is noted only after the driver’s failure to remain at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705544, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 35-year-old man on a southbound e-bike struck a sedan’s left side on Park Avenue near East 183rd Street. Crushed pelvis. No helmet. The street swallowed the sound. The car’s front crumpled. He died where he fell.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old man riding a southbound e-bike collided with the left side of a sedan on Park Avenue near East 183rd Street in the Bronx at 19:38. The report states the e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no protective equipment. The impact crushed his pelvis, resulting in his death at the scene. The sedan’s front end was also heavily damaged. Police cite 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor in the crash, highlighting a critical driver error that led to the fatal collision. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the sedan driver. The focus remains on the disregard for traffic control, which proved deadly for the vulnerable e-bike rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703164, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old man, unlicensed and unhelmeted, slammed his motorscooter head-on at Grand Concourse and East 184th. His skull split. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, gasping, deep cuts across his head. The morning was still dark.

A violent crash unfolded on Grand Concourse at East 184th in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 26-year-old man, operating a motorscooter without a license and without a helmet, crashed head-on. The report describes the aftermath: 'His skull split. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, gasping, deep cuts across his head.' The incident occurred while it was still dark. The police report lists the driver's unlicensed status and lack of helmet as facts, but does not cite any other contributing factors. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unlicensed, unprotected operation of motor vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699571, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal screamed on East Tremont. A parked Toyota, crushed at the right front. The woman inside, belted, conscious, her back broken. Three vehicles, one lane gone wrong. Pain lingered where a driver’s error shattered stillness.

A violent collision on East Tremont Avenue near 1901 left a 41-year-old woman with a broken back, according to the police report. She was seated in her parked Toyota, belted in, when a crash involving three vehicles erupted. The report states, 'A parked Toyota crushed at the right front. The woman inside, 41, conscious, strapped in a lap belt. Her back broken.' The police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating a driver’s failure to maintain proper lane discipline led to the crash. The woman, an occupant of the parked vehicle, suffered severe crush injuries. The report makes no mention of any victim actions contributing to the collision. The focus remains on the improper lane use that shattered a moment of stillness and left lasting injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696027, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Four cars tangled at speed on Bronx River Parkway. One sedan flipped. Metal twisted. A 56-year-old woman in the front seat was crushed from the knees down. She stayed conscious as chaos reigned. Unsafe speed drove the violence. The system failed her.

A violent multi-car collision unfolded on Bronx River Parkway late at night, involving a taxi and three sedans. According to the police report, the crash occurred at high speed, with one vehicle overturning and several others sustaining heavy damage. The report states, 'Bronx River Parkway, northbound, late at night — a taxi and three sedans collided at speed. One flipped. A 56-year-old woman in the front seat was crushed from the knees down. She did not lose consciousness.' The only contributing factor listed by police is 'Unsafe Speed,' underscoring the role of excessive velocity in the crash. No victim behavior is cited as a factor. The collision left the front-seat passenger with severe crush injuries to her lower legs, highlighting the ongoing danger posed by unchecked speed on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693300, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW sedan plowed into a moped on Mosholu Parkway, shattering the night. The rider, thrown and killed, lay motionless. The police report cites traffic control disregarded. The moped twisted, the street stained, danger unchecked.

A deadly collision unfolded on Mosholu Parkway near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx at 12:05 a.m. According to the police report, a BMW sedan struck a moped at the front, ejecting the 35-year-old moped rider and causing fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Traffic signal ignored.' The moped lay twisted in the dark, its rider showing no pulse. The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the BMW driver's failure to obey a traffic signal. The moped rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the police report, but these details are mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls, with the vulnerable moped rider bearing the brunt of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV struck a man crossing Jerome Avenue. The driver looked away. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The man’s face bled, torn open. He stayed conscious in the Bronx night. Distraction behind the wheel left flesh and metal wrecked.

A 2018 Toyota SUV, heading south on Jerome Avenue near 196th Street, hit a 38-year-old man in the intersection. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his face but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s front end was dented. The report states, “The driver had looked away.” The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other contributing factors from the pedestrian are cited. The crash highlights the danger posed when drivers lose focus, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684371, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan hit a 57-year-old man at dawn on Mosholu Parkway. Metal crushed his face. He stayed conscious. The car rolled on, untouched. The street held its breath. Blood marked the quiet morning.

A 57-year-old man was struck and seriously injured by a Toyota sedan on Mosholu Parkway near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash occurred at dawn as the man was in the roadway. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan, traveling east, hit the man with its undercarriage, causing severe facial injuries. The victim remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes that the vehicle showed no damage. No driver errors were cited in the data. The Parkway stayed still as emergency crews responded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683135, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 16-year-old on an e-bike hit a turning sedan on Riverdale Avenue. He flew from the bike. Landed hard. Unconscious. Crushed. Speed tore control from his hands. The street fell silent. The city marked another wound.

A 16-year-old riding a Solar e-bike was severely injured after colliding with a Toyota sedan making a left turn at Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor in the crash. The teen was ejected from his e-bike, landed hard, and was found unconscious with crush injuries to his entire body. The sedan was turning left when the crash occurred. The report lists no errors for the sedan driver. The only contributing factor named is unsafe speed. No mention is made of helmet use or signals in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680461, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 54-year-old woman at Webster Avenue and East 184th Street. She lay bleeding, scalp torn, head wounded. The car showed no damage. The street fell silent after the crash. Blood marked the spot where she fell.

A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection. She lay conscious, blood running from her head, scalp torn. The car bore no damage. The street held the silence that follows impact.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the report. The vehicle, a sedan, showed no visible damage after the crash. The woman was injured while crossing at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped struck a car making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue. The rider’s legs shattered. He stayed conscious. Sirens came late. The street was quiet except for his scream. The crash left pain and broken bodies behind.

A moped rider, age 32, suffered severe crush injuries to his legs after colliding with a car making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue near East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the moped 'slammed into a car’s left side mid-U-turn.' The rider remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped was traveling straight when it struck the car’s left side doors. No helmet use or signaling issues were cited in the report. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670159, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV turned right on East Fordham. An e-scooter kept straight. Metal hit flesh. The 21-year-old rider flew sideways, leg torn open. He landed unconscious in the street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The SUV’s bumper bore the mark.

A Ford SUV made a right turn on East Fordham Road near East Kingsbridge Road. An e-scooter, driven by a 21-year-old man, continued straight. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The SUV struck the e-scooter, hitting the rider with its right front bumper. The impact left the e-scooter rider partially ejected and unconscious, suffering severe lacerations to his leg. The police report notes the rider’s license had never been granted. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers disregard traffic controls and vulnerable road users are left exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662382, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15