Ambulance Driver Charged Months After Fatally Striking Upper West Side Pedestrian

The arrest of an ambulance driver nearly six months after a fatal crash in Manhattan has reignited serious questions about pedestrian safety — and accountability — in one of New York City’s most heavily trafficked corridors.

According to police, 69-year-old Miriam Reinharth was lawfully crossing W. 96th Street on November 12, 2024, when she was struck by an ambulance making a left turn from Amsterdam Avenue. Despite remaining on the scene and personally transporting Reinharth to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, the driver, 28-year-old Juan Santana, was charged this week with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care.

As pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City, we know all too well how long it can take for criminal or civil accountability to catch up after a deadly crash — especially when the vehicle involved belongs to an emergency service. But let’s be clear: emergency vehicle drivers are still bound by rules of the road, and pedestrians have the right to cross safely, even when ambulances are operating under lights and sirens.

The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad concluded that Santana failed to yield as Reinharth crossed legally on a double-wide avenue that also functions as a truck route. Her injuries — including multiple leg and pelvic fractures — led to fatal internal bleeding. She died hours after what her husband described as a joyful day spent with their grandson and a hopeful evening discussing travel plans.

Reinharth’s death is a tragic reminder that right-of-way laws exist for a reason. Even trained emergency drivers must proceed with caution at intersections — particularly in neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, where senior residents, families, and children are frequently navigating busy crosswalks.

Beyond the legal charges, Reinharth’s death has left a deep wound in her community. A longtime advocate and volunteer, she helped fellow New Yorkers with healthcare issues, organized cultural events, and remained active in civic life until her final days.

While criminal accountability is important, civil justice also plays a critical role. Families who lose a loved one in a preventable pedestrian crash may be entitled to bring a wrongful death lawsuit — not only to secure compensation for funeral costs, lost companionship, and emotional pain, but to ensure that negligent actors, including institutions that employ them, are held fully accountable.

In a city where pedestrians are struck far too often, the legal system must send a clear message: every life lost in the crosswalk deserves justice — no matter who is behind the wheel.