Auto Accidents

Published on: March 20, 2014

The number of people killed in traffic accidents is at its lowest in more than a year in NYC

In February 12 people died as a result of vehicle accidents among them 8 pedestrians, 1 cyclist, 1 passenger and 2 drivers. This is the lowest number of monthly traffic fatalities in more than a year. Last month a total of 21 people died in traffic accidents in NYC and a year ago in February 2013 there were 20 deaths.

It is too early to see a trend however it looks like the first Vision Zero initiatives may have helped to make NYC streets safer in February. We’ll see in the coming months if the trend continues.

poeple%20killed%20in%20accident%20febrauary%202014%20NYC.png The number of people who suffered personal injury in a traffic accident in NYC was also lower compared to the previous month and compared to the same month a year ago.

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Published on: March 19, 2014

Two days after a similar accident killed a 5 year old pedestrian, a driver attempting to parallel park killed an elderly woman who was crossing the street in Brooklyn

By GGCRBHS&M

A 77 year old pedestrian was crossing a residential street in Brooklyn when she was struck and suffered injury leading to her death by a 2014 Mercedes Benz attempting to parallel park. Marlene Baharlias, 77, was jaywalking when she stepped off an East 19th street curb mid-block between Avenue U and Avenue T in Sheepshead Bay around 2:20 p.m. yesterday and was mowed down, cops said. Read more in the Gothamist.

Erratum (3/20): according to an in depth article from Streetblog that came a day after the accident was announced in the local media, Marlene Baharlias was killed Tuesday in Sheepshead Bay by a driver who witnesses say backed onto a sidewalk – contrary to anonymous NYPD sources who told the Post the victim was jaywalking. We apologize to our readers.

A similar accident happened two days ago, also in Brooklyn, when a young child was attempting to cross the street with his mother and a car backed into them killing the 5 year old boy (see previous blog).

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Published on: March 18, 2014

Campaign to reduce pedestrian accidents in New York: 10 Neighborhood communities that have applied for “Slow Zone” and that have been rejected protest by installing fake “20 is plenty” speed limit signs

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian struck by a car is twice as likely to survive if the car speed is 20 mph instead of 30 mph. To increase traffic safety and combat speeding in residential areas, the DOT started in 2011 a Community based Neighborhood Slow Zone Program which includes a reduction of the speed from 30 mph to 20 mph with signage, gateway and speed bumps (see previous blog). The program was an immediate success and the DOT received so many applications that not all of them could be immediately accepted. Also some of those that were accepted were vetoed by community boards.

Last week-end with the help of the Right of Way advocates, residents of 10 NYC communities who believed their applications have been unfairly rejected by the DOT or who have been waiting for more than 2 years for the city to implement the Slow Zone Program installed “20 is plenty” speed limit signs in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, Greenpoint, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, the Upper West Side, the Lower East Side, Tribeca and the West Village.

As part of Vision Zero, Mayor de Blasio has called for a rapid expansion of the Neighborhood Slow Zone. The communities are calling on the mayor to stick to his promise.

Published on: March 18, 2014

4 New York City auxiliary police officers suffered serious personal injury in an auto accident in Queens, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

4 NYPD auxiliary police officers and a civilian were seriously injured after the police car was struck by another car in Queens, NYC, yesterday afternoon. The accident happened at the intersection of 172nd street and 73rd Ave. Police said they are still investigating the crash.

5 year old struck and killed by a car backing up in Brooklyn, New York

By GGCRBHS&M

A young boy died after he was hit by a minivan on Empire Blvd in Brooklyn, NYC. The minivan driver, 23 year old Elysabeth Mayard, backed up, drove over 5 year old Roshard Charles (picture) and ran away as the mother of the boy was banging on her window asking her to stop. Mayard returned to the scene after she was chased by witnesses who convinced her to come back. She was charged with hit and run, reckless driving and driving through 3 red lights.
Read more in DNA Info New York

Published on: March 13, 2014

2 car drivers and one pedestrian suffered severe personal injury in a car accident on a dangerous street in Staten Island, New York

By GGCRBHS&M

A frontal collision between two cars injured the two car drivers and one pedestrian in Great Kills, Staten Island, NYC. The accident happened on Amboy Road near Sherwood Place. One of the cars apparently swerved on to the wrong side of the road and collided with the other car that was traveling in the opposite direction. The two drivers suffered serious personal injury and a pedestrian who was struck and pinned under one of the cars was in critical condition . Read More in the Staten Island Advance

Amboy Road is a dangerous road on Staten Island. Below is a heat map that shows that every month on average there are more than 10 vehicle accidents on this road. There are also 5 dangerous spots where one auto accident or more happens every month at that specific spot.

high%20number%20of%20car%20accident%20on%20Amboy.png

Published on: March 11, 2014

8 People suffered Personal Injury in a Car Accident during which a car plowed into a store in the Bronx, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A car crashed into a store in the Bronx injuring 8 people. According to a witness it seems like the driver who was parked in front of the store hit the gas pedal instead of the break.

Last weekend in New York two pedestrian accidents killed one and severely injured another

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian was killed and another one suffered severe personal injury in two separate car accidents.
64 year old Kumar Ragunath was crossing Northern Blvd at 40th Road on Saturday night when he was struck by a SUV driver as he was crossing out of the crosswalk. The driver didn’t stop and the pedestrian died at the hospital shortly after the accident. The police are looking for a dark colored Chevy Blazer. Read more in DNA Info New York.

In an another accident a pedestrian who was crossing Rockaway Parkway was struck by a SUV driver who was trying to pass a vehicle making a left turn. Read more in the New York Daily News

Published on: March 10, 2014

After Ariel Russo, a 4 year old girl, was struck causing her death by a reckless SUV driver, a New York Street is renamed after her.

By GGCRBHS&M

Ariel Russo was killed in a car accident last June as she was walking to school with her grandmother. The two pedestrians were on Amsterdam Ave at 97th street when a 17 year old driver with a learners permit jumped the curb and hit the young girl causing her death. The young man was charged with manslaughter. Today Ariel would have been 5 years old. In her memory the city renamed west 97th Street between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway “Ariel Russo’s Place”.

7 people suffered personal injury in car accident after cops chase motorist who refused to pull over

By GGCRBHS&M

A car accident that left 7 people injured in Queens, NYC, this weekend is being investigated by NYPD Internal Affairs. Joseph Barriga who was driving a car even though his license had been revoked after 20 suspensions was spotted by the Queens Gang Squad after he blew a stop sign. The cops who were driving an unmarked car tried to pull him over but instead Bariga hit the gas and the cops started to chase him. After a minute of chase the cops were told by their superior to terminate the chase. Two minutes later Barriga blew a red light and slammed into a car with five people in the car. It is not clear if the cops stopped the chase when instructed but they were a block away from the car when the accident happened.

Barriga was charged with reckless endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and several other violations. No disciplinary actions have yet been taken against the cops involved.