Pedestrian Accidents

Published on: August 6, 2014

The number of pedestrians who died in traffic fatalities in NYC is down by 24% but the number of fatal bicycle accidents is up 33% for the first six months of the year

There were 18,321 motor vehicle accidents in New York City in June according to the recent statistics published by the NYPD. This is the highest number of accidents per month in one year and the second consecutive month that this number is above 18,000. A similar increase in vehicle accidents was also observed for the months of May and June last year. During these two months this number was also above 18,000. The total number of motor vehicle accidents for the first six months of 2014 is 8068 compared to 8828 in 2013, a decrease of 9.1%.

motor%20vehicle%20accidens%20NYC%20June%202014.jpg

4950 people suffered personal injury in a motor vehicle accident last June compared to 4621 in May and 5046 in June 2014. During the first six months of the year 24,383 people suffered personal injury in a vehicle accident compared to 26,119 for the first six months of 2013, a decrease of 7%.

motor%20vehicle%20accident%20injuries%20NYC%20June%202014.jpg

For the first 6 months of 2014 there were 117 traffic fatalities compared to 121 in 2013. 20 people died in traffic accidents in June compared to 25 the previous month and 22 in June 2013. The number of motorist deaths was higher than usual for the last two months.

Traffic%20Fatalities%20in%20NYC%20June%202014.jpg
Continue reading →

Published on: August 4, 2014

The NYPD and Vision Zero: Transportation Alternatives new report shows that while some preccints excel at enforcing dangerous traffic violations others are lagging

By GGCRBHS&M

Speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians are the leading causes of traffic fatalities and personal injuries to pedestrians in New York City. Therefore as part of the Vision Zero Initiative all NYPD precincts have been instructed at the beginning of this year to increase enforcement of the most dangerous traffic violations.

A new report card from Transportation Alternatives published last week looks at six months of Vision Zero Traffic Enforcement in New York City. Globally across the city, speeding tickets increased by 32% and tickets for failure to yield increased by 153% for the first 6 months of 2014 compared to the first 6 months of 2013. However while looking at the numbers precinct by precinct, Transportation Alternative discovered huge discrepancies. The most troubling was to find neighborhood precincts with similar traffic conditions and street design that had very different enforcement efforts. For example In Harlem,the 26th Precinct nearly doubled the number of speeding summonses issued from last year(294 to 533),

while the adjacent 30th Precinctin Washington Heights issued half as many summonses as they did the prior year.

Continue reading →

Published on: August 4, 2014

79 year old pedestrian died after being struck by a van in Queens, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A 79 year old woman was killed in a traffic accident in Queens on Friday morning. The woman was crossing 99th street when she was hit by a van which was making a left-hand turn from 62nd road. The driver stayed at the scene (see video below).

One day before another elderly pedestrian was killed by a vehicle in Queens (see previous post) and a 77 year old woman suffered critical personal injury after being struck by a Jeep Wrangler at the Lily Pond Avenue and Narrows Road South in Arrochar, Staten Island, NYC (read more in the SILive)

Last week, the AARP published the results of a voter survey that indicates that 40% of of voters above 50 years old consider drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians a serious problem and 25% of them also say that traffic signals are too quick and don’t allow enough time to cross the road. (read more in New York City Street Blog)

Continue reading →

Published on: July 30, 2014

The driver who killed an 80 year old woman after crashing into her on a neighborhood street in Bath Beach in Brooklyn, NYC, in broad daylight will not be charged

By GGCRBHS&M

How in the middle of the day, did a driver fail to see an 80-year-old crossing the street in front of her on a one way residential street?
In a recent article in StreetBlog, Brad Aaron is questioning why the police didn’t charge the driver who crashed into 80 year old Margherita Nanfro as she was crossing Rutherford Place at Bay 16th Street in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, NYC, around noon on July 25th. Pictures from the accident suggest that the driver may have been speeding as the impact was strong enough to throw the elderly woman onto the windshield. Reports also suggest that the victim had the right of way.

Published on: July 30, 2014

Senior pedestrian dies from head injuries after being struck by a car in Queens

By GGCRBHS&M

An 87 year old woman who was trying to cross the street was hit by a car near Willets Point Blvd and 163rd St in Flushing, Queens, New York, yesterday night. She suffered severe head injuries and later died in the hospital.

In New York City, senior pedestrians have a higher risk to die in a car accident than adult pedestrians. Recent statistics from the DOT show that seniors represent 12% of the NYC population but account for 36% of NYC pedestrian traffic fatalities.
NYC%20Senior%20pedestrian%20accidents.jpg
Source: DOT Safe Street for Seniors New York City

Published on: July 15, 2014

A 49 year old female pedestrian died yesterday night after being struck by at least one car in Brooklyn, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian died after she was hit by at least one car on Flatbush Ave near Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. The accident happened yesterday night after 9 pm and heavy rainfalls were reducing drivers visibility. According to the NY Daily News, the woman had exited of a parked car and was trying to cross Flatbush Ave. A 37 year old motorist hit her and did not stop immediately but returned to the scene shortly after. He told the police that he didn’t realize immediately that he had hit a person. According to the police it is possible that a second car also hit the woman.

pedestrian%20deaths%20may%2014.jpg

Published on: July 14, 2014

8 year old boy from the Bronx suffers personal injury after being struck by a minivan whose driver was seen texting just before the accident

By GGCRBHS&M

A young boy was seriously injured after he was hit by a minivan Saturday in the Bronx, NYC. According to the New York Daily News, the boy was playing with friends when he ran out into the street. He was struck by a minivan driven by a lady who witnesses said was seen texting behind the wheel prior to the accident. The lady also had her children in her car. She remained at the scene and so far no charges have been filed. The boy who suffered serious but non life threatening injuries was rushed to the hospital.

Published on: July 11, 2014

Despite Zero Vision Efforts to reduce Traffic Fatalities Another Pedestrian was Struck resulting in her Death Yesterday on the Upper West Side of Manhattan a Few Blocks Away from where Cooper Stock was Killed by a Taxi in January

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian was killed after a SUV making a left turn hit her and dragged her down a New York street for half a block . The pedestrian was 61 year old Jean Chamber, an artist who lived on the Upper west Side. She was crossing West End with the light when a SUV making a left turn from 95th street struck her causing her death.

The number of people killed and injured in traffic accidents in NYC during the first five months of 2014 decreased compared to the same period of 2013 with pedestrians deaths down by 21% and pedestrian personal injuries down by 7.5%

By GGCRBHS&M

25 people died in vehicle accidents last May in NYC. Among them were 9 pedestrians, 2 cyclists, 3 vehicle passengers and 11 motorists.This is the highest number of people killed during the length of a month on New York City roads since the beginning of the year. Last April 21 people died in vehicle accidents and during the same month a year earlier, 15 people were killed in traffic accidents.
When looking at the numbers since the beginning of the year, the total number of people killed on the road in the city since the beginning of the year is 97 compared to 99 for the same period of 2013.

people%20killed%20in%20traffic%20accident%20in%20NYC%20May%2014.jpg

pedestrian%20deaths%20may%2014.jpg

The number of pedestrian deaths was 9 during the month of May compared to 8 last April and 6 in May 2013. Since the beginning of the year 48 pedestrians lost their life in a traffic accident compared to 61 for the first 5 months of 2014, a decrease of 21%.

Cyclist%20deaths%20NYC%20May%2014.jpg

The number of cyclist deaths in May 2014 was stable at 2 compared to May 2013 and higher than last April, a month during which one cyclist died. The total number of cyclists who died in a traffic accident since the beginning of 2014 is 5 compared to 3 for the first five months of 2013.
Continue reading →

Published on: June 30, 2014

The reckless unlicensed teen driver who killed 4 year old Ariel Russo while fleeing from the police on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was offered a reduced sentence and a sealed record if he plead guilty to manslaughter.

By GGCRBHS&M

Franklin Reyes was 17 year old when he was busted for fatally hitting 4 year old Ariel Russo with his car as he was fleeing from the cops. According to prosecutors Reyes had been driving illegally since age 15 and was bragging on Facebook about speeding.

Ariel Russo’s family wanted the judge to treat Reyes as an adult and to sentence him with 15 years of jail. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro however called it a difficult case and offered a sealed record along with a light sentence of 16 months to 4 years in jail if Reyes plead guilty to manslaughter. “Although the horrific consequence, not heeding to the police orders to pull over, are grave … weighing in all the factors I do think youthful offender treatment is appropriate,” Carro said.