Ebrahim Kebe, 4, Killed by Driver in the Bronx, No Charges Filed
A 4-year-old child was killed while playing outside his home on a residential street in the Bronx on Tuesday.
Ebrahim Kebe was struck by the driver of a minivan on Topping Avenue in Mount Hope at approximately 6 p.m., according to reports. He was pronounced dead at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.
Like clockwork, the Post weighed in with the requisite dose of victim-blaming:
Residents said that children on the street dart into traffic constantly, and that there had been several other near misses in recent weeks.
Translation: Rather than expect drivers to exercise caution on a block lined with homes where small children live, families should keep their kids away from the damn street.
Ebrahim Kebe is at least the third "darting child" to die in New York City traffic in 2012. Earlier this month, 3-year-old Kevin Rodriguez was run over by an ambulette driver in front of his parents in Coney Island. In April, Timothy Keith, age 5, was struck by a yellow cab driver in front of his parents in Cobble Hill.
Last summer, 6-year-old Zhaneya Butcher was killed as she ran toward an ice cream truck in Jamaica. The driver was charged with DWI and manslaughter but was ultimately sentenced to probation and a six-month license revocation.
Though the Post story says the motorist did not stop after striking Ebrahim until alerted by screaming witnesses, according to DNAinfo, "officers told Ebrahim's family the driver was not speeding."
"It's an accident waiting to happen," said Junior Nunez, who has lived on the block for 15 years and said he frequently sees kids playing in the street, especially in the summer.
While Topping Avenue is a quiet residential street, the block where the accident occurred is adjacent to the Cross Bronx Expressway, and neighbors said cars often race up the street during rush hour as they take a shortcut through the neighborhood.
"When the block seems empty people think they can speed through here," said Queenie, a mother of five who lives on the block.
Kids in the street in the summertime. What motorist could possibly be expected to be prepared for such a scenario. By 10:11 p.m., when DNAinfo last updated its story, NYPD had publicly exonerated the driver.
This fatal crash occurred in the 46th Precinct. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Deputy Inspector John Hart, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 46th Precinct council meetings happen at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the precinct, 2120 Ryer Avenue. Call the precinct at 718-220-5234 for information.
The City Council district where Ebrahim Kebe was killed is represented by Fernando Cabrera. To encourage Cabrera to take action to improve street safety in his district and citywide, contact him at 212-788-7074 or fcabrera@council.nyc.gov.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
City Considers Fixes for Another Ridiculously Slow Cross-Bronx Bus
Potential bus improvements are on the table for the Bronx's Tremont Avenue, but the Adams administration's failures on nearby Fordham Road loom large.
DOT Unveils First Step for Park Row Redesign
The city hopes to make Park Row more appealing to residents and visitors. But the real work is years off.
Monday’s Headlines: East New York’s New Bikes Lanes Reduced Crashes Edition
Initial results show East New York's protected bike lanes made Cozine and Wortman avenues safer. Plus more news.
Stockholm Leader’s Message to NYC: ‘Congestion Pricing Just Works’
"In Stockholm, people really thought that congestion pricing would be the end of the world, the city will come to a standstill, no one would be able to get to work anymore and all the theaters and shops would just go bankrupt. None of that happened."
Friday’s Headlines: Trump Trial Trumps Safety Edition
Is anyone going to bother to fix the dangerous mess on the streets and plazas around the Trump trial? Plus more news.
