Sixteen people died in New York City traffic in March, and 4,073 were injured, according to City Hall’s Vision Zero View crash data map.
City Hall reported 32 pedestrians and cyclists killed by city motorists through March, and 3,283 injured, compared to 34 deaths and 3,477 injuries in the first three months of 2016.
Four motor vehicle occupants died in the city in March, according to City Hall, and 2,990 were injured.
Motorists killed six seniors and one child in March: Skylar Perkins, 1; Joseph Ranieri, 70; Carmen Velez, 81; Ping Xie, 81; Jacob Bavdaz, 84; the unnamed male pedestrian in Manhattan, 87; and an unnamed female pedestrian in Brooklyn, 81.
Of nine fatal crashes on surface streets reported by Streetsblog and other outlets, six victims were known or believed to have been walking with the right of way. Three motorists were known to have been charged for causing a death. In four cases, NYPD blamed the victim in the press.
The driver of a pickup truck ran over Skylar Perkins' stroller as her mother pushed her across the street. The driver was charged with a Right of Way Law violation.
A motorist hit Joseph Ranieri head-on on a street where mid-block crossings are legal. Police filed no charges against the driver.
After turning drivers killed Jacob Bavdaz and an unidentified 81-year-old woman in separate crashes in the Bronx and Brooklyn, respectively, police said the elderly victims were outside the crosswalk. No charges were filed in either case.
When Danielle Leathers was hit with enough force to sever her legs, NYPD defended the truck driver who killed her, telling the media the victim was crossing against the light. Local residents told News 12 they fear for their lives crossing Bruckner Boulevard where Leathers was struck.
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.
"Over the past couple weeks [the DOT] has been saying that they need to do more community engagement on the issue," the Council member said of the much-discussed project.