The Weekly Carnage

2:35 PM EST on March 4, 2011

The Weekly Carnage is a Friday round-up of motor vehicle violence across the five boroughs and beyond. For more on the origins and purpose of this column, please read About the Weekly Carnage.

Fatal Crashes (1 killed this week, 20 this year, 3 drivers charged*)

Sheepshead Bay: Devon Burgess, 23, Killed After Car Slams Into Utility Pole Off Belt Parkway; Three Others Injured (News)

Injuries, Arrests and Property Damage

Great Kills: Teen Hurt in Hit-and-Run Walking on Street Without Sidewalks (Advance)
Manhattan: Police Officer Injured After Crashing Scooter into Utility Pole in Central Park (DNAinfo)
Union Square: Drunk Passenger Steals Cab, Drives Wrong Way Before Crashing (News, NYT, Post)

Seamus Byrne was killed crossing the street in Smithtown, LI. Photo via ##http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/28/2011-02-28_he_survives_afghan_war_killed_on_li.html##Daily News##

In the Region, Out of Town

Islandia, NY: Drag Racers Trying to Escape Police Drive 145 MPH, Crash Into Gas Station Off Long Island Expressway (CBSLocal, News)
Bellmore, NY: Driver Crashes into Utility Pole, Shoots Responding Firefighter (Post)
North Lindenhurst, NY: Pedestrian Injured in Hit-and-Run (Newsday)
Jersey City: Woman Hurt in Hit-and-Run After Argument Over a Basketball Hitting Driver's Car (CBS Local)
Rutherford, NJ: Driver Killed Crashing Car into Tree (Star-Ledger)
Smithtown, NY: Afghanistan Vet Killed Crossing the Street; No Charges Filed (News, Post)
Manorville, NY: Passenger Killed After Driver Crosses into Oncoming Traffic (Newsday)
Lindenhurst, NY: Drunk Driver Runs Red Light, Sends Three to Hospital (CBS Local)
Kenilworth, NJ: Driver Killed on Garden State Parkway When Tire Smashes Through His Windshield (CBS Local)
Newark, NJ: Man Killed in Hit-and-Run While Changing Tire (Star-Ledger)
Middletown, NJ: Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Garden State Parkway (Star-Ledger)

Following Up

City Not Liable for Traffic Cop Who Waved Bus Through Red Light and Into Pedestrian (Post)
Queens Man Sentenced to 3.5-10 Years for 2010 DWI Crash That Killed Food Delivery Man (NY1)

Other News

Marty Golden’s Truck Safety Bill Advances in the Senate (Streetsblog)
Ghost Bike To Be Installed Near Borough Hall Honors Victims of Unreported Crashes (Bklyn Paper)
Brazil Driver Accused in Critical Mass Attack Tells Police Cyclists Were Scratching His Car (Times)
Will Google's "Self-Drive" Car Increase Safety, Reduce Commute Time? (In'tl Business Times)
Nassau County Legislature Seeks to Expand Red Light Camera Program (GlenCove Patch)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Wants New Trucking Rules to Prevent "Underride" (CBS)

* Fatalities within the five boroughs. Information based on latest available reports.