The Weekly Carnage
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.
1:11 PM EDT on September 2, 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 (5 killed this week, 103 this year, 16 drivers charged*)
- Williamsburg: Cyclist Erica Abbott, 29, Killed by Mercedes Driver; No Charges (Streetsblog, News)
- Corona: Pedestrian Fatally Struck Crossing the Street; No Criminality Suspected (Post Blotter)
- Midtown: Parking Attendant Denuld Prophete, 64, Killed Moving Car in Garage (DNAinfo)
- East New York: Motorcyclist Karam Rampersaud, 21, Dies After Rescuers Drop Car That Pinned Him; Driver Issued “Failure to Yield” Summons (Post)
- Great Kills: Grisly SUV Crash Kills Passenger Angel Rivera, 18, Injures Others; Driver Charged With Homicide (WABC, WPIX, Post, Advance)
Injuries, Arrests and Property Damage
- Upper West Side: Victim of 60 MPH Hit-and-Run Left in Coma (News)
- Flatbush: Man Steals, Crashes Livery Cab After Arguing With Driver Over Fare (Post Blotter)
- Bay Ridge: Police Seek Driver Who Almost Hit Traffic Agent to Avoid Getting a Summons (Post Blotter)
- New Brighton: Driver of Stolen Car Leads Police on Chase Before Crashing Into Fence (Post Blotter)
In the Region, Out of Town
- Keeseville, NY: Woman Fatally Backs Over Father’s Girlfriend in Driveway (Post)
- Concord, NY: Sisters Fatally Struck by Truck Driver After Running Stop Sign (AP)
- Exeter, RI: Two Teen Girls Killed After Their Car Flips on Dark Road (CBS)
- Birmingham, UK: Sixth Man Charged With Murder in Hit-and-Run Deaths of Three Pedestrians (Fox)
Following Up
- Tour Bus Driver Charged With Manslaughter in Bronx Crash That Killed 15 (News, NYT)
- LI Driver in Fatal 2010 Head-On Crash Faces Five to Ten Years (AP)
- Ex-SNL Comic Darrell Hammond Sues Over LI Crash That Left Him Injured (News)
Other News
- “Bowtie of Death” Ped Safety Improvements Underway (Streetsblog)
- Did NYC Make Allstate’s List of Cities With the Safest Drivers? (CBS)
- DOT Suggests Fifth Avenue Camera in Park Slope Might Be a Decoy (Patch)
* Based on latest available reports
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog New York City
Summer Bummer: Annual Car-Free Street Event Squeezed In NYPD ‘Overkill’
Attendees were stunned by the sheer number of police and their vehicles clogging many intersections — in what one cop called "overkill."
August 2, 2026
The Few: Cops Wrote Just 32 Tickets to Drivers Blocking Bus And Bike Lanes Last Week
Across the more than 6,300 miles of roadway throughout New York City, the NYPD's nearly 34,000 officers ticketed only 32 drivers for blocking bus and bike lanes between July 20 andt 26.
July 31, 2026
AG Tish James Issues Promised Consumer Alert on Illegal E-Motos
Purchasers and businesses will no longer be able to pretend that they didn't know that these devices are illegal.
July 31, 2026
Quick Change: E-Moto Maker Altered Website After Fatal Crash
The company that sold the e-moto a 17-year-old was riding when he died in a traffic crash tried to change the online specs. Luckily, we have the receipts.
July 31, 2026
OPINION: U.S. Should Scale Autonomous Vehicles Thoughtfully, Not Slam the Brakes
Streetsblog is skeptical that AVs will move the needle on car dependence. But our recent coverage has spurred many AV boosters to demand equal time. So today, we present one such piece.
July 31, 2026