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.
2:55 PM EDT on October 19, 2012
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 (3 killed this week, 127 this year, 9 drivers charged*)
- Jamaica: Maleka Begum, 54, Hit by Bus Driver in Crosswalk; No Charges Filed (Streetsblog)
- East Harlem: 44-Year-Old Woman Struck on Harlem River Drive (DNA)
- Williamsburg: 50-Year-Old Tractor-Trailer Driver Rear-Ended, Ejected from Vehicle; No Charges (DNA)
Injuries, Arrests and Property Damage
- Williamsbridge: Driver Hits, Seriously Injures 12-Year-Old in Crosswalk; No Charges (DNA)
- Greenwich Village: Intoxicated, Unlicensed Driver Leads Police Chase Before Crash (Post Blotter)
- Astoria: Nine Injured When Driver Rear-Ends School Bus (DNA)
- Bushwick: Off-Duty Cop Busted After DWI Crash, Fleeing Scene (Post)
- Middle Village: Driver Slams Into Glass Storefront; Police Quiet on Cause, Criminality (DNA)**
- Ridgewood: Cops Pursue SUV Thief After He Tried to Run Them Down (DNA)
- Parkchester: Driver Pins Cop Between Scooter and Fence; “No Criminality” (Post)**
- Sunnyside, SI: Driver With DWI Record Caught Asleep in Car With Engine Running (Advance)
- Midtown: Taxi Driver Throws Passenger Into Street, Allegedly Over Disputed Ride to Queens (Post)
In the Region, Out of Town
- North Hills, NY: Drunk Driver Kills Nassau Cop on LIE; Charged With Manslaughter (NBC NY, Fox)
- Gallatin, NY: Five Teens Hospitalized in One-Car Crash After Driver “Lost Control” (WSJ)
- Hampton, NJ: Driver Whose Crash Injured Four Cyclists Sentenced to 150 Days in Prison (Star-Ledger)
- Montclair, NJ: Driver Trapped in Car for Hours Following Crash Into Tree (Montclair Patch)
Following Up
- Company Whose Bus Driver Killed Maleka Begum: Driver Had “Unblemished Record” (Times Ledger)
- Cop Accused of Drunkenly Mowing Down Bronx Senior Turns Down Plea Deal (R’dale Press, News)
- Related: Kevin Spellman Had History of Drinking and Driving, Kept Quiet by NYPD (Streetsblog)
- Ray Kelly Ignores Inquiry From City Council Member Into Death of UES Senior Rubin Baum (Streetsblog)
- SI Church Hires DWI Cop Who Killed Family of Four Out of “Forgiveness and Mercy” (Advance)
- Friends Mourn South Ozone Park Teen Killed in Long Island Crash (Times Ledger)
*Based on latest available reports
**Incident in which a vehicle left the roadway
More from Streetsblog New York City
‘Slopulism’: Cheaper Driving Is Hochul’s Key ‘Affordability’ Issue
The governor has nearly a one-track mind when it comes to lowering auto insurance premiums — no matter the cost to her constituents.
March 30, 2026
Lawmakers Want More Funding For Upstate Transit Than Hochul Is Offering
Some transit authorities are already cutting back as state assistance doesn’t meet the mark. And Hochul isn't coughing up the big bucks.
March 30, 2026
To Save Lives — And The Theater — Let’s Ban Cars From Broadway
We are all suffering from the few people who drive into the Times Square area. So let's make the easy fix, argues our contributor.
March 30, 2026
Monday’s Headlines: Mamdani’s Missing Link Edition
City Hall will hear out QueensLink advocates despite its financial commitment to the competing QueensWay. Plus more news.
March 30, 2026
Mamdani Will Upgrade Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan-Side Entrance By June
DOT will begin start construction in April of the Adams-era proposal to give cyclists and pedestrians their own entrances to the bridge.
March 27, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.