Twenty-six people died in New York City traffic in September, and 4,436 were injured, according to the latest NYPD crash data report [PDF].
As of the end of September, 108 pedestrians and cyclists were reported killed by city motorists this year, and 10,829 injured, compared to 118 deaths and 11,811 injuries for the same period in 2013.
Citywide, at least 13 pedestrians and one cyclist were fatally struck by drivers: five pedestrians in Manhattan; three pedestrians in the Bronx; two pedestrians and one cyclist in Brooklyn; and three pedestrians in Queens. Among the victims were Keiko Ohnishi, Cydney Arther, Melania Ward, Jennifer White-Estick, Sui Leung, Rony Mejia, and Dohee Cho. Motorists killed at least four seniors in September: Keiko Ohnishi, 66; Cydney Arther, 73; Sui Leung, 82; and an unnamed 67-year-old Manhattan pedestrian.
Motorists killed at least two pedestrians and one cyclist whose names were not immediately disclosed by NYPD, or whose deaths were not covered in the press. Most every month, there are pedestrian and cyclist deaths that go unreported other than the scant details provided weeks later in the NYPD dataset, which lists only the intersection closest to the crash and the victim’s mode of travel. These crashes are enumerated by WNYC on its “Mean Streets” page.
Of 11 fatal crashes on surface streets reported by Streetsblog and other outlets, no motorists were known to have been charged for causing a death. Based on NYPD and media accounts, at least four victims were likely walking or cycling with the right of way when they were struck, but police and district attorneys are known to have applied the city's Right of Way law in none of those crashes. Historically, nearly half of motorists who kill a New York City pedestrian or cyclist do not receive so much as a citation for careless driving.
Eight motorists and four passengers died in the city in September; 1,523 and 1,677 were injured, respectively.
There were 17,726 motor vehicle crashes in the city last month, including 3,252 that resulted in injury or death.
Download September NYPD summons data here. NYPD posts geocoded crash data here. Crash and summons data from prior months is available in multiple formats here.
Below are contributing factors for crashes resulting in injury and death.
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.
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