NYPD: 1,399 Pedestrians and Cyclists Injured, 16 Killed in Traffic in October

Twenty people were killed in New York City traffic in October, and 4,692 were injured, according to the latest NYPD crash data report [PDF].

As of the end of October, 124 pedestrians and cyclists were reported killed by city motorists this year, and 12,228 injured, compared to 135 deaths and 13,310 injuries for the same period in 2013.

Citywide, at least 15 pedestrians and one cyclist were fatally struck by drivers in October: three pedestrians in Manhattan; two pedestrians in the Bronx; four pedestrians in Brooklyn; five pedestrians and one cyclist in Queens; and one pedestrian in Staten Island. Among the victims were Cristina Alonso, Anna Maria Moström, Peter Romano, Sau Ying Lee, Winnifred Matthias, Martin Srodin, Rylee Ramos, Florence Bello, Edgar Torres, an unnamed male pedestrian in the Bronx, an unnamed male pedestrian in Queens, and an unnamed male pedestrian in Manhattan.

Motorists killed at least one child and three seniors in October: Rylee Ramos, 8; Sau Ying Lee, 90; Winnifred Matthias, 77; and an unnamed 86-year-old pedestrian.

Motorists killed at least two pedestrians whose deaths were apparently 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.

Across the city, 969 pedestrians and 430 cyclists were reported hurt in collisions with motor vehicles. Per NYPD policy, few of these crashes were investigated by trained officers.

Of 12 fatal crashes on surface streets reported by Streetsblog and other outlets, one motorist was known to have been charged for causing a death: the Coca-Cola truck driver who hit an 86-year-old pedestrian on the Upper East Side. 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 only once. 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.

In four cases, immediately after a pedestrian was killed, police exonerated the driver by telling the press the victim was "outside the crosswalk."

One motorist and three passengers died in the city in October; 1,548 and 1,745 were injured, respectively.

There were 18,011 motor vehicle crashes in the city last month, including 3,494 that resulted in injury or death.

Download October 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.