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6 Pedestrians in 3 Days: A Deadly Spate of Crashes in N.Y.C. 6 Pedestrians in 3 Days: A Deadly Spate of Crashes in N.Y.C.
(about 1 hour later)
It was a deadly 72 hours: One woman was killed by a truck that backed up into her; another person was struck by a private sanitation truck; a third was hit by three vehicles at once. Three other victims were over 65.It was a deadly 72 hours: One woman was killed by a truck that backed up into her; another person was struck by a private sanitation truck; a third was hit by three vehicles at once. Three other victims were over 65.
In total, six pedestrians were killed from Wednesday to Friday in a spate of traffic crashes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Their deaths reminded residents and officials of the dangers that still plague New York City’s streets, despite strides by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration and the City Council toward increasing street safety.In total, six pedestrians were killed from Wednesday to Friday in a spate of traffic crashes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Their deaths reminded residents and officials of the dangers that still plague New York City’s streets, despite strides by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration and the City Council toward increasing street safety.
“The recent traffic fatalities have made us even more determined to keep Vision Zero moving forward,” the mayor said on Sunday.“The recent traffic fatalities have made us even more determined to keep Vision Zero moving forward,” the mayor said on Sunday.
Since Mr. de Blasio announced his Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths shortly after taking office, street safety has become a signature of his tenure.Since Mr. de Blasio announced his Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths shortly after taking office, street safety has become a signature of his tenure.
As part of that initiative, the city has provided safety upgrades, like giving pedestrians head starts at crosswalks and installing an additional 224 speed cameras throughout the city this year. In October, the mayor and the City Council agreed on a $1.7 billion plan to drastically expand the number of protected bike lanes.As part of that initiative, the city has provided safety upgrades, like giving pedestrians head starts at crosswalks and installing an additional 224 speed cameras throughout the city this year. In October, the mayor and the City Council agreed on a $1.7 billion plan to drastically expand the number of protected bike lanes.
But in New York City and nationwide, ensuring the safety of pedestrians has proved difficult: In the United States more pedestrians and cyclists were killed in the past year than in any year since 1990, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.But in New York City and nationwide, ensuring the safety of pedestrians has proved difficult: In the United States more pedestrians and cyclists were killed in the past year than in any year since 1990, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To explain the increase in deaths, researchers point to the popularity of S.U.V.s and trucks, which are more likely than cars to kill pedestrians because of their size, and the proliferation of smartphones, which can distract drivers and pedestrians alike.To explain the increase in deaths, researchers point to the popularity of S.U.V.s and trucks, which are more likely than cars to kill pedestrians because of their size, and the proliferation of smartphones, which can distract drivers and pedestrians alike.
As of Thursday, 114 pedestrians have been killed in car collisions in New York City so far this year compared with 110 in 2018, according to the police. The number of cyclist deaths this year has more than doubled.As of Thursday, 114 pedestrians have been killed in car collisions in New York City so far this year compared with 110 in 2018, according to the police. The number of cyclist deaths this year has more than doubled.
At a news conference on Friday, the New York Police Department’s chief of transportation, William T. Morris, said that while collisions citywide were down, fatal crashes were up about 8 percent from last year, when the city experienced the lowest level of traffic deaths in more than a century.At a news conference on Friday, the New York Police Department’s chief of transportation, William T. Morris, said that while collisions citywide were down, fatal crashes were up about 8 percent from last year, when the city experienced the lowest level of traffic deaths in more than a century.
“We have had a difficult and challenging year under Vision Zero,” said Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said on Sunday. “And as 2019 comes to a close, we want to make sure that this holiday season is a joyous and safe one for all New Yorkers.”“We have had a difficult and challenging year under Vision Zero,” said Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said on Sunday. “And as 2019 comes to a close, we want to make sure that this holiday season is a joyous and safe one for all New Yorkers.”
On Monday, city officials will announce plans to increase police enforcement efforts targeting commercial trucks, which were involved in four of the six pedestrian deaths last week.On Monday, city officials will announce plans to increase police enforcement efforts targeting commercial trucks, which were involved in four of the six pedestrian deaths last week.
Danny Harris, executive director of the transit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said on Sunday, “New York continues to lead on street design and street safety, but our processes are too slow and we still need more of our elected officials to stand up and fight for people over traffic.”Danny Harris, executive director of the transit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said on Sunday, “New York continues to lead on street design and street safety, but our processes are too slow and we still need more of our elected officials to stand up and fight for people over traffic.”
It is not unusual, city officials say, to see a spike in traffic deaths toward the end of the year, when there are fewer daylight hours and more pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are drawn out to the streets during the holiday season.It is not unusual, city officials say, to see a spike in traffic deaths toward the end of the year, when there are fewer daylight hours and more pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are drawn out to the streets during the holiday season.
But the deaths of six people in only 72 hours was striking. But the deaths of six people in only 72 hours was alarming.
On Wednesday morning, Lin Zhisheng, 67, was walking near Main Street in Flushing, Queens, when he was hit by a car as it turned into a parking garage. Later that day, Xue You, 75, was crossing 52nd Street in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn when a 21-year-old driving a white Jeep made a left turn onto the street and hit her.On Wednesday morning, Lin Zhisheng, 67, was walking near Main Street in Flushing, Queens, when he was hit by a car as it turned into a parking garage. Later that day, Xue You, 75, was crossing 52nd Street in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn when a 21-year-old driving a white Jeep made a left turn onto the street and hit her.
The following day around 3:30 p.m., a box truck driving down Third Avenue near Sunset Park hit an 85-year-old man, Brendan Gill, as he was crossing the street.The following day around 3:30 p.m., a box truck driving down Third Avenue near Sunset Park hit an 85-year-old man, Brendan Gill, as he was crossing the street.
Hours later in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, Katherine Miller, 26, was struck by a Ferraro Foods truck when it reversed into her on Broadway, near Howard Street. She was pronounced dead at the scene.Hours later in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, Katherine Miller, 26, was struck by a Ferraro Foods truck when it reversed into her on Broadway, near Howard Street. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Friday morning, the collisions continued. At about 4:45 a.m., a private sanitation truck hit a man who was walking in a marked crosswalk in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. He has not been publicly identified.On Friday morning, the collisions continued. At about 4:45 a.m., a private sanitation truck hit a man who was walking in a marked crosswalk in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. He has not been publicly identified.
About an hour later, Andres Stylianou, 57, became the sixth fatality. He was struck first by a truck driving in one direction and then by two cars traveling in the opposite direction in Gowanus, Brooklyn.About an hour later, Andres Stylianou, 57, became the sixth fatality. He was struck first by a truck driving in one direction and then by two cars traveling in the opposite direction in Gowanus, Brooklyn.
So far, two people have been arrested in connection with two of the collisions, the police said.So far, two people have been arrested in connection with two of the collisions, the police said.