The Weekly Carnage

The Weekly Carnage is a Friday round-up of motor vehicle mayhem across the five boroughs and beyond. For more on the origins and purpose of this column, please read About the Weekly Carnage.

carnage_alcantara_news.jpgArgelis Alcantara was arrested for DWI and manslaughter for the May 22 hit-and-run death of an unidentified pedestrian in Washington Heights. Photo: News
Fatal Crashes (2 Killed This Week, 60 This Year, 9 Drivers Charged*)
  • Washington Heights: Unnamed Pedestrian Killed in Broadway Hit-and-Run; Driver Charged With DWI, Manslaughter (City Room, News)
  • Huguenot: Driver, 20, Dies After Hitting Parked Tractor-Trailer (Advance)

carnage_richburg_advance.jpgA 20-year-old man died when he drove his car into a parked tractor-trailer in Huguenot. Police say speed was a factor. Photo: Advance
Injuries, Arrests and Property Damage
  • Prospect Heights: Driver Nearly Runs Down Ped, Then Threatens Him With Scissors (Bklyn Paper)
  • Coney Island: Car Thief Crashes Into Fence After Cops Chase Him 15 Blocks (Post Blotter)
  • SI: Man Pulled Over Near Verrazano for Driving Without a Tire, Charged With DWI (Post Blotter)
  • SI: 4 Others Arrested for DWI, 1 in Crash (Advance 1, 2)
  • Astoria: Drunk Driver Crashes Car Into Barrier (YourNabe)
  • Low-Floor Buses Blamed for Spike in Rider Injuries (Post)

Following Up

  • Accused DWI Killer Carmen Huertas Asks Judge to Go Easy on Her (News, Post)
  • Service Held for Off-Duty Cop Behind the Wheel in Bronx River Parkway Crash (News)
  • WPIX Reporter Vince DeMentri Fired Following Parking Spot Assault (Gothamist)
  • Brooklyn Construction Worker Hit by Verizon Van Awarded $40 Million (News, Post)

carnage_beach_police_post.jpgPhoto: New York Post
In the Region, Out of Town
  • Long Beach, LI: Police in SUV Run Over Sunbather; Sand a Suspected Factor (Post 1, 2)
  • Wheatland: Teen Breath-Holding Contest Ends in Crash (WINS)
  • Islandia: Firefighter Coming to Colleague's Aid at Softball Game Hit Trying to Get Medical Bag (WINS)
  • Batavia: Porn-Watching Truck Driver Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in '09 Collision (AP)
  • Bedford Hills: Wife of RFK Jr. Arrested for Drunk Driving (AP)
  • New Haven, CT: Van Carrying Bill Clinton Rear-Ended (AP)
  • Ft. Lee, NJ: Motorcyclist Killed Near George Washington Bridge Was Fleeing Police (WINS)
  • Tempe, AZ: Student Native to NJ Dragged to Her Death for Her Purse (AP)
  • San Antonio, TX: Alert Bus Driver Avoids Toddler Sitting in Street (Hard Drive)
  • Bagley, MN: Woman Gives Birth While Driving, Is Feted by Chevrolet (Wheels)
  • Toronto: Charges Dropped Against Former Official in Fatal Cyclist Dragging (CBC)
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Former Yankee Jim Leyritz Settles Suit From '07 Fatal DWI Crash (Gothamist)
  • Bantam, CT: Alcohol Ed Class Clears Rip Torn of DWI Charge (AP)

Other News

  • Manhattan DA Cy Vance to Expand Vehicular Crimes Unit (Streetsblog, AP)
  • Over 100 Injured or Killed at Delancey and Essex Since 1998; Post Finds the Funny
  • Speed Enforcement Up on Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway (WINS)
  • Staged Crashes Jumped by Almost 50 Percent From '07-'09 (Wheels)
  • IIHS Says "Low-Speed Vehicles" Don't Belong on Public Roads (Wheels)
  • Study Finds Every Hour of Driving Shortens Life Expectancy by 20 Minutes (CP)
  • Times "Debate" Blog Asks the Experts: Is 37,000 Annual Traffic Deaths Too Many?

* Fatalities within the five boroughs. Information based on latest available reports.