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In Memoriam
Posted By Brad Aaron On December 26, 2012 @ 8:00 am In Carnage | 18 Comments
When the book is written on the fight for traffic justice in New York City, an entire chapter might well be devoted to 2012.
This was the year when Commissioner Ray Kelly’s NYPD revealed to the City Council that only a handful of officers are assigned to investigate serious traffic crashes. The public learned that, per department policy, the majority of crashes are handled by precinct cops who are trained and authorized to fill in boxes on a form, and nothing more, effectively denying the possibility of justice to thousands who suffer life-altering injuries at the hands of motorists each year. That this policy is in violation of state law [1] apparently mattered not at all to the police commissioner, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, or Albany.
In 2012, victims whose lives were ended by reckless drivers ranged in age from 2 to 92. Two small [2] boys [3] were fatally struck as their horrified and helpless parents looked on. A high school football player [4] with college prospects was run over by two drivers while riding his bike. A veteran UPS man [5] on his regular rounds was crushed to death on a sidewalk. A grandmother of 22 [6] who survived Auschwitz was killed by a driver in pursuit of a parking spot.
It was a landmark year for institutional failure. A spike in traffic fatalities [7] coincided with a marked drop in NYPD enforcement. Criminal cases against killer motorists were wrecked by police [8], prosecutors [9], judges [10], and juries [11]. Standing on a city street corner, the U.S. secretary of transportation wrongly blamed most pedestrians for their own deaths [12]. The National Guard contributed to the toll [13] wrought by Hurricane Sandy. NYC DOT admonished pedestrians to look out for careless drivers [14], yet made a mockery of that advice [15] by refusing to own up to a DOT driver’s alleged responsibility [16] for a fatal crash.
Because it must, the story continues. Some day the City Council will take up the proposed Crash Investigation Reform Act [17], which among other measures would form a task force charged with assessing NYPD crash investigation practices and recommending reforms. In the meantime, individual acts of vehicular violence have gained the attention [18] of council [19] members [20]. Though results have been mixed, the city press corps is finally acknowledging the dangers of unsafe streets [21] and virtually non-existent enforcement [22]. Attorneys are advancing the cause [23] of traffic justice [24] in civil courts. Everyday citizens press on for improvements that are known to make neighborhoods safer [25] to walk, bike and, yes, drive.
Here is our accounting of New York pedestrians and cyclists known to have lost their lives in traffic in 2012. In the comments, please share remembrances of those named here, and the names and stories of those we missed.
Article printed from Streetsblog New York City: http://www.streetsblog.org
URL to article: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/26/in-memoriam-4/
URLs in this post:
[1] violation of state law: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/02/15/nypds-lax-crash-investigations-may-violate-state-law/
[2] small: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/27/timothy-keith-killed-by-cab-driver-in-brooklyn-no-charges-filed/
[3] boys: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/12/kevin-rodriguez-3-killed-by-ambulette-driver-in-brooklyn-no-charges-filed/
[4] high school football player: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/07/16/two-dead-in-the-bronx-as-killer-drivers-continue-to-game-ny-legal-system/
[5] veteran UPS man: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/26/mike-rogalle-killed-by-curb-jumping-driver-in-manhattan-no-charges-filed/
[6] grandmother of 22: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mourners-remember-williamsburg-holocaust-survivor-run-man-parking-suv-article-1.1160852?localLinksEnabled=false
[7] spike in traffic fatalities: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/20/mayors-report-card-nyc-traffic-fatalities-up-23-in-2012/
[8] police: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/25/nypd-snafu-means-no-justice-for-bronx-cyclist-left-to-die-in-the-street/
[9] prosecutors: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/08/as-clara-heyworths-killer-walks-judge-questions-prosecutors-in-her-case/
[10] judges: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/30/judge-clears-unlicensed-driver-who-left-doored-cyclist-to-die-in-the-street/
[11] juries: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/20/driver-cleared-by-manhattan-jury-in-hit-and-run-death-of-marilyn-dershowitz/
[12] blamed most pedestrians for their own deaths: http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/09/27/lahood-incorrectly-blames-80-percent-of-pedestrians-for-their-own-deaths/
[13] contributed to the toll: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/14/accounts-of-fatal-national-guard-crash-dont-add-up/
[14] look out for careless drivers: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/19/lahood-sadik-khan-show-off-look-safety-education-campaign/
[15] made a mockery of that advice: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/01/city-launches-new-luck-traffic-safety-campaign/
[16] a DOT driver’s alleged responsibility: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/15/is-the-truck-driver-who-killed-roxana-sorina-buta-still-behind-the-wheel/
[17] Crash Investigation Reform Act: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/07/25/council-members-call-on-ray-kelly-to-reform-nypd-crash-investigations/
[18] attention: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/27/garodnick-wants-nypd-investigation-into-death-of-pedestrian-rubin-baum/
[19] council: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/28/margaret-chin-and-1000-citizens-ask-nypd-to-investigate-pedestrian-death/
[20] members: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/12/david-greenfield-monitoring-investigation-of-crash-that-killed-bystander/
[21] dangers of unsafe streets: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/28/ny-mag-fumbles-chance-to-hold-nypds-feet-to-the-fire-on-street-safety/
[22] non-existent enforcement: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/nyregion/reckless-drivers-who-hit-people-face-few-penalties-in-new-york.html
[23] advancing the cause: http://gothamist.com/2012/10/05/judge_slams_nypd_for_stonewalling_f.php
[24] traffic justice: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/02/14/driver-cleared-by-nypd-found-negligent-in-death-of-cyclist-rasha-shamoon/
[25] known to make neighborhoods safer: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/12/stuck-on-repeat-cb-7-committee-fails-to-move-forward-on-complete-streets/
[26] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/alavez-aldama-almardo-baum.jpg
[27] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/woman_killed_in_bronx_hit_and_run_RRCqm4uo9Vyjl60lXk7CeN
[28] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120122/harlem/roman-alavez-killed-by-suv-after-slipping-on-snow-east-harlem
[29] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/13/queens-da-richard-brown-probation-for-driver-charged-with-manslaughter/
[30] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/si_grandmom_dies_saving_boy_from_8bxkIqw76fBkW0VAlbpc6L
[31] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/01/three-pedestrians-and-one-cyclist-dead-in-weekend-of-vehicular-violence/
[32] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/klyn_man_killed_in_hit_run_nTkPhjlhBdv4WUxXyNsvuI
[33] Bay Ridge Journal: http://bayridgejournal.blogspot.com/2012/05/fatal-hit-and-run-at-72nd-and-7th.html
[34] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/19/ray-kelly-ignores-council-member-inquiry-into-death-of-rubin-baum/
[35] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/15/queens-pedestrian-maleka-begum-54-killed-by-bus-driver-making-a-turn/
[36] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/begum-blumstein-buta-connor.jpg
[37] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/01/02/five-killed-in-four-days-holiday-season-marked-by-pedestrian-deaths/
[38] Gothamist: http://gothamist.com/2012/06/14/truck_that_killed_cyclist_in_leffer.php
[39] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/04/william-boney-killed-in-brooklyn-driver-charged-with-manslaughter/
[40] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120925/ozone-park/man-struck-killed-by-car-on-cross-bay-boulevard
[41] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/09/cyclist-killed-by-cabbie-in-east-harlem-identified-as-shaquille-cochrane/
[42] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/driver-kills-cyclist-brooklyn-article-1.1172062
[43] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/brooklyn-man-picking-new-year-eve-party-supplies-killed-hit-and-run-driver-article-1.999546
[44] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cooke-delacruz-depas-dizeo.jpg
[45] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/18/memo-to-new-york-post-dooring-is-illegal-not-a-freak-accident/
[46] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/19/no-charges-filed-as-five-pedestrians-killed-in-city-traffic-in-six-days/
[47] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/10/nypd-no-criminality-when-suv-drivers-collide-plow-into-family/
[48] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/15/hit-and-run-crash-kills-one-pedestrian-injures-another-in-90th-precinct/
[49] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/23/70-year-old-man-crushed-killed-by-security-truck-in-financial-district/
[50] Advance: http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2012/01/staten_island_woman_struck_by.html
[51] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/06/dante-dominguez-latest-hit-and-run-victim-in-peter-koos-council-district/
[52] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/12/suying-du-killed-by-staten-island-motorist-nypd-no-criminality-suspected/
[53] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dworkin-elliott-ellis-fellegara.jpg
[54] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/29/trucker-who-killed-jessica-dworkin-cited-for-careless-driving/
[55] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/22/jermaine-elliot-killed-by-hit-and-run-truck-driver-in-the-bronx/
[56] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/20/court-document-details-aftermath-of-crash-that-killed-victor-felix/
[57] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/30/dan-fellegara-killed-by-cab-driver-in-manhattan-no-charges-filed/
[58] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/22/three-killed-in-traffic-in-three-days-as-city-council-dithers/
[59] Gothamist: http://gothamist.com/2012/01/01/cops_find_car_that_killed_crown_hei.php
[60] Bklyn Daily: http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2012/7/kc_hitandrunaward1_2012_02_17_bk.html
[61] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/garcia-hargobin-hutchinson-jean.jpg
[62] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/16/no-drivers-charged-for-deaths-and-injuries-in-weekend-of-carnage/
[63] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/15/pedestrian-ghana-gailey-killed-by-driver-in-fordham-on-wednesday/
[64] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/14/cyclist-mireya-gomez-killed-by-driver-in-queens-no-charges-filed/
[65] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120223/harlem/city-bus-kills-harlem-man-less-than-day-after-similar-accident-queens
[66] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120523/chelsea/brother-of-fatal-hit-and-run-victim-searches-for-killer
[67] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/21/thackoo-hargobin-killed-by-school-bus-driver-in-queens-no-charges-filed/
[68] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/17-year-old-boy-killed-bronx-hit-run-article-1.1090829
[69] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/dwi_slay_cabby_hit_guy_k5rkqR0q1CG5lv0eZT1ruI
[70] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/01/11/two-drivers-struck-and-killed-man-in-williamsburg-this-morning/
[71] Sunnyside Post: http://sunnysidepost.com/2012/07/23/drunk-driver-who-killed-cyclist-faces-2nd-degree-manslaughter-charges/
[72] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/07/06/christopher-hutchinson-killed-in-brooklyn-driver-charged-with-manslaughter/
[73] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/senior-struck-cars-killed-meet-sweetheart-brooklyn-article-1.1022869
[74] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/27/unlicensed-hit-and-run-killer-gets-six-months-for-death-of-brooklyn-child/
[75] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/jin-katz-kebe-keith.jpg
[76] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/bus_mows_down_gal_at_deadly_corner_hfySL87jjPy9u9Z01lqwxL
[77] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/18/no-charges-for-drivers-who-killed-seniors-in-manhattan-and-brooklyn/
[78] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/20/ebrahim-kebe-4-killed-by-driver-in-the-bronx-no-charges-filed/
[79] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/king-martinez-martinez-myers.jpg
[80] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/10/margaret-king-81-killed-by-staten-island-driver-making-a-left-turn/
[81] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/26/three-nyc-traffic-deaths-three-very-different-nypd-investigations/
[82] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/25/cyclist-38-killed-by-hit-and-run-driver-on-queens-boulevard/
[83] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120418/upper-east-side/cyclist-killed-by-truck-outside-metropolitan-museum-of-art
[84] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/blind_man_dead_in_van_horror_zWLBRkSF3gfooHj0ukVXjP
[85] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/24/charles-hynes-levies-manslaughter-charge-for-killing-of-margaret-myers/
[86] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/nelson-neverson-robinson-rodriguez.jpg
[87] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/19/james-neverson-killed-by-motorist-in-east-new-york-no-charges-filed/
[88] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/16/vacca-calls-for-thorough-nypd-inquiry-into-death-of-cyclist-david-oliveras/
[89] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/22/pietro-palumbo-killed-by-driver-in-manhattan-no-charges-filed/
[90] New York Shitty: http://www.newyorkshitty.com/greenpoint-goodness/88295
[91] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/05/motorist-who-killed-phyllis-pitt-most-likely-not-cited-for-careless-driving/
[92] Post Blotter: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_blotter/nypd_daily_blotter_rEfjQJy6SwaQFqCa8557yJ
[93] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/21/nypd-not-even-a-ticket-for-truck-driver-who-killed-les-pedestrian/
[94] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/23/tamon-robinson-of-brooklyn-chased-and-killed-by-nypd-officers-in-cruiser/
[95] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/killer_pastor_hit_run_excuse_SAVMwaa5mNVmGKc0cXDJ6J
[96] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rogalle-rosario-santana-serrano.jpg
[97] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/10/daniel-rosado-latest-victim-of-deadly-traffic-violence-in-71st-precinct/
[98] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/year_old_manhattan_man_killed_in_pJ2HpwRIieygGgcm85pMQI
[99] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/aftermath-pedestrian-deaths-city-aims-reduce-risk-adam-clayton-powell-jr-blvd-article-1.1096008
[100] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/13/canarsie-pedestrian-luis-ruiz-81-killed-near-site-of-fatal-2010-crash/
[101] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/bicyclist_struck_killed_near_aqueduct_ua8HmXA51ioUVXs6iSxpnM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Queens
[102] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/19/pedestrian-abraham-samet-killed-by-driver-in-borough-park-last-monday/
[103] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/promising_kid_killed_Bd8KnDRFsJYtIbJXLCv7iL
[104] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/08/alberto-serrano-killed-in-brooklyn-driver-charged-with-manslaughter/
[105] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/04/09/what-happens-to-a-crash-victim-after-police-and-the-press-move-on/
[106] Image: http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/singh-thorne-tillman-veloz-zingatan.jpg
[107] Times Ledger: http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2012/20/richhillhitandrun_fh_2012_05_17_q.html
[108] Villager: http://www.thevillager.com/?p=7873
[109] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/09/streetsblog-files-tlc-complaint-over-reported-west-village-fatality/
[110] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120825/longwood/man-struck-killed-by-allegedly-drunk-driver-south-bronx
[111] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/29/jusheem-thornes-hit-and-run-killers-have-little-to-fear/
[112] Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/staten_island/si_nursing_student_killed_in_hit_wbSmTUupnkHT5cbwWyGwhN
[113] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/04/maria-tripp-killed-by-driver-on-atlantic-avenue-no-charges-filed/
[114] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/man-struck-killed-city-bus-crosses-e-23rd-st-manhattan-article-1.1049542
[115] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/woman-motorized-scooter-struck-amp-killed-brooklyn-article-1.1071150
[116] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/19/jason-williams-killed-by-hit-and-run-driver-in-east-flatbush/
[117] NY1: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/153107/police-seek-separate-hit-and-run-drivers-in-bronx--brooklyn
[118] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120213/east-new-york-brownsville/churchgoing-woman-killed-crossing-fulton-crescent-streets
[119] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120301/fresh-meadows-jamaica-estates/man-struck-killed-by-car-on-union-turnpike-fresh-meadows
[120] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120309/flushing-whitestone/hit-and-run-driver-kills-man-queens
[121] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/20/bronx-toddler-apparently-one-of-many-unreported-nyc-pedestrian-deaths/
[122] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/04/livery-cab-driver-kills-cyclist-at-lie-overpass-no-charges-filed/
[123] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/25/brooklyn-driver-kills-75-year-old-pedestrian-no-charges-filed/
[124] Gothamist: http://gothamist.com/2012/05/04/pedestrian_killed_by_private_sanita.php
[125] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/08/75-year-old-man-on-crutches-wearing-reflective-vest-killed-in-manhattan/
[126] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/05/31/pedestrian-killed-in-crown-heights-on-monday-no-charges-filed/
[127] News: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bicyclists-killed-separate-hit-and-run-incidents-brooklyn-queens-article-1.1117537
[128] Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/03/another-cyclist-reported-killed-in-90th-precinct-no-criminality-suspected/
[129] DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121026/sunset-park/man-injured-accident-on-fourth-avenue
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