1,297 Pedestrians and Cyclists Injured, 20 Killed in Traffic in January

Image: NYPD

Twenty-eight people were killed in New York City traffic in January, and 3,993 were injured, according to the latest NYPD crash data report [PDF]. More pedestrians and cyclists were killed in January than in any single month in 2012, when the highest monthly death toll was 17.

Citywide, at least 20 pedestrians were fatally struck by drivers: five in Manhattan; three in the Bronx; six in Brooklyn; and six in Queens. Among the victims were Judge “Sonny” Ali, Puran Thapa, Thomas Berry, Mir Hoosain, Sara Kishik, Lorraine Ferguson, Richard Griffin, Gerald Green, Kenneth Cole, and Ella Bandes. Also killed were three unidentified male pedestrians: one each in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.

A fatal collision between the driver of a private dump truck and an unidentified female cyclist, on Madison Avenue and E. 23rd Street in Manhattan, is not accounted for in the January NYPD report.

Of 14 fatal crashes reported by Streetsblog and other outlets, no motorists were known to have been charged for causing a death. 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.

At least three seniors and two children were killed by motorists in January: Judge “Sonny” Ali, 72, in the Bronx; Thomas Berry, 66, in Manhattan; Richard Griffin, 85, in Manhattan; an unidentified man, age 82, in Queens; Puran Thapa, 7, in Queens; and Sara Kishik, 15, in Brooklyn.

Fatal crashes occurred in City Council districts represented by David Greenfield, Robert Jackson, Andy King, Jessica Lappin, Joel Rivera, Mark Weprin, and Council Speaker Christine Quinn. One cyclist and one pedestrian were killed by motorists in Rosie Mendez’s district; two pedestrians were killed in Diana Reyna’s district; and three pedestrians died in traffic in Charles Barron’s council district.

Across the city, 1,107 pedestrians and 190 cyclists were reported hurt in collisions with motor vehicles. Per NYPD policy, few if any of these crashes were investigated by trained officers.

Six motorists and two passengers died in the city in January; 1,336 and 1,360 were injured, respectively.

There were 15,599 motor vehicle crashes in the city in January.

NYPD issued 6,356 speeding tickets in January, 1,198 citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian, and 9,004 tickets for tinted windows. Download January NYPD summons data here.

Below are contributing factors for crashes resulting in injury and death.