Bronx Incident Spurs Renewed Concern
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a man tragically lost his life attempting to cross the Major Deegan Expressway in the South Bronx. The pedestrian was struck by a livery cab operated by an off-duty driver, police officials confirmed. The cab driver, a 65-year-old who remained at the scene, was not immediately charged.
The man was struck while traversing the southbound lanes of the expressway near Tremont Ave. Found deceased at the scene, authorities are currently working on identifying the victim. Initial investigations are also underway to understand why the man was attempting to cross this particularly hazardous highway.
String of Fatalities Draw Attention
These unfortunate circumstances echo a disturbing pattern of recent pedestrian fatalities on New York’s main arteries. Authorities are closely scrutinizing an increased number of fatal collisions involving people on foot across major city highways and expressways.
Only last week, a similar incident occurred on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. A marked NYPD squad car, responding to an emergency call with activated lights and sirens, struck and killed a 23-year-old man crossing near Liberty Ave.
The Bronx has witnessed multiple fatal incidents of this nature in the recent past. Over the last two months of the previous year, two individuals were fatally struck while crossing Bronx highways and service roads.
Worrying Trends and Figures
Statistical data paints a grim picture of the situation. Between 2021 and 2022, 16 deaths were reported due to highway, parkway, or expressway crossings on foot. This alarming figure does not include more recent fatalities, as that data isn’t readily available at the moment.
Joint City Efforts to Curb Fatalities
The New York Police Department (NYPD) and the city Department of Transportation have initiated cooperative efforts to tackle these deadly incidents, which they believe are linked to a combination of homelessness, alcohol usage, and mental health issues.
According to former NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Royster, a collective approach involving multi-sectoral stakeholders has been adopted. “We brought in the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Homeless Services, and EMS to highlight this critical issue and seek their insights on possible preventive measures,” said Royster during a forum last year.
The authorities’ deep concern about these alarming statistics underscores the urgency to find preventative solutions. As investigations continue, the safety measures required for vulnerable pedestrians on busy expressways and highways remain a vital issue of concern in New York City.