Auto Accidents

Published on: August 26, 2014

The National Safety Council estimates that 400 people will die and 42,300 will suffer personal injury in a car accident during Labor Day week-end

Based on previous statistics of car crashes, The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that car accidents will kill 400 people and injure 42,300 this Labor Day week-end in the US. Here are a few safety tips to make your ride safer this week-end:

Buckle up. The NSC estimates that out of the 400 fatalities estimated for this long week-end, 144 could be avoided by buckling up
Do not use your cell phone while driving
Set up your GPS, radio or any info in-vehicle infotainment systems before you start driving your car
Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination so you don’t get frustrated while you are driving
If you are planning to drink make sure there is a non drinking designated driver or simply avoid taking your car and plan for a taxi
Be cautious and drive defensively especially if the weather is bad.

Read more here

Published on: August 25, 2014

Speed suspected to to be at the origin of a car accident on a Long Island Highway during which 5 members of a family died

By GGCRBHS&M

A woman driving back from a family gathering with her 3 children and her mother lost control of her car killing herself and all the other car passengers on the Southern State Parkway toward Brooklyn Saturday night around 11:00 pm. The car veered off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames killing all occupants of the vehicle. The police are investigating the cause of the accident.

5 people injured including a newborn baby and a pedestrian in an accident during which a drunk driver crashed into another car in Harlem, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

Daniel Rodriguez was drunk when he crashed his van into another car occupied by a 9 day old baby girl, her dad and a friend. The impact was so strong that the car jumped the curb injuring a pedestrian. After the crash the car started to smoke. A 60 year old man who witnessed the accident was able to run to the car, remove the baby from her seat and take her to safety. The driver of the van, the pedestrian and the passengers of the car including the newborn suffered personal injury and were taken to the hospital to be treated. The accident happened Friday night at 7:30 pm at the corner of 145th Street and Powell Blvd in Harlem, New York.Read more in the New York Daily News.

Published on: August 25, 2014

Speeding motorcyclist dies after crashing into a car on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A 24 year old biker was killed in a motorcycle accident in New York City. According to witnesses the man was driving his bike at a reckless speed when he hit the back of a van on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. The motorcyclist suffered severe personal injury and was pronounced dead upon his arrival to the hospital. The occupants of the van, a couple and a seven year old child, only suffered minor injuries.
Read more in the NY Daily News

Published on: August 18, 2014

Young man killed in Hit and Run Accident in Queens, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

Early this morning 32 year old Karoll Grzegorczyk was trying to cross a street in Queens, NYC, when he was hit by a dark color Sedan. The driver sped away leaving the man dying on the road. The police are still looking for the driver.

Source: DNAInfo

Published on: August 18, 2014

32 year old woman dies in Brooklyn car accident involving two drunk drivers

By GGCRBHS&M

A young woman was killed in a car accident between two drunk drivers on Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NYC Sunday around 4:00 am. Michelle Migmot was sitting in the back seat of a car driven by 32 year old Herbert Gerrard and another 32 year old woman who suffered minor injuries was sitting in the front passenger seat. As they were turning left onto Troye Ave another car driven by 32 year old Richard Roman Santos crashed into them. Both drivers were arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving. Additionally Gerrard was charged with driving with a suspended license. Michelle Migmot lived two streets away from the location of the crash. Read more in the New York Daily News.

Eastern Parkway is a dangerous corridor where many car crashes happened previously. It was recently turned into a “Slow Zone” and the authorized speed was reduced to 25 mph as part of the Zero Vision Initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and personal injuries in New York City.

NYC%20Crashmapper%20Eastern%20Parkway.jpg
Picture source: NYC Crashmapper Car crashes statistics between August 2011 and February 2014

Published on: August 14, 2014

Following two recent pedestrian fatalities, CB7 Transportation committee approves the NYC DOT proposal to improve pedestrian safety on West End Ave

By GGCRBHS&M

61 year old Jean Chambers died on July 10th after being struck by a driver making a left turn at the intersection of of West 95th Street and West End (see previous blog). Earlier this year 9 year old Cooper Stock was crossing the street in the crosswalk and holding his dad’s hand when a taxi turning from 97th Street onto West End Ave struck them. His dad only sustained minor injuries but the young boy died (see previous blog). 96 pedestrians, 41 cyclists and 160 motor vehicles occupants have been injured in traffic accidents on West End between W 75th Street and W 106th Street from 2008 to 2012. West End Ave is dangerous because it is a large 4 lane avenue located in a residential area with schools and seniors center that handles a lot of traffic entering and exiting the Henry Hudson Parkway between 95th and 97th street.

To calm traffic and make it safer for the residents, the Community Board 7 Transportation Committee accepted this week a Road Diet proposal form the NYC Department of Transportation. The proposal includes the reduction of the number of lanes from 4 to two with turn bays, flush median and several pedestrian islands but no bike lanes. The proposal also bans two left turns where traffic exit and enter the Henry Hudson Parkway:Northbound left at W 97th St and Southbound left at W 95th St. The next step is to get the endorsement of the CDB7 full board meeting on September 2nd.

Download the complete DOT Proposal

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Published on: August 13, 2014

A young pedestrian sustained critical injuries after being struck by a van yesterday night in the West Village in New York

By GGCRBHS&M

A woman in her 20s was hospitalized in critical condition after she was hit by a van last night around 3:00 am. According to the New York Daily News, the woman was running across 10th Street under a pouring rain when a van driving northbound on Hudson St. hit her. The driver stayed at the scene and he wasn’t charged. He told the police he never saw the woman.

Published on: August 11, 2014

Surveillance video shows car crashing into a Queens beauty salon at high speed

By GGCRBHS&M

A car driver miraculously suffered only minor injuries after he crashed his car into a Queens beauty salon last week on Thursday night. According to the NY Daily News the car driver was about to leave the gas station across the street when he mixed up the gas pedal with the brake pedal. The video shows a car flying across the street and crashing at high speed into the store.

Source: NY Daily News

Published on: August 11, 2014

4 people suffered personal injury after a driver ran a red light and crashed into another car in Queens, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A car accident near the Long Island Expressway in Maspeth, Queens, NYC, left 4 men injured on Sunday morning. Three men in their 20ies were riding in a Nissan Sedan when the driver ran a red light and crashed into a Mercedes Benz. The driver of the Mercedes Benz was critically injured while the three young men suffered serious personal injury. The police found marijuana and heroin in the Nissan. The three men are expected to be charged after their release from the hospital.