DOT: Drivers Injured 1,305 Pedestrians and Cyclists in July, and Killed Six

Editors’ note: Beginning with July, we are basing our monthly fatality and injury data posts on DOT’s compilation of crash data instead of NYPD’s. DOT data gives a more complete picture of citywide injuries, though accounting of fatalities may be delayed in cases where the victim died days or weeks after the crash. Known discrepancies will be noted.

Eighteen people died in New York City traffic in July, and 4,911 were injured, according to DOT’s Vision Zero View crash data map.

As of the end of July, DOT reported 71 pedestrians and cyclists killed by city motorists this year, and 7,815 injured, compared to 82 deaths and 8,407 injuries for the same period in 2014.

Citywide, at least six pedestrians and three cyclists were fatally struck by drivers. Among the victims were Marcia Arthurs, Alberta Bagu, Alejandro Moran-Marin, Ka Chor Yau, Aron Aranbayev, Robert Kunz, Kevin Lopez, David Rodriguez, and an unnamed female pedestrian in Brooklyn. Motorists killed at least one senior in July: Ka Chor Yau, 83.

Two cyclists who were struck in July and died of their injuries in August are not included in DOT’s July data. Aronbayev, who police say was intentionally struck, also is not accounted for.

Across the city, 720 pedestrians and 585 cyclists were reported hurt in collisions with motor vehicles. Per NYPD policy, few of these crashes were investigated by trained officers.

Of nine fatal crashes on surface streets reported by Streetsblog and other outlets, one motorist was known to have been charged for causing a death. Charles Jordan was charged with murder in the crash that killed Aron Aranbayev.

Based on NYPD and media accounts, at least three victims were likely walking or cycling with the right of way when they were struck, but police and district attorneys are known to have applied the city’s Right of Way Law in none of those crashes.

Marcia Arthurs was on the sidewalk when she was hit. The man who killed Alejandro Moran-Marin injured several other people. The driver of a private sanitation truck ran over Alberta Bagu, who was using a walker, and left the scene. NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson filed no charges in any of those cases.

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.

In two cases, immediately after a pedestrian was killed, police exonerated the driver by telling the press the victim was not in a crosswalk.

Twelve motor vehicle occupants died in the city in July, according to DOT, and 3,606 were injured.