After Crash Kills 73-Year-Old Man in Wheelchair in Far Rockaway, Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets Urge Action and Investment to End Traffic Violence
Last Year, Council District 31 in Far Rockaway Had Highest Number of People Killed In Traffic Crashes Out of All 51 Council Districts
Crash occurred just three blocks from a non-operational speed safety camera, required by state restriction to be off on weekends
Action needed to save lives, including targeted Vision Zero investments in high-crash, under-resourced neighborhoods and Albany passage of Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act
NEW YORK — Over the weekend, an unlicensed driver of a box truck struck and killed a 73-year-old man in a wheelchair in Far Rockaway, Queens. This crash occurred less than a quarter-mile away from another crash that killed 10-year-old Davina Afokoba last month.
So far in 2022, at least 57 people have been killed in traffic crashes, a 50 percent increase compared to this point in 2021. Of those, at least 13 victims were 65 or older, and more than half of these older victims were killed in Queens. In the past two weeks alone, four pedestrians above the age of 70 have been killed on our streets, including two killed in Queens and two by large trucks. Despite high pedestrian fatality counts, there are only six Leading Pedestrian Intervals — which make crossings safer for pedestrians — in the Rockaways.
Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:
“Traffic violence has claimed the life of another New Yorker in Far Rockaway, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family of the 73-year-old victim killed over the weekend while crossing the street in his wheelchair.”
“This crash occurred just blocks from where 10-year Davina Afokoba was killed, and the month after 99-year-old Holocaust survivor Jack Milkulincer was killed in Brooklyn while also crossing the street using an electric wheelchair. We refuse to live in a city where residents using wheelchairs or who live in Far Rockaway are more at risk of being killed in crashes.”
“The fact remains that most traffic crashes occur in areas that have received the fewest Vision Zero investments. The next budget must address this inequality by expanding proven tools that save lives, with investments targeted in high-crash areas. The next budget must fully fund the NYC Streets Plan with $170 million in the first year, to ensure that life-saving infrastructure like safer intersections and protected bike lanes are brought to neighborhoods across the five boroughs.”
“We also continue to call on Albany to give New York City home rule over street safety to strengthen the life saving red-light and speed safety camera programs. Given that this 73-year-old victim was dragged down the block before the truck stopped fully, it is highly likely the driver was speeding as he passed the speed safety camera just three blocks away. But this speed safety camera was turned off because Albany restricts their use on weekends. An operational speed safety camera could have encouraged the driver to slow down. Instead, another New Yorker is dead. This is unconscionable.”
“Urgent action and overdue investment by all levels of government are needed now to save lives on our streets.”
Statement from Families for Safe Streets Member Liza Martinez, Daughter of Ada Martinez, killed on September 27, 2019 while riding her bike in the Rockaways:
“Our hearts ache for the family of the 73-year-old victim of this senseless act of traffic violence and for the entire Rockaway community mourning this loss and who must fear for their lives each day while crossing the street. I know this pain all too well, as my own beautiful mother was killed in front of my father, while cycling just ten blocks from their home in the Rockaways.”
“The depth of heartbreak and devastation for individual families and for communities at large is unspeakable, especially when we have known solutions to curb this deadly epidemic of traffic violence. Nothing will ever bring back our loved ones. But city leaders can take concrete action to prevent any more bloodshed on our streets. City leaders must make streets more safe, accessible, and equitable citywide by funding the NYC Streets Plan. In Albany, we need state legislators to pass the entire Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, which includes Sammy’s Law for safer, lower speed limits on New York City Streets. And our leaders must also take steps to strengthen our city’s school zone speed safety camera program.”
“No one else should have to live through the nightmare of losing a loved one this way. We know what works to curb reckless driving and build safe streets. It’s up to our leaders to take the necessary steps to save lives.”
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