Statement from Transportation Alternatives after Hit-and-Run Van Driver Strikes and Kills Pedestrian in the Bronx

39 people have been killed in the Bronx, 18% above average and higher than eight of the last 10 years.

This is the fourth pedestrian killed by a car in the Bronx this month, three of which were hit-and-runs.

THE BRONX, NY — Yesterday, a van driver hit and killed Alhadji Fofana, a 56-year-old man crossing the street in Longwood. After hitting the man, the driver attempted to set the van on fire before fleeing on foot. 

This crash comes only a few days after another hit-and-run driver struck and killed another pedestrian in the Bronx. 

Traffic violence has killed 15 pedestrians in the Bronx so far this year, more than were killed at this point in any of the past five years. Across the five boroughs, 88 pedestrians have been killed in traffic in 2024 – more than any year since 2016, and 28% more than were killed by this point last year. 

In the last five years, there have been 40 injuries at this intersection, including two pedestrians and nine bike riders. In 2022, also at this intersection, a driver hit and seriously injured an e-bike rider.

Statement from Elizabeth Adams, Interim Co-Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives:

“Amid turmoil at the highest levels of city government, New York City continues to fail New Yorkers on our city’s streets. Every New Yorker deserves to get home safely – and no one should die or become seriously injured just traveling around the city they call home. Both people killed by hit-and-run drivers in the Bronx this week should still be here.”

“We have the tools to keep New Yorkers safe – designing and building truly safe streets and safe intersections – but the city is falling dangerously behind. In a city of almost 50,000 intersections, our leaders are planning to elevate just 125 crosswalks. The Adams administration has built less than 10 of the required 50 miles of protected bike lanes this year, after missing legal deadlines every year he’s been in office. It’s time for City Hall to put people first on our streets – the status quo of inaction is killing us.”