Two pedestrians were killed after a car collided in the Inwood neighborhood of northern Manhattan early Wednesday morning, just two days after New York City announced that speed cameras would operate around the clock. to prevent traffic deaths.
Joel Adames, 31, of Manhattan, and David Fernandez, 40, of the Bronx, were killed after a BMW sedan traveling north on Sherman Avenue crashed into a Subaru moving south, police said. know. The Subaru collided with two parked cars and hit two men.
Mr. Adames was taken to Allen Pavilion hospital and Mr. Fernandez (the initial age given by police was 32) was taken to Harlem hospital. The drivers of the two vehicles remained at the scene, police said. They did not identify the drivers or say whether they had been charged in the deaths.
A memorial with white, yellow, red, green and pink candles was erected at the intersection late Wednesday morning.
The scene north of Manhattan has been repeated across New York City for decades as officials grapple with how to minimize traffic deaths and injuries. The intersection of West 207th Street and Sherman Avenue has been a particularly dangerous example of a deadly problem.
Over the past five years, 36 people have been injured there, including 12 pedestrians and two cyclists, according to a statement from Transport Alternatives, a pedestrian and bicycle advocacy group. In 2021, a 22-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Sherman Avenue, three blocks from the Dyckman Street intersection, and a 68-year-old pedestrian was killed in 2017 two blocks away, a spokesman said. of Alternative Transportation Company said.
Mario Rodriguez, a music producer who lives in the neighborhood, says that fast and noisy cars frequently appear along the four-lane Sherman Avenue. During his year living in the area, Mr. Rodriguez, 25, said he witnessed two car crashes.
“There’s a long straight line, and a lot of people drive fast, they use it to show off their cars, make donuts,” he said. “Even if you can’t see it, you can hear it.”
The Mayoral government has struggled with reducing traffic deaths across the city for years. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will tame them when he takes office. But you still struggling to deliver at the end of his term last year.
In 2013, 184 pedestrians were killed on city streets, a number dropped to 94 in 2020based on data from Vision Zero, The city’s traffic death initiative. However, that trend reversed last year, when traffic deaths surged to the highest level in nearly a decadewith 125 pedestrians killed.
As of August 1 of this year, 60 pedestrians have been killed across New York City, according to city data. By comparison, 70 people have died by this time in 2021.
Vision Zero, started under Mr. de Blasio’s leadership in 2014, aims to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries in New York City. According to City. Through a network of agents and programs, like automatic speed cameras, Vision Zero has been working to reduce deaths on the city’s streets.
While the city’s initiatives have been successful, with traffic deaths hitting the lowest number in recent history in 2018, last year’s increase has put pressure on leaders.
Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Transportation announced that speed cameras will operate around the clock. starting on Monday, after a new state law was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul allowing them to operate at all hours of the day. Previously, the city’s 2,000 automated cameras were only allowed to operate on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Speed cameras operate in 750 school zones of the city. It is unclear whether such a camera would operate near the intersection where the two men were killed; Officials did not respond Wednesday night to a question on the matter.
“Speed cameras work: They save lives, slow speeds, and help protect New Yorkers across the city,” Adams said in a news release two days before the new cameras were turned on full-time. time. “And we’re expanding this proven program to make sure New Yorkers have that protection at any time of day.”
Mr. Adams promised to invest $900 million over 5 years in city’s safe street program in April, will include money for infrastructure upgrades to protect bike lanes and pedestrian zones.
While expanding the speed camera program is a “win for street safety,” a layered approach is needed, said Danny Harris, director of Alternative Transportation for know.
“To achieve Vision Zero, we needed the Adams administration to redesign our streets for safety, and Albany allowed us to extend additional automated enforcement tools,” Harris said. “Currently, state law only allows red light cameras to be placed at 1 percent of signaled intersections in all five counties.”
Back in Inwood on Wednesday, Rafael Anthony was sweating while he helped light candles at the memorial. Anthony, 24, said he was hanging out with friends in the neighborhood early Wednesday when he suddenly heard noises at the intersection.
“I ran over here, I noticed all the people on the floor,” he said.
Mr. Anthony said he recognized one of the people killed in the collision as a friend.
Anthony, who grew up in Inwood, said speeding cars in the area have increased dramatically in recent years, echoing his neighbors.
“This is just speed with no purpose,” said Everson Sanchez, 42, a taxi driver who also owns a muscle car. “Accelerating.”
