Authorities said a preliminary investigation showed the Baldor Express Transportation lorry was heading north on 61st East Road at about 9:20 a.m. when a 32-year-old male passenger entered the truck.
The 66-year-old truck driver then suddenly steered forward.
The vehicle rammed onto the sidewalk, hit a fire hydrant, hit a cyclist on the roadway, and then hit a pedestrian standing on the sidewalk, later identified by police as 37-year-old Taurino Rosedo Morales. and 46-year-old Delfino Eduardo Maceda. , corresponding.
The 66-year-old truck driver stopped at the scene, telling detectives that the gas pedal was stuck when he turned in.
He was brought to the constituency for an interview, but so far, no charges have been brought.
The victims were taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where they both died.
The 32-year-old truck driver was taken to New York Presbyterian with minor injuries.
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Morales was a bicycle delivery man, and other delivery people had gathered at the scene.
The crash also sent shockwaves through the entire New York City cycling community.
“Drivers are riding recklessly even more than before,” said cyclist Tracey Hinder. “It’s really scary being a cyclist in the city. It’s become more and more terrifying over the past year.”
Hinder doesn’t ride on social media.
“There have been many times where I have almost been run over by angry drivers or pulled over,” she said. “And a lot of times I’m also invisible to the drivers.”
The crash is still being investigated, but Eyewitness News cameras captured a truck pulling and blocking the same bike lane the delivery cyclist was riding in before he was hit by the vehicle. Baldor truck hit and killed.
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“I hope the next mayor, Mayor Adams, can really do something about this and make the city safer for cyclists and pedestrians,” Hinder said.
A search of the truck’s violation history revealed it was based in the Bronx and had 270 violations in the past two years. Almost all are parking violations, including parking in pedestrian and bicycle lanes.
According to Alternative Transport, at least 265 people have been killed, including at least 14 delivery workers, in traffic accidents so far in 2021, the most in the past eight years.
“We are heartbroken and outraged by the traffic violence that has claimed the lives of two more New Yorkers this holiday season,” said CEO Danny Harris. “On behalf of Alternative Transportation, we offer our condolences to the families of those killed today on the Upper East Side and Los Deliveristas Unidos, who have lost another essential member of our community. As a result of traffic violence, just like another group of families, permanently destroyed by these preventable crashes, we need our leaders to fast-track the safety measures in place. proven, especially on the dangerous corridors and known as 3rd Avenue. This includes redesigning the streets to be safe, implementing NYC 25×25 and reducing their reliance on them. I get into oversized, deadly trucks that have no place on dense city roads…. We have the tools to end deadly traffic violence.We can’t let another 8 years go by. pass without taking all the steps necessary to achieve Vision Zero.”
3rd Avenue was closed between 61st Street and 62nd Street East for investigation work but has since reopened.
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