Cab Strikes And Kills One In East Harlem

Just before 1 p.m., a woman was killed on an East Harlem corner after a taxi driver struck a box truck, which careened onto the sidewalk. The East Harlem cabbie ran a red light, according to reports.

At 12:51 p.m., a taxi driver traveling westbound on East 102nd Street crashed into a box truck traveling southbound on Park Avenue, sending the truck into the southwest corner of the intersection, where it struck Olga Rivera, 65, who was standing on the sidewalk. She was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

As many as four other people were taken to Mount Sinai and Weill Cornell Medical Center, including the driver of the taxi and his two passengers. FDNY says three were in critical condition, and one was classified as serious. NYPD said the agency does not believe any of the injuries are life-threatening. According to WCBS and WPIX, police are looking into whether the cabbie ran a red light, but NYPD would only say that CIS is investigating and no charges have been filed.

“This corridor along the Park Avenue viaduct is a critical area of concern in my district for pedestrian safety,” Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito said in a statement, adding that she will soon be following up with DOT on pedestrian safety changes she suggested for Park Avenue earlier this year.

The crash occurred in the 23rd Precinct, which issued only 39 speeding tickets so far this year through the end of September. The precinct issued 35 tickets for red-light running in September, and a total of 277 this year as of October 1 [PDF]. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Captain Eric Pagan, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 23rd Precinct council meetings happen at 6:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the 23rd Precinct, 164 East 102nd Street. Call 212-860-6411 for information.

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