First Week of May Proves Deadly on Bronx Roads
by David Greene
Four people were killed in separate crashes after the latest string of carnage on Bronx roadways– the youngest victim was just 3 years-old.
In the first incident cops in the 48th Precinct responded to a crash at East 180 Street and Southern Boulevard at 1108 p.m. on Monday, April 24. Officers reported a 48 year-old bicyclist was struck by a 2015 Chevrolet truck traveling eastbound on East 180 Street that turned onto Southern Boulevard.
Police investigate a crash along the Bruckner Expressway Service Road after a pedestrian was struck in the head with the vans mirror.–Photo by Edwin Soto
Police say the bicyclist was heading westbound on East 180 Street when struck. The victim was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital with severe trauma to the head and body. Officials say the victim, Juan Gomez, 46, a resident of East Tremont Avenue succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, April 27.
The unidentified driver remained on the scene and no arrests were reported however, the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate the cause of the crash.
At 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, officers from the 45th Precinct were called to the northbound Bruckner Expressway at the Country Club Road exit after a BMX motorcycle struck the back of a 1999 Nissan Altima and the driver was thrown into a guardrail.
Police shutdown the Bruckner Expressway after a motorcyclist was killed after returning from a memorial for another fallen biker.–Photo by Edwin Soto
Investigators say Sheldon “Shaq” Simpson, 35, of Mount Vernon, NY., suffered severe trauma to the body and was pronounced dead at the scene. Simpson was riding with a group of nearly two dozen motorcyclists from the Tru 31 Motorcycle Club, who were returning from memorial service for another fallen biker.
The unidentified 49 year-old driver of the Altima remained at the scene and was questioned by investigators and no charges were filed.
Hours later and a short distance away police from the 40th Precinct were called to another crash reported at 10:15 a.m. outside of 380 Bruckner Boulevard at East 143 Street. Police would say a 2010 Chevy Malibu swerved to avoid a pothole when it was struck by a private sanitation truck before striking a metal barrier.
Police investigate the crash as the body of Sheldon Simpson, 35, lays on the side of the road.–Photo by Edwin Soto
EMS transported 3 adults, a 52 year-old male, a 52 year-old female, a 27 year-old female and 3 year-old female to Lincoln Hospital. The three adults were expected to survive however, Sophia Aguirre, 3, of Brooklyn was declared dead upon her arrival to the hospital.
Police now believe the driver abruptly changed lanes to avoid a manhole cover on the recently milled roadway and no charges were filed against the unidentified driver, who was working for Avid Waste Systems, Inc., at the time of the crash.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently re-configured that section of the Bruckner Expressway adding a bike lane and new turning lanes and added confusion for many motorists. The DOT stated a repaving of the road was scheduled, but officials could not give an exact day.
Police were called to another crash at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, along the northbound service road of the Cross Bronx Expressway at Ellis Avenue in the Soundview section.
Authorities report the still-unidentified victim was struck in the head by the driver-side mirror of a van registered to L & S Transport in the West Farms section. The still-unidentified victim remains in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital and police continue to investigate.
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