‘ZERO’ EFFECT
Weekend carnage shows Blaz plan doing little
NEW YORK saw only a slight decline in the number of pedestrians struck and killed this year compared with the same time period last year, despite the fanfare surrounding Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative, records show.
There have been at least 46 pedestrian deaths this year through Sunday, compared with 48 at the same time in 2014, which is only about a 4% decrease, data show.
The most recent tally comes after a bloody weekend that saw one man killed and numerous others injured in separate incidents only hours apart.
On Saturday, a man in his 50s died after being hit by a livery cab in Morrisania, the Bronx, police said.
The man, who was not immediately identified, stepped out between two cars onto E. 161st St. midblock when a cab heading east hit him near Concourse Village East about 9:30 p.m., authorities said.
Emergency responders rushed him to Lincoln Medical Center but he could not be saved, cops said.
About two hours later, another man was struck and injured as he crossed Cropsey Ave. outside the crosswalk on Bay 54th St. in Gravesend, Brooklyn, according to fire officials.
Another man was critically injured when a retired NYPD officer who was driving drunk hit him in the Bronx early Sunday, police sources said.
The 44-year-old former cop — who was not immediately identified — slammed his 1999 Toyota sedan into the 35-year-old man as he was turning off the Henry Hudson Parkway onto Broadway near W. 254th St. in North Riverdale shortly after 3 a.m., authorities said. The victim was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in grave condition, officials said.
The ex-cop was taken into custody for drunken driving, police said.
In Queens, two men, ages 20 and 26, were thrown from their car when it crashed on Rockaway Point Blvd. and Beach 210th St. in Breezy Point at 4:25 a.m., police said.
The younger man was taken to Brookdale University Hospital in critical condition, authorities said. The second victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was expected to survive.