Temporary Bridge Section Collapses Driver Surrenders Following Tragic
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Periodicals Paid at Bronx, N.Y. USPS 114-590 Volume 44 Number 8 October 2015 One Dollar TEMPORARY BRIDGE Driver Surrenders Following SECTION COLLAPSES Tragic Cyclist Accident By BARBARA DOLENSEK By KAREN NANI Photo by KAREN NANI A makeshift memorial of flowers and candles appeared just over the City Island Bridge after the hit-and-run death of a restaurant worker who was cycling home after work on Sept. 11, 2015. The driver allegedly responsible for workers of the victim as well as Island resi- the tragic death of a City Island restaurant dents riding their bikes. worker surrendered to Bronx prosecu- Police from the NYPD Highway Unit tors on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Michael began an intensive search for the driver. Moreno, 25, turned himself in at the Bronx According to the arrest report, officers re- Criminal Courthouse and was charged viewed video surveillance from Seafood with manslaughter in the second degree in City and observed a white late-model the death of Gabriella Aguilar-Vallinos on Hyundai Genesis leaving the parking lot Sept. 11. shortly before the collision was reported. The victim, aged 27, was a well-liked They reviewed records from the De- worker at Sammy’s Shrimp Box, which is partment of Motor Vehicles and found that on the corner of Horton Street and City Is- the vehicle was registered to Mr. Moreno Photos by JAMES BREEN land Avenue. According to police from the from Stormville, NY, in Dutchess County. 45th Precinct, she was riding her bicycle Detectives from the Collision Investigation Very early on Monday morning, Sept. the immediate future. Originally, the tempo- off the Island after work on Friday evening Squad showed a second witness a photo ar- 21, 2015, a section of the temporary bridge rary bridge was to have been completed by about 11:56 p.m. and had just crossed over ray, and the witness identified Mr. Moreno near the park side collapsed under the weight the end of 2014, but the opening date was the City Island Bridge. as the individual who had entered the ve- of trucks spreading asphalt on the roadway postponed several times during 2015, and As she was attempting to cross the road hicle minutes before the accident. (see photos above). Within hours, City Island DOT isn’t even speculating on a new date. from the south bike path to the north bike An arrest warrant was issued, and after residents began registering concerns about The fact that DOT has not yet deter- path, she was struck by a vehicle moving Mr. Moreno surrendered, he was charged the stability of the bridge, which will be the mined the cause of the failure and the lack of “at a high rate of speed.” The Bronx Dis- with manslaughter, leaving the scene of an only means of access to the island for at least information from the department have given trict Attorney’s office toldThe Current that accident and criminally negligent homi- two years as the existing bridge is demol- rise to numerous expressions of concern as a witness who was on the bridge at the same cide, according to the district attorney’s of- ished and the new bridge constructed. well as news coverage on CBS News and time observed a white car approach him fice. Mr. Moreno had no history of previous Although the Department of Transpor- Bronx 12. from the rear, then swerve out of the traffic arrests in New York. tation (DOT) has repeatedly been asked for For example, if one segment of the bridge lane, over a double yellow line, and into the The fatality has drawn further atten- an explanation for the failure of the bridge, collapsed under the weight of a truck, what fire lane, where he struck the woman with tion to reckless drivers on the bridge and the only official word has been: “The DOT will happen when construction vehicles and the passenger side of his car. to the reduced MTA bus service (see article is aware of structural damage to the tempo- loaded tractor trailers go over the bridge after Ms. Aguilar-Vallinos was knocked to in the September issue of The Current and rary City Island Bridge structure while work it opens, or when dozens of cars are packing the pavement and suffered head and neck Letters to the Editor in this issue). Accord- was being performed earlier this week. There the roadway? trauma. The driver fled the scene of the col- ing to someone who worked with the vic- have been no injuries. DOT staff and project Was this failure caused by an error in the lision to an unknown location, according to tim, “she didn’t normally ride her bike, but officials are reviewing the situation as addi- original design or was the contractor install- police. An EMS ambulance responded to she was trying to save money, and the bus tional supports are installed and repairs are ing the bridge at fault? Or perhaps the fault the scene and removed the victim to Jacobi didn’t run regularly that late when she got made. DOT will continue to work with proj- lies with the Brooklyn firm that produced Hospital. She was pronounced dead on ar- off work.” She didn’t want to pay for a taxi ect officials and monitor the situation.” the segments. Presumably these questions rival at 12:23 a.m. on Sept. 12. According to her home in the Soundview area of the This statement was not made public until are being examined as DOT investigates the to responding officers, the victim was not Bronx. it appeared on the bridge Facebook page on cause of the collapse. wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the Islander Bill Stuttig feels this tragedy Thursday, Sept. 24, four days after the col- Residents are already worried that the accident. might have been avoided. “Dozens of res- lapse and two days after the news media be- bridge is too narrow for three lanes of traffic, Police closed the bridge to traffic for at taurant workers need late night transpor- gan looking into the incident. No one at Com- especially because of the curves in the road- least two hours while they searched for the tation from the Island. But the MTA has munity Board 10 was contacted by DOT, nor way, and this recent event has only increased car and driver. failed to recognize this, and now a young was anyone on City Island informed about the sense of alarm. The roadway of the tem- The fatal hit-and-run accident was ex- woman is dead.” the bridge collapse except on Facebook. porary bridge is about a foot narrower than tensively covered by local media and sev- Mr. Moreno is being held on $250,000 As to the opening date for the temporary the existing bridge, and the curves create a eral news trucks could be seen in front of bail. The district Attorney’s office toldThe bridge, Roland Regos, DOT’s community li- potential traffic hazard, especially for large the Shrimp Box and by the bridge the next Current that he remains in custody and his aison, acknowledged that it would not be in Continued on page 7 morning. Reporters interviewed tearful co- next court date was scheduled for Sept. 25. Page Two The Island Current October 2015 BRIEFLY... NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty in HALLOWEEN POSTER PAINTING: On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 12 Pelham Shooting noon to 1 p.m., the new Community Pride group will sponsor a Halloween poster paint- By BARBARA DOLENSEK ing event for children ages 5 to 10 at Atlantic Emeritus Reality, 300 City Island Avenue. On Sept. 22, 2015, a New York City po- tack. His companion, Robert Borelli, who Materials will be supplied by the Chamber of Commerce; just bring your imagination for a lice officer pleaded guilty in the State Su- was not injured, drove him to the hospital spooky poster. All posters will be displayed on Halloween day along the Avenue. The rain preme Court in White Plains to attempted as Pelham police arrested Officer Cronin in date will be Oct. 25 from noon to 1. murder and other charges relating to an New Rochelle. In July, the two men sued incident that took place in Pelham, NY, on the New York Police Department and Com- NEIL SIMON’S “PLAZA SUITE” will be presented by the City Island April 28, 2014. The officer, Brendan Cronin, missioner Bratton for their failure to address Theater Group on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3, and a resident of Yonkers and a six-year veteran issues of drinking by police officers. the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. with the 46th Precinct, had been training at According to the Westchester district Rodman’s Neck. After training, he allegedly attorney’s office, the plea deal calls for the 15, at 3 p.m. For tickets call 718-885-3066 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also be purchased on line by visiting their website consumed at least 10 drinks at a bar on City officer to serve nine years in prison on two www.cityislandtheater- Island and then drove to Pelham, along with felony counts of attempted murder and two . During this production CITG will be accepting donations of full-size containers group.com a colleague, and shot 14 times at two men felony counts of first degree assault, as well of shampoo and conditioner for donation to My Sister’s Place, a shelter in Westchester from New Rochelle who were sitting in a car as one year on a misdemeanor DWI count.