"Streetsblog analyzed each of the 10 fatal crashes in January 2025 in which a pedestrian was killed and the driver identified by police (the month was chosen because enough time had passed for police to complete the investigations and refer the cases to prosecutors): None of the drivers faced a serious charge of vehicular homicide or criminally negligent homicide. Nor did any driver have to worry about losing his or her freedom for the crime of killing someone."
"Consider the Thoral case. On Jan. 31, freight trucker Fritz Dupresil was driving recklessly on Hillside Avenue in Queens Village when he killed Thoral, according to cops and court documents. Yet he is only facing a top count of failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian causing an injury, which carries a maximum fine of $250. Prosecutors do have the option of seeking 30 days in jail, too, but that count is virtually never added."
Ten fatal pedestrian crashes in January 2025 with identified drivers were examined. None of the drivers faced vehicular homicide or criminally negligent homicide charges, and no driver faced the prospect of imprisonment for causing a death. Seven drivers were charged; six received failure-to-yield counts and one received failure-to-yield plus driving without a license. Three drivers were not charged, with police citing alleged pedestrian violations in part. Fines highlighted in two cases were $50 and $250. Prosecutors seldom pursue jail time on these counts, resulting in minimal accountability and weak deterrence.
Read at Streetsblog
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