Allerton, NY (October 9, 2026) – Angel Johnson, 39, and Robin Kennedy, 57, were killed and two other women were seriously injured after a driver struck all four pedestrians in crosswalks on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, according to the NYPD. Police said both women who died lived within blocks of the crash.
Police said the 81-year-old driver was traveling westbound in a white Mercedes-Benz when he struck a 39-year-old woman in a crosswalk near Holland Avenue shortly before 2:15 p.m. on October 9. Investigators said the driver then continued through a steady red light and struck three more women in a second crosswalk.
When officers arrived, three of the four pedestrians were unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to their heads and bodies, according to the NYPD. All four were transported to Jacobi Hospital, where Johnson and Kennedy were pronounced dead. An 84-year-old woman remained in critical condition, and a 60-year-old woman was listed in stable condition.
Police said the driver then continued on and struck multiple vehicles, causing a chain-reaction crash that injured additional people. A total of nine people were transported to Jacobi Hospital. Authorities said the driver appeared to suffer a medical episode before the crash. The vehicle occupants in all six vehicles were transported to Jacobi Hospital in stable condition, according to the NYPD.
All persons in the six vehicles involved remained at the scene. The NYPD has not publicly identified the driver. The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to investigate. No arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Your Rights After a Pedestrian Crash in the Bronx
In Fiscal Year 2025, the NYPD issued 39,182 failure-to-yield-to-pedestrian summonses citywide as part of its Vision Zero enforcement program, according to the NYC Vision Zero FY25 Annual Report.
- First steps: Families of the two women who died should request the crash report from the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad and ask that the vehicles not be released before an attorney can inspect them. Obtain certified copies of each death certificate and document all funeral and medical expenses. Anyone else injured in this crash should seek a medical evaluation the same day, since head trauma and internal injuries often surface hours or days after impact.
- Who may be liable: The 81-year-old driver faces potential liability for running a red light and striking pedestrians in marked crosswalks. If a prior medical condition played a role in the crash, an attorney will examine whether the driver knew of the condition, whether he had been advised to limit driving, and whether that restriction was disclosed to his insurer. The injured survivors and the families of Johnson and Kennedy may have claims against his automobile liability policy.
- If fault is shared: Under New York’s 2026 motor vehicle comparative fault reform (CPLR § 1411(b), effective May 26, 2026), recovery in a motor vehicle case is barred only when the claimant’s fault equals or exceeds the combined fault of the defendants. Pedestrians struck in marked crosswalks are rarely found to share fault.
- No-fault insurance: New York requires written notice to your own auto insurer within 30 days of the accident. No-fault covers medical bills and lost wages for injured parties regardless of fault. A separate bodily injury liability claim against the driver’s policy is available for pain and suffering and for losses beyond the no-fault limit.
- Filing deadlines: New York sets a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from the crash date (CPLR § 214), placing that deadline at October 9, 2029. Wrongful death claims for the families of Johnson and Kennedy must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (EPTL § 5-4.1), placing that deadline at October 9, 2028. A survival action covering each victim’s pain and suffering before death runs alongside the wrongful death claim.
Contact Our Bronx Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Frekhtman & Associates Injury and Accident Attorneys has handled pedestrian accident cases across the Bronx and New York City for more than 25 years. Founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman holds an Avvo 9.8 Superb rating and has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Our Bronx pedestrian accident lawyers take charge of the investigation, the insurer contacts, and the full claim from day one.
We gather the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad records while they are still being assembled, identify every available insurance policy, and take the case to trial when an offer does not reflect the full loss.
What Bronx families count on from Frekhtman & Associates after a fatal pedestrian crash:
- $900M+ recovered for injured New York clients across more than 25 years of practice
- $69,225,000 auto accident jury verdict, one of the largest in New York State history
- Free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits for clients unable to travel
- Personal callbacks from founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman
- Russian-language services available
- Zero fees unless we win your case
- Bronx office at 20 E 205th St, serving families across the borough
- $2,000,000 wrongful death result
Our Bronx office is at 20 E 205th St. Call 866-821-0718, stop by, or reach us through our contact form.
