Wakefield, NY (July 1, 2026) – An elderly woman was fatally struck by a motorcyclist on White Plains Road near East 225 Street in the Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx, according to city officials. The driver fled the scene without stopping.
City officials confirmed the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. on July 1, 2026. A 31-year-old man was operating a motorcycle when he struck the victim. Paramedics responded and transported the woman to a nearby hospital for treatment.
She was later pronounced dead. The motorcyclist did not remain at the scene. A full investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Losing someone to a driver who chose not to stop puts families in a painful position: grieving while also waiting for the most basic answer of who is responsible.
Fatal Hit-and-Run in the Bronx, New York
Hit-and-run fatalities present a specific legal challenge. The at-fault driver may not be identified for days, and the physical evidence that helps locate them โ intersection camera recordings, witness accounts, surveillance footage from nearby storefronts โ can disappear within 24 to 72 hours. Acting early matters, regardless of where the criminal investigation stands.
- Contact a wrongful death attorney right away. A lawyer can move to preserve footage from White Plains Road cameras and surrounding businesses before recordings are overwritten, and can coordinate with investigators while evidence remains available.
- Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. Even when the driver has fled, the victim’s own insurer may send an adjuster quickly. Statements made in the days after a fatal crash can be used to reduce what a family ultimately recovers.
- Even when the at-fault driver has not been found, a claim may be available under uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. New York law requires most motor vehicle policies to carry UM coverage, which can apply in hit-and-run fatalities when the responsible driver is unknown. An attorney can identify all available policies and open a claim on the family’s behalf.
- Do not sign any release or accept any early settlement before consulting with a lawyer. Initial offers from insurers rarely reflect the full value of a wrongful death claim.
New York’s wrongful death statute allows the victim’s estate to pursue compensation for the family’s loss of financial support, loss of guidance and companionship, and funeral and burial expenses. New York follows a pure comparative fault standard, meaning the family may still recover even if the investigation raises any contributing circumstances.
A wrongful death claim arising from this crash must be filed within two years of the date of death under New York law (EPTL ยง 5-4.1). This crash occurred on July 1, 2026, placing the filing deadline at July 1, 2028. That window can feel distant from where a family stands today. But evidence preservation begins the moment an investigation opens, not months later.
Contact Our Bronx Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
Losing a family member to a driver who did not stop is one of the most painful situations a family can face. The grief is compounded by the absence of immediate accountability and by questions that deserve real answers.
Frekhtman & Associates has represented Bronx families in pedestrian fatalities and hit-and-run cases across New York City. Our attorney for pedestrian accident victims in the Bronx has recovered more than $900 million for injured clients over 25 years of practice, including a $2,000,000 wrongful death result for a New York family.
Intersection cameras and business surveillance along White Plains Road can be overwritten within 48 to 72 hours. The sooner the claim is opened, the better the chance of preserving what is there now.
We work entirely on contingency. There is no upfront cost, and you owe nothing unless we recover for your family.
Why Bronx families trust Frekhtman & Associates:
- $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
Talk With a Bronx Attorney at (718) 733-9300
We are available around the clock. Call when you are ready, or reach out below and we can come to you at home.
