• June 02, 2022

Bronx, NY -- May 26, 2022, Carlos Martinez was killed as the result of an accident where a truck hit Martinez on his bicycle.

Authorities were called to the scene just before 1:00 p.m. along Bruckner Boulevard off East 136th Street. In their reports, officials said that 53-year-old Carlos Martinez was on a bicycle traveling along Bruckner. Reports suggest may have "failed to properly navigate the roadway," causing the bike to fall over. After falling, a tow truck hit Martinez, ultimately resulting in fatal injuries.

However, reports say that additional details came to light which contradict these details. Those reports suggest that construction barriers narrowed the room that Martinez had along northbound lanes. The tow truck may have been passing Martinez, "squeezing" him between the truck and the barriers. The truck then reportedly left the scene, but it's unclear if the incident is being considered as a hit-and-run.

Investigations are ongoing.

Commentary on Carlos Martinez Truck Accident in The Bronx

These reports certainly don't inspire any confidence that authorities are really giving this tragedy the attention it deserves. Don't get me wrong--these incidents can be incredibly complex, and the details from the scene to the police to the news to the public can be a mess of miscommunications. Further investigations could show that authorities knew what they were doing.

That said, there are plenty of groups out of the New York City area that dedicate themselves to advocating for cyclists due to the fact there are so many reckless drivers out there blocking bike lanes, overtaking cyclists on narrow streets, making turns without checking for approaching cyclists, or otherwise driving without any regard for the people around them. Could it be that this is one such accident? Could the video mentioned in some reports show that this all could have been easily avoidable? If authorities aren't giving any clear answers, then it may be up to independent investigations to say for sure.

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