Tuesday, September 6, 2016

HISPANIC DRIVERS CAUSE DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS: Junior Silverio-Ventura, 19, is now charged felony leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident on the Saw Mill River Parkway






Arrest made in deadly Saw Mill River Parkway hit and run




Updated 3 mins ago
YONKERS, Westchester County (WABC) -- Police in Westchester County have arrested a Yonkers man in connection with a deadly hit and run that claimed the life of a teenager on the Saw Mill River Parkway Monday.

Junior Silverio-Ventura, 19, is now charged him with felony leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.  


According to the NHTSA, when measured against deaths from all causes, motor vehicle traffic crashes have accounted for disproportionately large percentages, particularly among Native Americans and Hispanics. NHTSA, 2006.
 
The incident occurred around 2:50 a.m. on the northbound Saw Mill River Parkway near McLean Avenue in Yonkers. Authorities say a Nissan Sentra that had a flat tire and was stopped in the roadway was rear-ended by an Acura TSX.

The occupants of the Acura abandoned that vehicle and got into another car, also an Acura TSX, and fled the scene.

Detectives were able to identify the persons involved in the incident and charged Silverio-Ventura with being the driver of the Acura that rear-ended the Nissan.

Zachary Dunn, 18, of Yonkers, the driver of the Sentra, was fatally injured in the collision. His passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Commissioner George N. Longworth said the investigation was continuing and additional charges were possible.

Dunn was just one day away from starting school at Westchester Community College after he had graduated from Palisade Prep in June.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call Westchester County Police at 914-864-7701. All calls are confidential. 



According to the NHTSA, when measured against deaths from all causes, motor vehicle traffic crashes have accounted for disproportionately large percentages, particularly among Native Americans and Hispanics. Alcohol has played a major role in the deaths of both drivers and pedestrians. Additional factors contributing to higher numbers have been lack of valid licensing for drivers, and lower usage of safety belts, child safety seats, and motorcycle helmets by all but Asian/Pacific Islanders. Compared to all others, African American children were killed in disproportionately high numbers in both urban and rural settings.  See the following report, among others:  Race and Ethnicity in Fatal Motor Vehicle
Traffic Crashes 1999 - 2004, NHTSA, National Center for Statistics and Analysis,
DOT HS 809 956 Technical Report, May 2006.

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Teen killed in hit and run on Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers





Eyewitness News
Monday, September 05, 2016 11:28PM
YONKERS, Westchester County (WABC) -- It was a tragic start to Labor Day for the family of Zachary Dunn of Yonkers.

The 18-year-old's car broke down about 2:50 Monday morning on the Northbound lanes of the Saw Mill River Parkway, just north of the Bronx county line. For reasons that are still unclear, the teenager never pulled his car completely off the parkway. Moments later, another car, an Acura TSX, slammed into the back of the vehicle and critically injured Dunn.


First responders rushed Dunn to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, but his injuries were too severe. At 9:30 a.m. Dunn died at the hospital. His passenger, who remains unidentified was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators at the scene wanted to speak to the driver of the Acura, but he or she took off before police arrived. Authorities say the hit-and-run driver abandoned the Acura at the accident scene, and got into another vehicle - apparently another Acura TSX, and fled north on the Parkway. Investigators say the getaway car was either grey or blue in color and had temporary New Jersey license plates.

Furthermore, police believe all the people in the two Acuras knew each other. They don't believe Dunn was connected to them in any way.

Dunn was just one day away from starting school at Westchester Community College. It was supposed to be just the beginning of chasing his dreams. Instead, his family is now forced to make funeral arrangements.

He had graduated from Palisade Prep in June.