Bronx rider dies weeks after fiery crash with Parks truck
A Parks Department truck driver was turning left when Gregorio Arango, 43, collided with the truck at Willow Avenue and East 138th Street in the Bronx on July 2, 2022; the official record gives the time as 7:03 p.m., and reports say Arango died Aug. 8.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
A Parks Department truck driver was turning left from East 138th Street onto Willow Avenue when Gregorio Arango collided with the back of the truck, according to police accounts reported by 1010 WINS and the Daily News. Reports say Arango became pinned beneath his dirt bike as it caught fire; responders took him to Harlem Hospital, where the Daily News reported he died Aug. 8 from extensive burns and other injuries. The official record places the crash at 7:03 p.m. on July 2, 2022, and records one person killed. Arango lived with his teenage daughter at a family shelter two blocks away, and neighbors helped set up a memorial near the crash site.
Arango was taken to Harlem Hospital
Police accounts reported by the Daily News and 1010 WINS say Arango was riding north on Willow Avenue and collided with the back of a Parks Department truck. 1010 WINS reported that the truck driver was turning left from East 138th Street onto Willow Avenue.
Reports say Arango became pinned beneath his dirt bike as it caught fire. Responders rescued him and took him to Harlem Hospital, where he died Aug. 8. The Daily News reported that he died from extensive burns and other injuries.
The crash happened near Arango's shelter
The official record places the crash at Willow Avenue and East 138th Street in the Bronx, at 7:03 p.m. on July 2, 2022. The Daily News describes the area as Mott Haven, while 1010 WINS calls it Port Morris.
The Daily News reported that the crash was two blocks from the family shelter where Arango lived with his teenage daughter.
Shelter neighbors remembered his warmth
Gregorio Arango was 43. Shelter resident Shamika White told the Daily News, “He always used to say real positive stuff. Always with a smile on his face.” Neighbors helped set up a small memorial near where he crashed.
Reports and records use different vehicle labels
Both news accounts describe Arango's vehicle as a dirt bike; the official crash record classifies it as a motorcycle. The reports describe the other vehicle as a Parks Department truck, while the official record classifies it as a dump vehicle and lists Ford as its make and 2019 as its year.
The truck operator remained at the scene
1010 WINS reported that the Parks Department truck operator stayed at the scene and was not seriously injured. In its Aug. 23 report, the outlet said no arrests had been reported and that the NYPD was investigating.