Driver indicted in East Harlem chain-reaction pedestrian death
Prosecutors said Angel Melendez drove recklessly before Nadjari Reid was killed in an East Harlem chain reaction; the official record lists one pedestrian dead and three people injured.
What We Know
On July 29, 2024, a 51-year-old pedestrian died and three people were injured at First Avenue and East 105th Street in East Harlem. Prosecutors said Angel Melendez, 52, drove a white Mercedes-Benz recklessly up First Avenue, swerving between lanes, clipping a woman’s shopping cart, then going through a steady red light before a chain reaction involving parked vehicles. The Manhattan district attorney said Nadjari Reid was standing between two vehicles and was killed. The official crash record lists alcohol involvement, and the Mercedes entry lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed. Melendez was indicted on manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and child-endangerment charges.
Prosecutors described a reckless drive up First Avenue
The crash was recorded at about 3:42 p.m. on July 29, 2024, at First Avenue and East 105th Street. The official record lists one pedestrian killed and three people injured.
Prosecutors said Angel Melendez drove a white Mercedes-Benz on First Avenue between East 96th and East 105th streets, sped up, veered between lanes, swerved to avoid cars and pedestrians, and struck a woman’s shopping cart. They said he then went through a steady red light near the northwest corner of First Avenue and East 105th Street before a chain reaction involving parked vehicles.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office said 51-year-old Nadjari Reid was standing between two vehicles and was killed. The official record lists one pedestrian and two motorists injured.
First Avenue is a high-crash Manhattan corridor
The fatal crash was recorded at First Avenue and East 105th Street in East Harlem.
CrashCountNYC’s corridor context for 1st Avenue in Manhattan counts 2,522 crashes, 1,527 injuries, 137 serious injuries and 12 deaths since 2022.
Nadjari Reid was identified as the pedestrian who died
The official record identifies the person killed as a 51-year-old male pedestrian. Prosecutors identified him as Nadjari Reid, a Harlem resident and lifelong New Yorker.
Prosecutors said Melendez’s 14-year-old son was in the Mercedes-Benz during the collision.
The record and indictment point to alcohol, speed and reckless driving
The official crash record lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The Mercedes-Benz entry also lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed.