Driver indicted after East Harlem chain-reaction crash kills pedestrian
On July 29, 2024, city records show one pedestrian was killed and three people were injured at First Avenue and East 105th Street, where prosecutors said Angel Melendez ran a red light during reckless driving and set off a chain reaction that killed 51-year-old Nadjari Reid.
What We Know
Prosecutors said Angel Melendez drove a white Mercedes-Benz recklessly on First Avenue on July 29, 2024, speeding, swerving between lanes and running a red light at East 105th Street. City records show the crash happened at 3:42 p.m., killed a 51-year-old pedestrian and injured three people. Prosecutors said the collision set off a chain reaction involving parked vehicles and killed Nadjari Reid, who was standing between two of them. The official record lists alcohol involvement for the crash, and the Mercedes entry lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed. Melendez was indicted in September on manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and child-endangerment charges.
Prosecutors described a fast, swerving drive before the fatal impact
Prosecutors said Angel Melendez, driving a white Mercedes-Benz, sped up on First Avenue between East 96th and East 105th streets, veered between lanes, swerved to avoid cars and pedestrians, and struck a woman's shopping cart while narrowly missing people nearby.
At the northwest corner of First Avenue and East 105th Street, prosecutors said Melendez went through a steady red light and crashed into a parked motorcycle and car. They said the collision's force pushed a parked car into another parked car, killing Nadjari Reid, who was standing between two vehicles.
Nadjari Reid was killed, and city records counted three injuries
City records identify the person killed as a 51-year-old male pedestrian and count three other injuries: one pedestrian and two motorists. Prosecutors identified the man killed as Nadjari Reid, a Harlem resident, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described him as a lifelong New Yorker.
The amNY report said prosecutors also described a second pedestrian victim and said Melendez's 14-year-old son was in the car with him during the collision.
First Avenue has seen repeated serious harm
City records place the crash at First Avenue and East 105th Street in Manhattan.
CrashCountNYC's street context for First Avenue in Manhattan shows 2,522 crashes, 1,527 injuries, 137 serious injuries and 12 deaths since 2022.
The case moved to court in September
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the indictment on September 17, 2024. The amNY report said Melendez's next court date was scheduled for October 1 to set a motion schedule.