Driver indicted after two moped riders die on Bronx River Parkway
Prosecutors say Mauricio Neyra drove about 100 mph before the Aug. 11, 2025, Bronx River Parkway collision that killed Enrique Martinez and Manuel Amarante Penalo; the city recorded a third person injured.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
On Aug. 11, 2025, Mauricio Neyra Yuyes was driving south on the Bronx River Parkway when he allegedly hit a Volkswagen while trying to pass it, then hit two moped riders, police said. Enrique Martinez, 21, and Manuel Amarante Penalo, 19, died at hospitals. The city recorded one other person injured. Prosecutors initially proceeded with impaired-driving charges while investigating the deaths. In May 2026, they indicted Neyra on aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges, alleging he had driven about 100 mph before the collision.
A passing attempt led to two fatal impacts
Police said Neyra Yuyes, driving a Mercedes sedan south in the left lane, hit the left rear of a Volkswagen while trying to pass its driver. The Volkswagen driver went off the roadway and hit a guardrail. Neyra Yuyes then entered the right lane and hit Martinez and Amarante Penalo, who were riding separate mopeds side by side.
Martinez was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, and Amarante Penalo was taken to Montefiore Medical Center. Both died there. The city crash record counts two people killed and one other person injured.
Southbound near East 223rd Street
The collision happened on the southbound Bronx River Parkway near East 223rd Street. Police closed the southbound lanes near the Gun Hill Road exit during the investigation; CBS New York reported that they reopened around 8:30 a.m.
Two young Bronx residents
Martinez, 21, lived in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx. Amarante Penalo, 19, lived in Fordham, according to police accounts reported by the Daily News. Amarante Penalo's sister Clari questioned Neyra Yuyes's release without bail after his arraignment, saying, "That's not fair."
Prosecutors allege intoxication and extreme speed
According to a criminal complaint described by Gothamist, prosecutors said Neyra Yuyes smelled strongly of alcohol after the collision and stood unsteadily near his car. They said he refused a chemical blood test at a hospital. Later indictment coverage said data recovered from the Mercedes showed it traveling about 100 mph shortly before the collision and that a chemical test later that morning measured a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent.
Charges changed as the investigation continued
Police initially announced vehicular manslaughter and impaired-driving charges. The Daily News reported that prosecutors proceeded with impaired-driving charges at Neyra Yuyes's first arraignment while continuing to investigate, and a judge released him without bail. In May 2026, prosecutors indicted him on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, reckless driving and driving while intoxicated. The charges are allegations.