A deadly afternoon unfolded outside Co-op City on Tuesday when a car slammed into a bus bench in the Bronx, killing a 72-year-old woman and injuring a 36-year-old man who had been sitting there, according to witnesses and police. The vehicle was headed north on Bartow Avenue when it went out of control and barreled into the bench. The driver stayed at the scene, and authorities say no arrests have been made as investigators work to sort out what went wrong.
The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. at Bartow Avenue and Co-op City Boulevard, according to PIX11. Investigators told News 12 that a 55-year-old man behind the wheel of a 2018 Mazda CX-5 lost control before the SUV struck the bench. The 72-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 36-year-old man was taken to Jacobi Medical Center with minor injuries.
ABC7 reported that the driver may have suffered a medical episode before losing control. That outlet said the driver was also taken to Jacobi in stable condition and that the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is leading the probe. Officials have not yet released the names of anyone involved as the investigation continues.
Busy Co-op City Corner Has Troubling Safety History
Bartow Avenue near Bay Plaza is a packed commercial and transit strip, and the area has seen its share of trouble in recent years. Earlier this year, a violent assault on a BX38 bus near 1945 Bartow Avenue drew attention to safety concerns along the corridor, and News 12 covered a July 2025 three-vehicle crash in Co-op City that left one person dead and several others injured, underscoring persistent traffic issues in the neighborhood.
Police say the investigation into Tuesday’s crash is ongoing and are asking anyone with information or video from the scene to come forward. More details are expected as detectives comb through evidence and speak with witnesses, according to PIX11.
