Cab kills 8-year-old boy on 112th Street

Eight-year-old Alex Pablo was fatally struck by a taxi on 112th street, between Lexington and 3rd Avenue.

There have always been accidents on East 112th Street. The street’s wide lane seem to be an incentive for cars to speed and try to weave around each other. A couple of years ago, I witnessed cops use the infamous “jaws of life” to get a driver out after a two-car collision on 112th and 2nd Avenue.

On Thursday, as I was walking home, I noticed there had been another major accident when I saw cop cars section off the block between Lexington and 3rd Avenue. Then I noticed the detectives, which I learned during my daily news reporting days, was never a good sign. A detective present during a car accident means someone is dead. 

In this case, it was absolutely tragic. He was only eight. It could have been any child (which East Harlem is absolutely full of). It could have been my daughter.

There are so many conflicting reports about what happened. Some say it was the cabbie’s fault. He turned onto 112th from Lexington and was speeding. Others say the little boy darted into the street. Either way, a young life was abruptly ended.

Some residents are calling for Department of Transportation and Community Board 11 to place bike lanes on 112th Street, from Lenox to 1st Avenue. While DOT is involved in this process, the financial responsibility lies on Community Board 11.

Please, if you can email or attend a Community Board 11 meeting, and ask that something be done. East 112th is lined with schools, churches, public housing and a park. It will only be a matter of time before another needless pedestrian accident occurs.