Driver turning left onto Park Avenue hit pedestrian crossing from east to west
December 01, 2025 | Upper East Side, NY
An 85-year-old man lost his life after being struck by a van on the Upper East Side, according to New York City Police Department reports.
Janus Gorzynski, 85, died after Mercedes Sprinter van struck him while he crossed East 91st Street at Park Avenue on the Upper East Side.
What Happened in the Crash?
The incident took place on East 91st Street at Park Avenue. Janus Gorzynski was crossing from east to west around 2:42 p.m. when a 67-year-old driver in a 2019 Mercedes Sprinter van, heading west and attempting a left turn onto Park Avenue, struck him. Gorzynski, who resided nearby, was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries there.
- Date and Time: Dec. 1, 2025, around 2:42 p.m.
- Location: East 91st Street at Park Avenue, Upper East Side, NY
- Victim: Janus Gorzynski, 85, local resident
- Vehicle: 2019 Mercedes Sprinter van
- Driver: 67-year-old male, remained at scene
- Outcome: Victim pronounced dead at hospital
The driver stayed at the scene, and the investigation continues.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Like This Occur?
Pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads highlight persistent safety issues. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), about 2,304 pedestrians were killed in crashes during the first half of 2024.
Factor |
Description |
Source |
|---|
Driver Inattention |
Failure to yield at intersections |
GHSA Report 2024 |
Road Conditions |
Poor lighting or signage |
NHTSA Data |
Vehicle Speed |
Higher speeds in urban turns |
CDC Statistics |
Pedestrian Right-of-Way |
Legal priority in crosswalks |
Federal Highway Administration |
Legal Insights
National legal analysts provide perspective on pedestrian incidents.
“In most instances, pedestrians possess the right of way when crossing an intersection or a street regardless of if they are in a marked crosswalk,” said Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal and an experienced pedestrian accident attorney.
- Independent investigations by lawyers can protect families' rights in such cases.
- Factors like road conditions, signage, and lighting must be examined thoroughly.
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
- Families may pursue wrongful death claims for loss of income, companionship, and emotional distress.
- Attorneys advocate for fair compensation against insurance pressures.
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Candice Bond, national legal analyst for Newsline, has extensive experience with fatal pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one needs help, she offers free consultations.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
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