By Carol Tannenhauser
A 48-year-old woman on a scooter, traveling northbound on the Henry Hudson Parkway Saturday night at around 9:50 pm, lost control at West 102nd Street, struck the center divider, and landed in the southbound lane, where she was struck by a motorcycle traveling south, a preliminary report from the NYPD said.
The 25-year-old driver of the motorcycle stayed on the scene, and both individuals were transported to Mt. Sinai Morningside hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead and the man is listed in stable condition. Identification is pending family notification.
Police noted that the woman was driving an Amstar Marshal Gas scooter and the man was driving a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle.
The NYPD’s Highway Collision Investigation Squad is investigating.
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I want the family to know that we all worked hard on her before EMS arrived, also i believe she heard me shout that her family loves her….. 😔
BIG…. shout out to the cyclists, off duty nurse, EMT and MD and all who was involved including myself. May she rest in peace 🙏🏽
Thx so much this is her husband Albanian Danny I appreciate all you guys did for her and I believe she was with you at that moment I wish it was me but I have 26 years of her beauty 2 beautiful children and memories to last me 2 million years always thankful…D.
I’m George and knew Vilma since I was 12yrs old and this hits me hard. She was a beautiful soul with an infectious laugh I am profoundly sorry for your loss
This is her son I just wanna say thank you for everything, it takes weight off my shoulders to hear this. You have no idea what this means to us thank you.
I didn’t know her personally but a friend did. I’m so sorry for your loss
Hi, you were there with her? She was still talking?? I’m her cousin. And I’m with her dad and family I’m florida. We still can’t believe it.
Hi Nina, My name is Natalie. That was my mother. Ironically I was driving on the west side highway and saw the accident after it occurred but I didn’t know from a distance that I was watching you and other other people helping my mother & the other motorcyclist that was injured. I found out today that she passed & I didn’t have any knowledge of that it was my mother in the accident until today. God must’ve put me there for a reason without knowing why. She was missing the past few days & my brothers & I were worried. I just want to say thank-you to you & everyone who was there trying to help my mother. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
She was an amazing mother to me & my twin brothers. & I even heard faintly from a distance you and others telling her that she has family that loves her. & it wasn’t until tonight reading this article that I can put the puzzle pieces together & seeing your comment really just helped me a little more knowing that she had random civilians with kind hearts trying all they could. I want to say again THANK-YOU to everyone !
I’m truly sorry 😞 for loss, my sincere condolences 💐 I knew your mom from ay back in the early 90s I can’t believe this. Last time I spoke to her was in 2010
I wish you peace and healing ❤️🩹 to you and your brothers, God bless you and your family 🙏🏼
This was my aunt, thank you for letting her know we loved her for her last moments, i just received the news and could only imagine what she felt and it breaks my heart, but i’m grateful people like you were there for her
I tried my best along with Nina and two others to help her. I wish there were more I could’ve done. I send my condolences to you and your entire family. I work EMS in Jersey City and even though , this hit me hard nonetheless
8/11/22
Dear Karim:
Thank you for your incredible work trying to save Vilma. My husband was there with you and all of the people trying to save her and also the young man. My husband and friend and I witnessed her actions for more than 80 blocks and are going to give any information we can to all involved. For some reason the police haven’t contacted us yet, even though I was talking to 911 throughout (for about 20 minutes from 23rd up to 104th). I think you may be the EMS who told me to tell the dispatcher to hurry. I was profoundly moved by your heroic efforts. My heart goes out to you, as I know it had to have been very traumatic for you. Thank you so much for your service. Kimberly R.
Hi Karim, my name is Natalie. That was my mother you were helping. I appreciate all the help you provided her with in her last moments. It means the world to me to know their are kind human beings in this world that tried all they (you) could to help my mother.
Thank-you !
Bless you for helping.
Thank you everyone who was trying to help her. My deepest condolences to the family.
Hope Manhattan Boro Pres. Levine reads this and abandons his ridiculous plan to add a bike lane to this highway! Ridiculous because:
1. Putting a relatively frail human body pedaling a bicycle in close proximity to cars that can weigh 3,000 – 4,000 pounds and travel at legal highway speed is asking for disaster;
2. The proposed bike lane would run from W. 57th Street to Chambers Street, a visually interesting part of Manhattan but full of distractions for drivers and bicyclists both, and such distractions can also cause accidents especially after dark.
3. Levine claims this would reduce congestion on the Hudson River Greenway; but why not JUST WIDEN that Greenway?
But bicyclists are already traveling in close proximity to cars, with or without their own lanes. Isolating them in their own land would arguably make it safer, although I think it’s ill-advised. Unless you build concrete dividers, there will always be accidents.
The proposal is for a bike lane physically separated from the highway by concrete barriers (with flowers on top). Which is to say that the proposal IS to effectively widen the Greenway. And since there’s no real way to widen it into the Hudson River, the only way to do that is to take a lane of the highway.
You seem to think they’re just planning to paint some arrows on the road and call it a day, and I agree with you that that would be insane. But that’s not the proposal.
(Now, I think those barriers should be a little taller than they are in the drawing that went around… but that’s easy to fix.)
This didn’t happen in that area. That area is wider and has a lower speed limit with real intersections. It’s not a highway. It would be perfectly fine to create that new bike lane.
Can’t agree more. I’m all for bike lanes, but NYC isn’t Amsterdam.
Shout out to all of you. What a horrible thing for everyone involved. Am I right in thinking that the difference between a scooter and a motorcycle is the size, weight, HP of the engine, and the step through chassis? There are gas version and electric? The electric are what we are seeing more and more of in the bike paths and parks? I get confused by the name because of the many electric versions of the self-propelled “scooters” that people of all ages ride.
Wait, was she riding a scooter on a.. parkway? What is the speed limit and is this common??
Yes she was on the parkway…. sad…. that totally shouldn’t be allowed.
I was a witness behind the woman driving the scooter. She was out of control and weaving and fell off once before the fatal fall that killed her. She was under some kind of major distress almost like she was running away from something. The young motorcyclist that hit her IS NOT TO BLAME! She crashed herself into the median and then fell into oncoming traffic in the southbound lane. And we called 911 three times to report her reckless driving which we started to witness at 33rd st. There were so many amazing people on the scene that tried to help her and they are amazing. I hope she rests in peace and that the young motorcyclist that hit her can somehow get some relief and comfort for such a traumatic situation.
If I remember correctly, it’s 40mph northbound, 45mph southbound along that stretch. But cars often go faster, and the roadway is bumpy. I find it a difficult drive, and there’s no way the poor woman could have kept up with traffic and maintained stability on a scooter under those conditions. Such a sad, needless way to go. Thanks to Nina B and all those who tried to help her and the guy on the motorcycle.
Scooter rider without a helmet no less on the henry hudson parkway.
crazy
The Daily News says it was gasoline powered so not what most people might think of as a scooter.
Agree. Scooters don’t belong on highways, nor do bikes.
She had a helmet the impact was so great it popped off and flew about 8 cars away.
Good Lord…
These scooters should not even be on our streets, much less the highways. Many more innocent people could have been killed.
Matt, Autos kill 200 people every year in NYC. Using your logic, autos should not even be on our streets…
Scooter and e-bike riders and vehicles should be licensed and riders required to wear DOT approved helmets just like motorcyclists because these riders go faster than motorcyclists on city streets.
Scooters and e-bike riders flout the law more often than not is my fuming observation… they seem to think such laws don’t apply to them, and thus tragedy after tragedy after tragedy the inevitable result.
Libertarianism in action and its result, I suppose…
Not legal for a reason.
The fact that motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed on either bike lanes or paths (which they are not, the law is just not enforced) or on any kind of highway is nuts. Re. the former, there are accidents on the bike lanes and paths ALL THE TIME involving electric bikes and scooters and bikers, pedestrians, etc.. I realize that’s not the issue, but the broader issue is that motorized scooters and bikes are completely unregulated. They are not bikes, they go much faster and the people driving them don’t know what they’re doing.
These e-scooters are a disaster enough on city streets much less on a state highway, which the Henry Hudson is. When is the city going to enforce the law? Saturday morning I saw 6 young women zipping by on the sidewalk on 90th street.
Foolish and dangerous to pedestrians and motorists alike.
Derk,
The story clearly states she was on a gas powered scooter, not an e-scooter. Stop spreading fake news.
I was there and saw this happen. The female rider blew by me and was weaving through traffic. My wife and I said to each other she will not live the night if she continues to ride that way. And she didn’t.
Maybe it’s time to outlaw all these scooters, electric bikes etc. many do not follow traffic laws, appear out of no where, run lights etc. I suspect there is simply no way of truly enforcing they comply with traffic law.
I see these people on scooters in traffic..not surprised..so dangerous.need to be outlawed.
if you want to see what traffic congestion is, wait until there is an accident or some kind of work being done during rush hour on the west side highway after a car lane is removed. Mr. Levine should be there controlling road rage and directing traffic at that time
This is tangential, but – one thing that annoys me about the “alternate car” speak and that I’ve never seen acknowledged is that people are not interchangeable in our ability to use certain modes of transport, ie, there is always such screaming about fewer cars and how people should bike here and there, but there can be many reasons not everyone can “just bike”.
There are physical limitations, health conditions, requirement to carry certain things, ie stuff specific to your work – or groceries…… Many reasons.
Yet, I never hear that acknowledged, and if anyone wants me to truly listen to an argument, it’s got to be based in reality. This kind of acknowledgment would be a good start.
Before I hear any more stats about cars and alternatives, I’d like to hear some acknowledgment of how many people are even actual candidates for using transportation that’s not a car.
Getting more people to ride bikes doesn’t equal the complete abolishment of cars. It’s not all or nothing.
I think this discussion is a little confused on what she was riding. She was riding a 150cc gas-powered scooter, that has a max speed over 55mph and is essentially a somewhat less powered motorcycle. Most e-bikes, on the other hand, top out around 25mph. There’s lots of room for improvement in current practices on either conveyance, but they are two very different modes of transport and helpful to see them as such. This accident was much more like someone getting into a motorcycle accident on the highway (based on where it was) and while tragic, riding a motorcycle/scooter at highway speeds has been dangerous forever and will remain so.
It is illegal to ride a scooter on a highway. Period.
I have no idea which model of scooter this was and whether it had license plates and was allowed on that road – but maybe finally the city will start to look at the Wild West mess they have allowed to fester since COVID of what are really unlicensed motorbikes – many of them zooped up for greater speeds – including motorized skate boards and adult stand up scooters. These will kill you if they hit you. Maybe now people will pay attention to this instead of banging on all day about a slowly peddling old fashioned bike
My husband and I and a friend followed her, from 23 to the scene of the accident, to try to protect her. I am the one who called 911 three times and started reporting what was happening . She was completely out of control weaving all over the place and running red lights for the entire time, except once when she went down in the 50s. At that point one guy stopped his car and we stopped next to him and both cars had their hazard lights on. Both of our cars were protecting her. The other guy helped her to the sidewalk with the scooter, but she was determined to keep going and took off. I was talking to 911 and they knew what was happening. The woman DID NOT have a helmet on and she was weaving and almost hitting cars or the median all the way until she lost full control. She flipped off the bike and landed on the other side of the highway. She was very likely going to die or actually dead (which she appeared to be despite four people giving her chest compressions) from her own actions. That motorcyclist who is being blamed for running over her was absolutely NOT at fault. He could not have helped what happened. What happened when she lost control was so fast that nobody could have stopped when she landed on the lane. That poor guy was badly injured. HE HAD A HELMET ON. My husband lifted the backpack off of the man’s back because it was making it difficult for the man to lie on the ground. I repeatedly asked the police to be sure to tell the man that it was not his fault. They said they would. So the fact that the media is saying it is his fault is absolutely shameful. He is surely traumatized. If he or his family want to contact me and my husband and friend, please give him my email that I’ve provided. Thank you.
I am the Motorcycle Youth who was involved in the Accident. I can not move. If you need to contact me, my email is: amazonblack1@gmail.com
is an email to communicate with me.
She would not want someone to be held accountable for something he didn’t do. If she was able to she would thank everyone for helping and apologize if she caused (causing) anyone else pain, suffering trauma. She was the type to help as you tried Kimberly! You will be blessed by God for trying to help her, you may not realize a blessing, an answered prayer or realize it’s God thanking you for helping one of His, but whoever helps her is blessed and who ever hurt her-we would pray God to have mercy on-if you understand this. This has helped me, Ty!
She was my best friend❣️She was an experienced motor cyclist, rode motor cycle competitions/races in her younger years. Not like her not to have a helmet on, especially on a rode/street/hwy. As a devoted wife & a loving, excellent mom of teen boys, a beautiful daughter in her late 20s, daughter, sibling and my special, soul mate friend, she knew she had 2 teens to raise, a mom/daughter bond her daughter still needing her guidance, if she died in the near future our hearts would have an empty space until we die. She loved life. She was wanted and needed for many years to come. I asked her, apx 3 weeks ago if she always wears a helmet. Of course CC especially after the bad wreck I had in my younger years. I won’t even get into the wreck she referred to, which she survived. We both know that we are blessed by God, cancer survivors, at one time she was a single mother, lived through incidents most ppl would not think survivable. I know she was a special, rare soul, as my kids believe about me, even though I know that I am, I thought she invincible!
Dearest Kimberly, Ty for your sincere efforts to protect and keep her alive. What/how do you mean she stopped and was being protected by you all and another car/driver? Protected how, from/of what? She kept going, she fled? Did she feel threatened, like you all were doing a citizens arrest, you all were keeping her there, because of her driving waiting for the police? She knows every side street in Manhattan & the Bronx, it makes no sense from what I read??? She was trying to get away, yet if trying to get away she would of taken side streets. ??? The scooter was brand new Spring 2022, big, heavy, I asked her why she just didn’t get a motor cycle. We both envisioned riding each on our custom Harley but not in NYC, she in her 50s, I my 60s, I’m apx 5 yrs older. She was 5’3” 115 pounds, a tiny yet strong woman full of might, one of God’s warriors❣️
Thx CC I won’t ever forget these words god bless
Hi Cecile, this is Natalie her Daughter. Thank-you for your kind words in regards to my mother. She would’ve said in her own words “you see my friends always have my back” but no seriously thank-you to everyone reading this article & attributing something POSITIVE.
This is something we can all learn from & unfortunately for Myself & my Twin Brothers we now are missing our mother & it’s only been a couple of hours since we received the news from officials.
Again, I appreciate your kind words ♥️
I am sorry for my typos. Hopefully you got the gist. I have a record of being on the phone with 911 while following the woman for TWENTY MINUTES, from 23rd to about 104th, EIGHTY BLOCKS. So if anyone can aid in determining what happened it would be us. Thanks, again.
Hi Kimberly, my name is Natalie. That was my mother. If their is any way I can speak with you to get your point of view of what happened I would much appreciate that. There is still so much I am finding out & trying to put together.
Again… thank-you for being there & doing all that you did for my mother. I appreciate it all.
Hi Natalie, I am so very sorry for your loss. I was in the car with Kimberly and also saw what happened. (See my post above). I will let Kimberly explain it all because I was in the backseat and didn’t see it all as well as her and her husband, Sam, who was driving. But Kimberly called 911 three times to try and get help. And Sam was amazing trying to keep your mom safe from other cars by driving behind her with his hazards on. He also helped at the scene. My thoughts are with you and your family. I can’t stop thinking about your Mom and I’m glad to know more about her and you and your sibling. I’m sure Kimberly and Sam will contact you soon. My very best, Ruth.
Hi Natalie , David and Crystal told me what happened to your mom, my heart hurts for you and your brothers. May god give you and your family the strength to get through this 🙏
Vilma RIP, may your family have peace through the grace of GOD!
We should all send prayers and kind thoughts to the young man on the motor bike who is an innocent victim in all of this. He needs to heal mentally and physically
bapcab@gmail.com
So sad but not surprising. After my 50 year old roommate got into his second scotter accident, by hitting a small pebble with his front wheel, my sister commented, “Scooters are for kids in parks, not comuters.” And I think that’s about the size of it. RIP, poor lady.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL THAT HELPED VILMA THANK YOU FOR STAYING AND TRYING A FRIEND THAT WILL MISS HER.
I was blessed to know Vilma through my daughter Genesis. She was always so kind to her. She looked out for my child like she was her own. I had the privilege of spending time with her and having so many deep conversations about our kids. She was a good woman who loved her family. And my heart is so heavy and breaks for her children and loved ones. May she Rest In Peace, God gained another angel
8/11/22
Dear Natalie Tate:
I am so deeply sorry for your and your family’s loss. I have a LOT of information about what happened. Please post your email here and I will write to you and give you my phone number to talk with you.
My husband and friend and I followed your mother for more than eighty blocks, including when she got back on her bike in the 50s the first time she was off the motorcycle. The police were supposed to call me but have not. I am going to contact them tomorrow to make a statement on my own since they didn’t take it then and still haven’t reached out to me for one. I heard a person who had not seen any of it give a statement based on what someone else told him. So I think it’s crazy that the three of us who saw so much have not been contacted.
Our friend lives in New York but my husband and I are now back at our home in Berkeley, CA. We will try to answer any questions we can.
Our hearts go out to you. It’s such a tragedy.
Sincerely,
Kimberly R.
Natalieanntate@icloud.com
Thank-you so much Kimberly !
I knew Vilma since PS 143. I’m a Lost Girl (BLONDIE). But her & I always hung tight. I always told her that she had beautiful eyes. I m gonna pray for her family & children. Bcuz we all have family & children. GOD BLESS. RIP!!