The pedestrian, 26-year-old Vijay Bharadwaj, says he suffered a hip fracture and lacerations and could not walk for about six weeks.
MIDTOWN, NY - October 26, 2026
A pedestrian struck in a Midtown crosswalk in June says the NYPD closed the case about three months later without identifying the driver, according to Streetsblog New York City.
Key Facts
- Date: June 23
- Location: W. 34th Street at Dyer Avenue, Midtown, New York
- Type of crash: Pedestrian crash; reported as a hit-and-run
- Vehicles involved: One vehicle; type not reported
- Injuries / fatalities: Multiple injuries reported; no deaths reported
- Responding agencies: NYPD, 10th Precinct
- Reported by: Streetsblog New York City
Crash Overview
According to a video Streetsblog obtained, 26-year-old Vijay Bharadwaj was crossing W. 34th Street at Dyer Avenue on June 23. He was in the crosswalk and had a walk signal when a driver turning right onto 34th Street hit him. He was knocked to the pavement, and the vehicle passed over part of his body.
Bharadwaj told Streetsblog that he had a hip fracture, lacerations, and a cut near his right eye that required stitches. He said he could not walk for about six weeks after the crash.
Streetsblog reported that the case was assigned to a 10th Precinct detective, who told Bharadwaj he expected to find the driver. Weeks later, the detective shared the official crash report, which Bharadwaj said contained errors, including no mention of the turn or the crosswalk. Bharadwaj said his repeated text messages went unanswered for about two months. The detective told Streetsblog he sometimes does not carry his work phone when off duty.
Bharadwaj later learned from the precinct that the case had been closed. He said he was told the search had been narrowed to 106 potential vehicles. An NYPD spokesperson said investigators could not identify a license plate or another distinct feature without additional video and angles.