Amar Diarrassouba (
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At least three other children have been killed by vehicles within blocks of the spot where a 6-year-old boy was recently fatally struck by a tractor-trailer, according to data released by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
That’s more than half of the six child-pedestrian deaths reported in Manhattan since 2009.
Little Amar Diarrassouba was on his way to PS 155 in East Harlem on Feb. 28 when a food-delivery truck crushed him to death as he walked across First Avenue at East 117th Street — a corner where the crossing guard was AWOL.
Locals say more trucks have been taking shortcuts through the neighborhood since Target, Costco and other big-box stores opened on East 116th Street near the FDR Drive in the past few years.
East Harlem was already a regional epicenter for traffic, with the FDR and Harlem River drives leading to the RFK/Triborough and George Washington bridges.
Borough President Scott Stringer is calling on the city Department of Transportation to immediately institute safety measures in the long-neglected neighborhood.
“The enormity of this tragedy is just so horrifying,” Stringer told The Post. “This isn’t an isolated situation. It happened many times in this community.”
Darlene Salas, 12, was killed on East 116th Street in November 2010 after a car turning off Second Avenue crashed into her.
Just four months earlier, an MTA tow truck fatally struck 7-year-old Max Mendez as he stood on a sidewalk near the RFK/Triborough Bridge. He had been holding his mother’s hand.
Axel Pablo, 8, died while crossing Lexington Avenue at East 112th Street in August 2009. A distracted cabbie struck him in front of his mom and little sister.
In a letter sent to DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Stringer slammed the agency for not posting reduced-speed-limit signs with flashing lights near PS 155.
He demanded that transportation officials also install more “leading pedestrian interval” traffic signals there to give pedestrians the chance to safely cross the street before cars get a green light.
East Harlem has only two of Manhattan’s 145 such signals, and both are at 135th Street and Madison Avenue.
“Resources to calm traffic are going to other parts of the borough, but somehow not East Harlem,” said Stringer, a candidate for city comptroller. “We’re going to get out there and say enough is enough.”
The borough president is also calling on the DOT and NYPD to crack down on big-rig drivers who don’t follow truck routes.
There are seven local truck-traffic routes from 96th to 125th streets alone, but East 117th Street isn’t one of them.
Trucker Robert Carroll, 42, said he didn’t see Amar when he made a right turn from East 117th Street onto First Avenue, even though the child had a walk signal and the right of way.
“We have to make it clear to these truck drivers — you stay on the routes you’re given,” Stringer said.
“Now, we’re burying a 6-year-old who had his whole life in front of him. We want a real action plan to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Death trap
Child pedestrian fatalities within seven blocks of PS 155 since 2009:
AUG. 13, 2009
Axel Pablo, 8
E. 112th St. at Lexington Ave. Cabby talking on a cellphone struck him as he was crossing Lexington Avenue at 1:55 p.m.
JULY 30, 2010
Max Mendex, 7
E. 124th St. at Second Ave. Mowed down by an MTA tow truck at 9 a.m. as he stood on a sidewalk near the entrance ramp to the RFK/Triborough Bridge
NOV. 13, 2010
Darlene Salas, 12
E. 116th St. at Second Ave. Car turning off Second Ave. struck her as she was crossing E. 116th Street reportedly talking on her cellphone
FEB. 28, 2013
Amar Diarrassouba, 6
E. 117th St. at First Ave. Tractor-trailer ran him over as he crossed First Avenue at 7:54 a.m.