New York City pedestrian hit-and-run investigation closed without suspect

A hit-and-run incident in Midtown Manhattan has highlighted challenges in pedestrian safety and police investigations. On June 23, 2026, 26-year-old Vijay Bharadwaj was struck by a vehicle while crossing West 34th Street at Dyer Avenue. Bharadwaj was within a marked crosswalk with a traffic signal when a turning driver hit him, knocking him to the ground and running over part of his body.

The collision resulted in serious injuries, including a fractured hip, head injuries, and lacerations, leaving Bharadwaj unable to walk for six weeks. Despite the existence of surveillance footage capturing the collision, the NYPD closed the investigation three months later. Officials stated that investigators were unable to obtain a sufficiently clear license plate number or other identifying information to locate the driver.

The case has drawn scrutiny regarding the NYPD's investigative resources. Reports indicate that the agency's elite Collision Investigation Squad primarily focuses on fatal crashes, leaving many non-fatal but violent incidents to precinct detectives. In this instance, the victim reported that the official police report contained omissions, such as failing to note that the pedestrian was in a crosswalk when the vehicle made a turn.