Father Charged After 4-Year-Old Dies in Bronx Scooter Crash
At about 9:22 p.m. at Bailey Avenue and West 193rd Street, Mario Rosario Sr. was riding a stolen motorized scooter with his 4-year-old son when he and Toyota driver William Baez collided during a left turn; the boy died and police arrested both adults.
What We Know
At about 9:22 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2022, Mario Rosario Sr. was riding south on Bailey Avenue with his 4-year-old son, Mario Rosario Jr., on a motorized scooter. Police told reporters the scooter had been stolen and that Rosario Sr. tried to pass a Toyota driven by William Baez as Baez turned left onto West 193rd Street. The collision threw the father and child to the ground; the child, who police said was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe head injuries and died at St. Barnabas Hospital. The city crash record lists one motorist killed and one injured, and records driver inexperience and improper turning as contributing factors. Reporters said police arrested Rosario Sr.; accounts differ on the exact unlicensed-driving charge reported for Baez.
A left turn and an attempted pass preceded the fatal fall
The city crash record places the collision at Bailey Avenue and West 193rd Street in the Bronx at 9:22 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2022, with one motorist killed and one injured.
Police told reporters that Mario Rosario Sr. was traveling south on a motorized scooter with his 4-year-old son seated behind him while William Baez was driving a Toyota and turning left onto West 193rd Street. News accounts said Rosario Sr. tried to pass during the turn, and the collision threw the father and child to the ground.
Mario Rosario Jr. suffered severe head injuries and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died.
Bailey Avenue and West 193rd Street were the center of the police account
The official record identifies the crash site as Bailey Avenue at West 193rd Street in Bronx ZIP code 10463. The press accounts described both the scooter rider and the Toyota driver as traveling south on Bailey Avenue before the left turn onto West 193rd Street.
The child, his father, and the Toyota driver were all identified
Mario Rosario Jr.
Mario Rosario Jr. was 4 years old and riding as a passenger on the scooter. Police told reporters he was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe head trauma, and died after medics took him to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Mario Rosario Sr.
Mario Rosario Sr., 24, was identified in the news accounts as the boy's father and the scooter rider. Gothamist reported that he suffered minor injuries.
William Baez
William Baez, 51, was identified by police in the news accounts as the Toyota driver who was turning left onto West 193rd Street.
Records cited driver inexperience, improper turning, and distraction
The city crash record lists a 2022 Fly Wing motorscooter traveling south and a 2022 Toyota sedan also traveling south. It attributes driver inexperience to the scooter operator and improper turning, with driver inattention or distraction, to the sedan driver.
Police also told reporters that the scooter had been stolen and that the child appeared not to have been wearing a helmet. Gothamist reported that police found an adult-size helmet at the scene.
Police arrested both adults, with reports differing on Baez's charge
Police arrested Rosario Sr. after the crash. Gothamist and the New York Post reported that he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of stolen property.
Police also arrested Baez. Gothamist reported a charge of driving without a license, while the New York Post reported aggravated unlicensed operation and said police described his license as suspended. The official vehicle record lists the sedan driver as unlicensed.