Leonara Campbell, a 93-year-old great-grandmother and retired nurse, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run motorcyclist on a Bronx street Monday afternoon — an attack captured in disturbing video footage released by authorities.
Background
Campbell, who had nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, was well-known in her neighborhood for her generosity, often purchasing treats for local children, according to family members. On the day she died, she was walking to pick up medications as well as candy for neighborhood kids and food for a hungry young boy.
The collision occurred near White Plains Road and East 225th Street around 2:30 p.m., police said. Campbell had been on her way to run errands when she was struck by the speeding motorcyclist, who officials say appeared to be attempting to beat a changing traffic light.
Family members described Campbell as a beloved pillar of her community. "She was always thinking of others," her grandson Rolando Barrett told the New York Post. "This is a sudden death that never should have happened."
The Investigation
Police have released multiple videos showing the moments leading up to and following the fatal collision. One clip depicts the motorcyclist revving his engine on a Bronx street, attempting to pass through an intersection as traffic signals changed — approximately 20 feet from where he would strike Campbell.
According to authorities, the suspect was riding a 2012 Yamaha YZFR1 motorcycle when he struck Campbell, dragging her along the pavement before fleeing the scene. Eyewitnesses described hearing the motorcyclist speed up as he approached the intersection.
"He was trying to make the light," one witness told the Post. "About halfway up the hill you could hear him speed up. Then he let off as he was coming across. Then, 'boom!' He hit her."
Another witness, Noel Crewe, described seeing Campbell on the ground after the collision. "Her head was bleeding by the jaw, and her ankle was all messed up, her knee all messed up," Crewe said. "We were all standing there for 45 minutes trying to help her, but by the time the ambulance took her she had already passed."
Investigators say the suspect briefly stopped after the collision, looked back at Campbell for approximately one minute, and then fled the scene. Police have launched a manhunt for the motorcyclist but have not yet identified or located him.
Key Takeaways
- Leonara Campbell, 93, was struck by a hit-and-run motorcyclist while walking near White Plains Road and East 225th Street in the Bronx
- The suspect was riding a 2012 Yamaha YZFR1 and allegedly attempted to beat a changing traffic light before the collision
- Video footage shows the motorcyclist revving his engine moments before striking Campbell, who was on her way to pick up medications and treats for neighborhood children
- Investigators say the suspect stopped briefly after the collision, looked at Campbell for about one minute, then fled
- Police are asking anyone with information to contact authorities as the manhunt continues
What's Next
The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is actively pursuing leads in the case. Detectives are reviewing additional surveillance footage and canvassing the area for witnesses who may have seen the motorcyclist before or after the collision. Authorities have not yet identified a suspect but continue to search for the rider of the 2012 Yamaha YZFR1.