Upper East Side Crash Victim Memorialized Amid Anger Over Death

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The delivery worker killed in an Upper East Side crash on Monday is being remembered as a devoted father and passionate activist for his fellow "deliveristas," amid anger over the circumstances that led to his death.

Salvador Navarrete Flores was widely known as Chavita, or "kid," according to Los Deliveristas Unidos — the union in which he was a member. The 31-year-old had migrated to the Bronx in 2011 from his hometown of Malinaltepec, Mexico, hoping for a better life for his 12-year-old son Bryan, according to a GoFundme organized by his sister.

To earn a living, Navarrete Flores worked as a food-prepper for Just Salad and as a bicyclist for meal-delivery apps.

"During the pandemic, my brother prepared food for nurses and doctors at a Manhattan Hospital and risked his life delivering food and medicine through the delivery apps," his sister wrote.

#LosDeliveristaUnidos family at @workersjusticep is in deep grief & is mourning “Chavita” — who was killed today in the Upper East Side while going back home from work.

Chavita was part of the movement!

Join tomorrow’s vigil & donate to his funeral fund:https://t.co/sfd2aTZvcm pic.twitter.com/IfzHm89LGL
— Workers Justice (@workersjusticep) December 15, 2021

Navarrete Flores was coming home from work around 5 p.m. Monday, riding his moped up First Avenue, when he collided with a FreshDirect box truck unloading parcels near East 76th Street — which may have been parked illegally, Streetsblog reported.

A FreshDirect spokesperson said that the company was "deeply saddened about this tragic accident."

"FreshDirect wishes to extend its sincerest condolences to the family. We are unable to comment further as there is an active police investigation underway, and we are fully cooperating with the local authorities," the company said.

"NYC must do better"

Indeed, street-clogging delivery trucks have raised ire around the Upper East Side in recent months. A few blocks away on Third Avenue near East 86th Street, neighbors complained that FreshDirect and Amazon trucks were disrupting traffic on a daily basis, posing a hazard to commuters.

Fast-riding delivery workers, too, have been met with backlash in some New York neighborhoods as pedestrians fear being mowed down by an e-bike while crossing the street. But the workers say they are forced to ride fast because they are beholden to low-paying apps that punish them for slowing down — all while contending with dangerous traffic and thieves targeting their bikes.

Less than 24 hours after Salvador Navarette-Flores, a member of Los Deliveristas Unidios, was killed on 76th and 1st Ave by a @FreshDirect truck parked illegally, the truck is BACK IN THE SAME PLACE along with a new memorial to the latest victim of traffic violence in NYC. pic.twitter.com/9cFeReAzT0
— Danny Harris (@DannyHarris_TA) December 14, 2021

Indeed, cars remain a far greater threat to pedestrians compared to bikes, according to city traffic data. Of the 62 crashes that have injured pedestrians on the Upper East Side this year, more than 70 percent were caused by cars, compared to about 20 percent combined for bikes, e-bikes and scooters.

Navarrete Flores was "well known" among his fellow delivery workers for his activism, according to his sister, including through Los Deliveristas Unidos. In September, the group succeeded in winning long-fought protections from the city, through new laws setting minimum payments per trip and requiring that workers be granted access to restaurant bathrooms.

He is the 13th delivery worker to be killed on the job this year, according to the group. At least 10 died in crashes, while others were murdered on the job — including Francisco Villalva Vitinio, a DoorDash worker who was shot in East Harlem in March in an attempted e-bike robbery.

Across the five boroughs, well over 200 people have been killed in crashes on city streets in 2021 — the deadliest year of Mayor Bill de Blasio's eight-year tenure, despite his much-publicized "Vision Zero" effort.

"Chavita's death is another example of the insecurity Deliveristas battle to their work," Los Deliveristas Unidos said in a statement. "Every day, Deliveristas leave their home and don't know if they will return home. NYC must do better."

Los Deliveristas held a 5 p.m. vigil Wednesday to honor Navarrete Flores's near the corner where he was killed. The GoFundMe, which seeks to raise money for his funeral costs, had raised about $1,600 against its $20,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon.

"His dream was to return to Mexico to see his son and my mother," the fundraiser reads. "Sadly, he won’t be able to see his son and our mother again."

Thanks to all who attended the vigil today in honor of our colleague Salvador Navarrete Flores, thank you for the support and solidarity of @TransAlt @NYC_SafeStreets @DesisRisingUp @workersjusticep #losdeliveristasunidos ✊ pic.twitter.com/MV1N6Gw8Yx
— gustavo ajche (@AjcheGustavo) December 16, 2021