On September 13, 1899, a 68-year-old real estate man named Henry Bliss made history in a way no one ever wants to. He became the first person in the USA to die in an automobile accident.
As he was stepping off a streetcar at West 74th Street and Central Park West in New York City, he got struck by an electric-powered taxicab. At the time, automobiles were still very rare on the streets of New York. Most people traveled by horse and carriage or streetcar. As Mr. Bliss was helping a lady off the trolley, a taxi belonging to the Electric Vehicle Company hit him. The impact caused severe injuries to his head and chest. He was rushed to the hospital, but sadly, he passed away the next morning.
“Fatally Hurt By Automobile” was the next day’s headline in The New York Times, that described in detail how the accident happened.
This event is recognized as the first time a person in the United States died due to an automobile. It was a shocking event for the public because the “horseless carriage” was still a new and strange invention. The driver of the taxi, Arthur Smith, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, though he was eventually acquitted because the court decided the event was a tragic accident rather than a crime.
On the 100th anniversary of Henry Hale Bliss’s death, a special ceremony was held to put up a memorial plaque at the location of the accident. The event was attended by many people, including his great-granddaughter, to honor his memory.
The death of Henry Bliss was a wake-up call for a changing world. It highlighted the need for traffic laws and safety rules as people started using more cars. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 17,140 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes from January through June 2025.
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