AD 23: Speed. Steel. Silence.

Aug 17 - Northbound on Cross Bay, a sedan smashed into a pickup’s rear. Metal tore. A rear passenger took a head hit. A driver bled from leg cuts. Police cite unsafe speed. Another night of speed on a wide Queens speedway.

Two northbound vehicles collided on Cross Bay Blvd at 165 Ave in Queens. The sedan hit the pickup’s right rear, demolishing the car. A 33-year-old male rear passenger suffered a head injury. A 27-year-old male driver sustained severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Unsafe Speed.” That driver error sits at the center of this crash. No other contributing factors were listed for the drivers or passengers. The road’s wide, fast design leaves little margin when drivers barrel ahead. Here, speed turned a straight trip into trauma for people just riding along.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836416 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.

• Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-11

Jul 31 - A sedan struck and killed a 23-year-old man walking in the roadway on 101st Street in Queens. Police listed 'Unsafe Speed' and noted slippery pavement. The driver was not seriously hurt. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries.

The driver of a sedan traveling south on 101st Street in Queens struck a 23-year-old man who was walking in the roadway. The pedestrian was killed. According to the police report, "the pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body." Police listed "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor and also noted "Pavement Slippery." The sedan's center front end struck the victim. The driver, a 31-year-old man, was not seriously hurt. The report records center front end damage and one fatality.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 31 - A sedan and a taxi collided on 101 Ave at Woodhaven Blvd in Queens. The taxi driver, 31, suffered back and crush injuries. Police recorded "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

The driver of a sedan and the driver of a taxi collided on 101 Ave at Woodhaven Blvd in Queens. The taxi driver, a 31-year-old man, suffered back and crush injuries and remained conscious. "According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.'" Police recorded passing or lane usage improper by the driver. The report lists damage to the sedan’s right rear quarter panel and the taxi’s left front quarter panel. The record notes no pedestrians or cyclists were involved and documents the taxi driver’s injuries without attributing fault to the injured person.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 21 - A sedan hit a woman crossing Rockaway Boulevard. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite following too closely. The street turned violent in a moment.

A woman walking at the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard and 105th Street in Queens was struck by a sedan. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The driver was going straight ahead when the impact occurred. No vehicle damage was reported to the sedan. The pedestrian was listed as injured, with no contributing factors assigned to her. The report centers the driver’s error as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833272 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 12 - A 13-year-old on an e-bike struck by SUV on 163 Ave. Driver inattention and inexperience listed. Teen suffered crush injuries. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A 13-year-old bicyclist was injured when an SUV and an e-bike collided on 163 Ave near Cross Bay Blvd in Queens. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. The teen cyclist suffered crush injuries to the entire body. The SUV was stopped in traffic before impact. The police report lists no contributing factors for the cyclist. The crash highlights the danger faced by young riders on city streets when drivers are inattentive or inexperienced.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827269 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - A sedan and two SUVs collided at unsafe speed on Belt Parkway. One passenger killed, several ejected and injured. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

A violent crash on Belt Parkway involved a sedan and two SUVs. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor. One 22-year-old female passenger was ejected and killed. Multiple others, including drivers and passengers, suffered injuries ranging from internal trauma to fractures and pain. Several occupants were ejected from vehicles. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the cause. No other contributing factors are named. The toll: one dead, many hurt, all marked by the force of speed and steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 4 - Two SUVs crashed on Beach Channel Drive. One driver suffered back crush injuries. Police cite improper lane usage. The road turned dangerous in a moment.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided on Beach Channel Drive at Jacob Riis Park Driveway in Queens. According to the police report, one driver, a 38-year-old man, was injured with back crush injuries but remained conscious. Two other occupants reported unspecified injuries. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the risk when drivers fail to maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827647 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 23 - Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.

• Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - Two sedans crashed in Queens. Five men hurt. One suffered neck and crush injuries. Police cite inattention and inexperience. Impact tore metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed at 96th Street and 149th Avenue in Queens. Five men were injured, including one with neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The impact struck the left front bumper and left side doors, damaging both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822057 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Feb 19 - A Toyota SUV turned left on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, metal striking a woman’s chest as she crossed with the signal. She fell hard, crushed and silent, the car untouched. The sea waited beyond, indifferent to blood on the street.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV made a left turn at Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 73rd Street in Queens. As the vehicle turned, it struck a 36-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'She crossed with the light. The Toyota turned left. Metal met chest. She dropped to the pavement. Crush injuries.' The pedestrian suffered severe chest injuries and fell to the ground. The SUV sustained no damage, and the report notes silence after the impact. The driver’s action—turning left while a pedestrian was lawfully in the crosswalk—created the deadly conflict. The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing With Signal,' underscoring that she had the right of way. No driver error is specified in the contributing factors, but the narrative and sequence of events center the danger of turning vehicles at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 16 - Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 12 - Steel buckled on Cross Bay Boulevard. A Chevy SUV, driver inattentive, rammed a stopped Jeep. The Jeep’s driver, thirty-four, strapped in, crushed and stunned, hurt everywhere. The crash left pain and shock in its wake.

A 2010 Chevy SUV struck a stopped Jeep from behind near 125th on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The report states that the Chevy SUV was 'going straight ahead' when it collided with the Jeep, which was 'stopped in traffic.' The impact crumpled steel and left the 34-year-old Jeep driver with crush injuries to his entire body. He was found in shock, still strapped in his seat. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the injured Jeep driver. The collision highlights the risks posed by distracted drivers to everyone on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 30 - A 71-year-old woman, turning east on Rockaway Freeway, crashed her Mazda. Distraction behind the wheel. The right front struck hard. Her leg split open. Blood ran. The airbag burst. She stayed awake in the sudden quiet.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2023 Mazda sedan eastbound on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41st Street in Queens when she crashed while making a right turn. The report states the vehicle struck hard at the right front bumper, causing severe bleeding and a significant leg injury to the driver. The airbag deployed. The driver remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor leading to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The report underscores the consequences of driver distraction, which resulted in serious injury and a violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 26 - Steel met skull on Beach 116th. A sedan reversed. A 79-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car. He fell, head torn open, blood pooling on cold Queens pavement. The car showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and alone.

A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations when a sedan reversed and struck him near Beach 116th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man 'stepped from behind a parked car.' The report states the sedan was 'backing unsafely,' directly citing this driver action as a contributing factor. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. He fell. Blood spread on the cold street.' Despite the impact, the vehicle showed 'no damage.' The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene, his 'head torn open.' The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe reversing maneuver by the driver. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed when drivers back unsafely, especially in areas with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 30 - A sedan crashed into a parked SUV on Belt Parkway. Metal screamed. A 26-year-old man, belted and alone, suffered crushing injuries. The police report cites following too closely and driver inattention. The night swallowed the wreckage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Belt Parkway slammed into a parked SUV. The report states, 'A sedan slammed into a parked SUV. Metal tore. A 26-year-old man, belted and alone, crushed across the body.' The driver, a 26-year-old man, was injured and remained conscious after the crash, suffering injuries to his entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV was stationary at the time of the collision, while the sedan was moving straight ahead. The impact crushed the sedan's front end and damaged the SUV's rear. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The report centers on driver error and the dangers of inattention behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 28 - Metal slammed metal near Rockaway Boulevard. A parked sedan struck from behind. A 65-year-old woman trapped in the back seat, three others hurt. The midnight air rang with pain, the violence of speed and tailgating written in steel and bone.

According to the police report, two sedans were parked near 110-00 Rockaway Blvd in Queens when one was struck from behind just before midnight. The impact crushed the rear of the vehicle, injuring four occupants. A 65-year-old woman in the back seat suffered crush injuries, along with three others. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both drivers and a front passenger, underscoring driver error as the primary cause. The narrative details, 'One struck from behind. Metal folded. A 65-year-old woman crushed in the back seat. Three others hurt.' No victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The crash exposes the persistent danger of reckless driving, even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775515 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 15 - A Ford pickup swung left on 107th Avenue. Its right bumper caught a 64-year-old woman crossing. Blood spilled from her head. The truck stood unmarked. She stayed conscious. The street fell silent, danger written in metal and flesh.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck made a left turn on 107th Avenue near 88th Street in Queens. The truck’s right front bumper struck a 64-year-old woman who was crossing the street. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes the vehicle was an 'Oversized Vehicle,' listing this as a contributing factor. The pickup showed no visible damage after the collision. The pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk or at a signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor—driver error and the oversized nature of the vehicle are explicitly highlighted. The incident underscores the lethal risk oversized vehicles pose to vulnerable road users in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18