AD24: Night streets. Hard endings.

Aug 25 - Southbound SUV hit a southbound cyclist on Lefferts Boulevard. The rider went down, head injured, unconscious. Police cite improper passing or lane use. The road did what it always does. The body paid.

A southbound SUV and a southbound bike collided near 87-84 Lefferts Boulevard in Queens. The bicyclist, a 32-year-old man, was injured in the head and listed as unconscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Passing or Lane Usage Improper.” The SUV’s left front quarter panel was the impact point; the bike’s damage was at the center front. These details point to driver lane misuse and improper passing as the critical errors. The report lists the cyclist’s safety equipment as “None,” but only after the driver’s improper passing noted by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837510 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 19 - A driver in a Jeep sedan struck a northbound moped at 110 St and 103 Ave in Queens. Two riders were ejected and left unconscious with severe lacerations.

Two people on a moped were gravely injured when a driver in a Jeep sedan hit them at 110 St and 103 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The moped occupants' records also list "Unsafe Speed." The sedan's right front quarter panel struck the moped's center front. Both riders were ejected and reported unconscious. Injuries listed include head trauma and severe lacerations for the moped driver, and knee/lower-leg/foot injuries with severe lacerations for the passenger. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Unsafe Speed as the driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - Eastbound Jeep on Grand Central Parkway changes lanes and hits. Back end crushed. Driver, 57, hurt. Night on the parkway. Metal, speed, and pain in Queens.

An eastbound 2010 Jeep SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens and struck another vehicle, with impact and damage to the Jeep’s center back end. The 57-year-old male driver was injured with neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the Jeep was “Changing Lanes” before the crash and the point of impact was the “Center Back End.” The data lists no pedestrian or cyclist victims, but a driver was hurt. The report does not list specific contributing factors like Failure to Yield or Unsafe Lane Change, yet the maneuver and rear impact show the danger in this move. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - The driver of a sedan going straight on Union Turnpike hit a 61-year-old man outside 189th Street. The man suffered head trauma, crush injuries and was found unconscious. The sedan then struck a parked Lexus’s left rear.

The driver of a 2023 Mercedes sedan was traveling east on Union Turnpike and, while going straight ahead, struck a 61-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside the intersection at 189th Street. The pedestrian sustained head trauma, crush injuries and was found unconscious. The sedan bore center-front damage and then struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2022 Lexus. "According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as \"Unspecified.\"" The report notes no pedestrian error and records no driver citations. Police recorded the point of impact as the vehicle’s center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 18 - A sedan hit a man crossing 131st Street in Queens. The crash left him with deep arm wounds. Police list no clear cause. The car’s front end took the blow.

A 25-year-old man was struck by a sedan while crossing 86-24 131st Street in Queens. He suffered severe lacerations to his arm. According to the police report, the sedan’s center front end hit the pedestrian, who was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The driver, a 19-year-old man, was licensed. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited. The pedestrian’s action and location are noted, but the report does not assign fault or mention any helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - A 66-year-old man lay unconscious on 101 Avenue. Head wound. Blood pooled. Car hit him at the intersection. Night air thick with sirens. No driver errors listed. System failed to protect him.

A 66-year-old male pedestrian was struck and injured at the intersection of 101 Avenue and 116 Street in Queens. According to the police report, the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious at the scene. The vehicle was traveling east and struck the pedestrian with its center front end while going straight ahead. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling. The crash left the pedestrian with serious injuries, highlighting the persistent danger at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821444 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

May 18 - A sedan backed up on 73rd Avenue. The driver lost focus. The car struck a 72-year-old woman. She suffered crush injuries to her abdomen. The street turned violent in a blink.

A 72-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a sedan backing southbound on 214-24 73rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and inattentive. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and was found unconscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No driver injuries were specified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, especially near vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 7 - Albany lawmakers push Assembly Bill 590 to force 16- and 17-year-olds on Citi Bike e-bikes to wear helmets. Critics warn helmet laws slash ridership and invite biased policing. The bill moves forward despite evidence of harm to vulnerable road users.

Assembly Bill 590, sponsored by Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), advanced in a Transportation Committee hearing on May 7, 2025. The bill would require 16- and 17-year-olds riding Class 1 or 2 e-bikes, including Citi Bikes, to wear helmets. Committee Chair William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) defended the bill, stating, "My only concern is the safety of the people riding the bike." The bill summary notes, 'studies have shown [helmet mandates] can dramatically reduce ridership of the city’s bike share system.' Experts warn such laws lead to fewer cyclists and open the door to discriminatory enforcement, especially against youth of color. Seattle dropped its helmet law in 2022 for these reasons. Despite evidence that helmet laws hurt vulnerable road users, the committee advanced the bill without addressing these harms.

• Teen Helmet Mandate for E-Citi Bikes? Albany Lawmakers are Up to No Good Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07

Apr 4 - A car mounted the sidewalk at Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. Metal twisted. Glass shattered. Nine people hurt—pedestrians, bus riders, car passengers. The bus stop became a scene of chaos. Sirens wailed. All survived. The street held the scars.

According to ABC7 (published April 4, 2025), a crash at Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens left at least nine people injured. Police said a 79-year-old woman, turning left, 'allegedly veered onto the sidewalk' to avoid a stopped Q10 bus, striking both the bus and its shelter. Four people waiting at the bus stop were hurt, as well as two bus passengers and three people inside the car. The article notes, 'Police stated that none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.' All were taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition. The incident highlights the danger when vehicles enter pedestrian space and the risks at crowded bus stops. The investigation continues.

• Car Jumps Curb, Injures Nine In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-04

Mar 23 - A Ford pickup hit a 29-year-old man on 133rd Street near Liberty Avenue. Blood spilled onto the asphalt. The man stood, stunned, his leg torn open. The driver never stopped. No brake lights, no pause, just a truck vanishing west.

A Ford pickup truck struck a 29-year-old man on 133rd Street near Liberty Avenue, according to the police report. The man, described as 'playing in the roadway,' suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and stood in shock as blood spilled onto the street. The report states the pickup did not stop after the collision—'No brake lights. Just gone.' The vehicle, registered in New Jersey, showed no reported damage and was traveling west. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The driver’s failure to remain at the scene is a central fact. The victim’s behavior is noted as 'playing in roadway,' but this is only mentioned after the driver’s actions. The collision left the pedestrian injured and abandoned, underscoring the lethal consequences when drivers fail to stop after striking a person.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 2 - A sedan slammed into a moped on Hillside Avenue, metal grinding metal. A 20-year-old man, helmeted, was crushed, pain radiating through his body. He stayed conscious. The street bore witness to the violence of careless force.

A violent collision unfolded on Hillside Avenue near 185th Street in Queens when a sedan struck a moped, according to the police report. The impact left a 20-year-old male moped passenger with severe crush injuries to his entire body. The report states he wore a helmet and did not lose consciousness, but the pain was overwhelming. Both vehicles were reported as going straight ahead before the crash. The police report does not specify contributing factors or assign blame, listing them as 'Unspecified.' However, the narrative details the sedan striking the moped, with the moped absorbing the force at its center back end and the sedan’s left front bumper taking the hit. The violence of the impact underscores the ever-present danger vulnerable road users face when sharing streets with heavier vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - A pickup truck barreled down Grand Central Parkway, smashing a sedan mid-turn and crushing a parked SUV. Blood pooled on the asphalt. A 56-year-old man, semiconscious, bled from his head as sirens screamed through Queens’ night.

According to the police report, a pickup truck traveling straight on Grand Central Parkway near 150th Street collided forcefully with a sedan that was making a right turn. The impact pushed the pickup into a parked SUV, crushing its rear. The report details that a 56-year-old male driver of the sedan was left semiconscious, suffering severe head bleeding. The narrative states: 'A pickup slammed into a turning sedan, then crushed a parked SUV. A 56-year-old man lay semiconscious, blood leaking from his head.' Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The crash data lists no victim behaviors as contributing factors. This collision highlights the deadly consequences of driver inattention and improper turning maneuvers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A Lexus sedan tore into darkness on Grand Central Parkway. Metal crumpled. A 23-year-old woman, unconscious, bled in the driver’s seat. Only speed stood between her and the morning. The road bore witness to violence and silence.

According to the police report, a Lexus sedan traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway near Francis Lewis Boulevard crashed at 5:09 a.m. The report states the vehicle 'slammed into the dark' and suffered severe front-end damage. The sole occupant, a 23-year-old woman behind the wheel, was found unconscious and bleeding, with injuries to her entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the only known contributing factor to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the isolation of the injured driver. The report does not cite any other contributing factors or victim behaviors. The evidence points squarely to excessive speed as the systemic danger in this early morning crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783039 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A sedan’s front bumper smashed a woman’s leg near Jamaica Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The driver looked away. Metal screamed. A parked Ford shuddered. The woman, conscious, lay torn and bleeding in the gutter.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old woman was struck by a Hyundai sedan near 127-03 Jamaica Avenue in Queens at 1:27 a.m. The report states she was outside the crosswalk when the vehicle hit her, splitting open her leg and causing severe lacerations. The impact was so forceful that a parked Ford SUV was also slammed. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the driver looked away before the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. The woman was conscious at the scene, her injury classified as severe. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Aug 15 - Steel met steel at Cambridge Road and 188th Street. A Jeep turned left. A Dodge drove straight. The Dodge driver’s knee split, blood pooling on the asphalt. Sirens came slow. The night held its breath, danger thick in the air.

A violent head-on crash unfolded at Cambridge Road and 188th Street in Queens, where a Jeep making a left turn collided with a Dodge sedan traveling straight, according to the police report. The report states both vehicles were responding to an 'uninvolved vehicle,' leading to the collision. The Dodge driver, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The incident occurred at 1:15 a.m. The police report cites 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor for both drivers, highlighting how unpredictable maneuvers and systemic hazards can turn routine turns and straightaways into sites of violence. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the chain of driver reactions and the inherent danger of the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - A 14-year-old boy pedaled west on 103rd Avenue. An eastbound sedan struck him head-on. Crush injuries tore through his body. He was conscious when found. Police cite improper lane usage by the driver. The street swallowed another child.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck head-on by an eastbound Acura sedan at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 130th Street in Queens at 10:46 p.m. The report states the boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious when first responders arrived. The sedan's center front end bore the brunt of the impact. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the vehicle driver for failing to maintain proper lane discipline. The report makes no mention of any cyclist actions contributing to the crash, but notes the boy was not wearing a helmet. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Governor Hochul scrapped congestion pricing. The MTA lost a billion a year. Lawmakers scrambled. Senator Liz Krueger rejected a payroll tax hike. The MTA faces a funding cliff. Subway upgrades, elevators, and clean buses now hang in the balance.

""The [payroll] mobility tax is one, we see that as a possibility,"" -- David Weprin

On June 6, 2024, Governor Hochul’s sudden reversal on Manhattan congestion pricing sparked chaos in Albany. The plan, set to start June 30, would have charged drivers $15 to enter below 60th Street, raising $1 billion yearly for transit. Hochul proposed a payroll tax hike instead, but State Senator Liz Krueger opposed it, saying, "I do not think we have an appetite for that in the Senate." The bill’s fate is uncertain as the legislative session ends. The MTA board, city officials, and business groups all voiced concern. Projects like the Second Avenue Subway, subway accessibility, and zero-emission buses now face cancellation. No alternative funding plan exists. Vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—stand to lose the most.

• Gov. Hochul’s congestion toll flip-flop spurs mad scramble at NY Capitol, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-06