Ten Dead, Hundreds Broken—Weprin Blocks Life-Saving Cameras

A third lawsuit strikes at the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. David Weprin and conservative lawmakers claim the review was weak. They want the toll halted. The MTA stands firm. Transit advocates call the suit a distraction. The fight delays safer, quieter streets.

On January 18, 2024, Assemblymember David Weprin and the City Council’s Common Sense Caucus filed a federal lawsuit against the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The case, filed in Manhattan, challenges the environmental review process and seeks to block the $15 daily toll for cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The lawsuit claims, 'the city, state, and federal government did not do the proper review to protect citizens.' Council Member Bob Holden called the charge 'insane.' The MTA defends its review and says delays threaten $15 billion in transit upgrades. Transit advocates say the lawsuit is frivolous and congestion pricing’s benefits are clear. The case puts the program’s timeline—and safer streets for vulnerable road users—at risk.

• Congestion pricing | MTA hit with third lawsuit from conservative group seeking to stop Manhattan toll plan, amny.com, Published 2024-01-18

A red moped hit a 56-year-old woman near 107th Avenue in Queens. She stepped from behind a parked car. Metal met flesh. Her hip broke. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. The pain was sharp and deep.

A crash occurred near 119-12 107th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a red moped traveling east struck a 56-year-old woman as she emerged from behind a parked car. The impact broke her hip and caused severe lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. The woman was not at an intersection when struck. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676491 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal screamed on Grand Central Parkway. Three sedans crashed. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Blood ran down a driver’s face. Five packed into one car. The road did not forgive. One man, conscious, bled in the wreckage.

Three sedans collided eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three sedans struck. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Metal screamed.' A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. Five people rode in one vehicle. The KIA was demolished. The Honda’s left rear quarter panel was hit. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash left at least one person injured and multiple vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mazda slammed parked cars on 95th Avenue. Two men, 28 and 34, were flung partway out. Blood soaked the seats. Both stayed conscious. The street fell silent. Metal and flesh met hard. No one walked away clean.

Two men were injured when a 1988 Mazda veered into parked cars on 95th Avenue near 113th Street in Queens. According to the police report, both the driver, 28, and the front passenger, 34, were partially ejected and suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The crash involved a reaction to an uninvolved vehicle, as listed under contributing factors. The Mazda struck a parked SUV and a parked BMW, damaging both. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report states: 'A 1988 Mazda veered into parked cars. Two men, 28 and 34, were flung partway out. Blood soaked the seats. Both were awake.' The data lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a driver error. Both injured men wore lap belts and harnesses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. Thrown from his bike, he landed hard. The drivers fled. He died alone, marked by the violence of impact. The street stayed silent. The danger stayed.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after being struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. According to the police report, 'A 20-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs. Thrown from the saddle, he hit the street hard. His body bore the mark of impact. The drivers kept going. He died there, alone.' The crash involved a Mercedes SUV and a Jeep SUV, both traveling south. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The drivers left the scene. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes hit a box truck head-on at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. The front of the car folded. A 36-year-old man in the passenger seat died, belted in place. The night was silent. Metal and glass marked the spot.

A deadly crash unfolded at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan struck a box truck headfirst. The sedan’s front end crumpled. A 36-year-old man, riding as a front passenger and wearing a seatbelt, was killed. The report states, 'A Mercedes slammed headfirst into a box truck. The front crumpled like paper. In the passenger seat, a 36-year-old man died, belted and still.' Both vehicles were traveling straight. The data lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. The victim’s use of a lap belt and harness is noted, but the cause remains unclear in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council members fight congestion pricing for 5,200 drivers. Most New Yorkers ride transit. Opponents claim harm to businesses and residents. Advocates say the plan funds transit, cuts traffic, and spares the vulnerable. The city’s future hangs in the balance.

The congestion pricing debate centers on a policy to toll drivers entering Manhattan’s core. The bill faces opposition from Council Members David Weprin, Joann Ariola, and Ari Kagan, who argue it will hurt small businesses and outer-borough residents. On May 22, 2023, Ari Kagan said, 'Congestion Pricing will hurt countless New Yorkers, small businesses, residents of so-called outer-boroughs & will create huge lines of parked cars right outside of Manhattan.' Yet, the MTA’s assessment shows only 5,200 city drivers commute by car from areas far from fast transit—just 1.2% of that population. Advocates like Felicia Park-Rogers counter, 'this policy has the potential to be utterly transformational for our city.' The plan includes exemptions for disabled and low-income drivers. Most New Yorkers stand to gain safer, better-funded transit and less congestion.

• Straw Men: The Fight Over Congestion Pricing Comes Down to Just 5,200 NYC Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-22

Council Member Joann Ariola joined the fight over congestion pricing. The debate centers on just 5,200 drivers. Most New Yorkers use transit. Opponents claim harm to businesses and residents. Data shows broad benefit. The city stands at a crossroads.

On May 22, 2023, Council Member Joann Ariola (District 32) was mentioned in a public debate over New York City's congestion pricing policy. The matter, titled 'Straw Men: The Fight Over Congestion Pricing Comes Down to Just 5,200 NYC Drivers,' highlights that only 1.2% of residents far from fast transit drive into the congestion zone. Ariola, along with other council members, voiced concerns about impacts on small businesses and residents. The debate draws on MTA data showing most New Yorkers rely on public transit, not cars. Exemptions and discounts for disabled and low-income drivers are included in the policy. Advocates argue congestion pricing will reduce traffic, fund transit, and transform city streets for vulnerable road users. The council's discussion reflects a sharp divide between data and political narrative.

• Straw Men: The Fight Over Congestion Pricing Comes Down to Just 5,200 NYC Drivers, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-05-22

A motorcycle and SUV slammed head-on on Liberty Avenue. The rider, 49, flew from his bike. He wore a helmet. His body broke. Paralysis followed. The night swallowed the noise. Wreckage and silence remained.

A motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle collided head-on on Liberty Avenue near 114th Street in Queens. The 49-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered paralysis, with injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when they struck each other. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No other serious injuries were reported among the occupants. The crash left the scene shattered and quiet, with the consequences of inexperience clear in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman lay dying on 120th Street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Her head struck. A man, broken back, survived. Two parked SUVs gashed and empty. No driver found. Sirens cut the silence. The street held only wreckage and loss.

A 31-year-old woman was killed and a 40-year-old man suffered a fractured back on 120th Street near 97th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman lay dying in the road with a severe head injury and bleeding, while the man was conscious but injured. Two parked SUVs were found with heavy damage to their left sides. No driver was present at the scene. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the street scarred and silent, with only the injured and the dead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567693 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup’s door swung open on Jamaica Avenue. An e-bike rider hit it head-on. He flew hard, head cracked, blood on the street. The bike’s frame bent. The truck’s door twisted. Driver inattention marked the moment. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A 32-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured after colliding with the open door of a parked pickup truck near 118-14 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider struck the truck’s left-side door, was ejected, and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The pickup truck was parked at the time. The crash left the bike’s front end folded and the truck’s door bent. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into a turning Subaru at Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. The rider, 31, flew from the bike. He wore a helmet. He did not have a license. He died at the scene. The sedan driver survived.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck a Subaru sedan making a left turn. The 31-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and killed. He was wearing a helmet but did not have a license. The sedan’s driver, a 30-year-old woman, survived. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the sedan’s left front bumper. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver inexperience and the dangers at busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal split on Clearview Expressway. An SUV crushed its front. A Ford truck lay demolished. One man, fifty, died at the wheel. Another driver, eighteen, hurt his neck. The cause: driver inattention. The toll: one life, many broken bodies.

A deadly crash unfolded on Clearview Expressway. According to the police report, a 50-year-old man died after his SUV struck a Ford truck. The SUV's front end was crushed. The truck was demolished. An 18-year-old driver suffered neck injuries. Several others were listed as injured or with unspecified harm. The police report states: 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling south; the truck was changing lanes when struck. The 50-year-old man was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left metal torn and bodies broken. The report lists no other contributing factors beyond driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Nissan sedan, moving too fast, struck a man crossing Jamaica Avenue. The car hit head-on. The man’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. The driver had no license. The night held its breath.

A 29-year-old man was crossing near 117-13 Jamaica Avenue in Queens when a Nissan sedan struck him head-on. According to the police report, the driver was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed. The impact caused severe lacerations to the pedestrian’s lower leg, leaving him conscious but bleeding on the pavement. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan’s center front end took the brunt of the crash. No injuries were reported for the occupants inside the vehicle. The system failed the man on the street. The driver’s lack of license and reckless speed turned a crossing into a scene of violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chrysler sedan tore down 121st Street. It flipped, smashed parked cars, struck a stopped Jeep. The driver died. A pedestrian and several others were hurt. Speed and distraction ruled the night. The street fell silent after the crash.

A violent crash on 121st Street in Queens left one man dead and several people injured. According to the police report, a Chrysler sedan traveling at unsafe speed flipped, hit parked cars, and struck a stopped Jeep. The 27-year-old driver died from head injuries. A 20-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg injuries. Other occupants and passengers, including a 24-year-old woman and a 55-year-old woman, were also hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash shows the deadly consequences when speed and distraction take over city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal tore on Grand Central Parkway. Three cars smashed. A 27-year-old woman trapped, legs crushed. Pain sharp, unyielding. Others hurt. Speed too high. No one left untouched. The road marked by violence and steel.

Three vehicles crashed westbound on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three cars hit. Metal screamed. A 27-year-old woman, front seat, legs crushed beneath the dash. She stayed awake. Could feel it all. Speed too fast. No one walked away unchanged.' The crash left the 27-year-old front passenger trapped with severe crush injuries to her lower legs. A 41-year-old driver reported pain across his body. Multiple others were involved, including a child, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows all drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. The violence of speed left lasting harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck turned right at Union Turnpike and 193rd Street. Its front end hit an 83-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She fell. She died on the cold pavement. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed silent.

An 83-year-old woman was killed when a box truck struck her as she crossed Union Turnpike at 193rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the truck was making a right turn when its front end hit the woman in the crosswalk. She suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors, and notes the truck sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The police report does not mention helmet use, signals, or pedestrian error. The crash left a vulnerable road user dead on a city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4505331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A tractor-trailer struck a parked sedan on 143rd Street. The truck kept moving. Inside the car, a 19-year-old boy died. The street stayed silent. Metal twisted. No one stopped. The crash left a family shattered.

A tractor-trailer hit a parked Nissan sedan near 86-40 143rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the truck rolled on after the impact, leaving the sedan crushed. Inside the car, a 19-year-old male occupant was found dead, belted in his seat. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The truck showed no damage and did not stop. The sedan was struck on the left side doors. No helmet or signal use was listed as a factor. The crash highlights the lethal risk heavy vehicles pose to people inside parked cars when drivers are inattentive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4505578 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04