AD24: Night streets. Hard endings.

Jun 6 - Council members slam Hochul’s last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion pricing. Transit funding hangs in limbo. Liz Krueger says the tax lacks support. Riders and workers face uncertainty as lawmakers reject new burdens and demand fairer solutions.

On June 6, 2024, State Sen. Liz Krueger (District 28) and other lawmakers responded to a proposed New York City tax hike meant to replace the indefinitely postponed $15 congestion pricing tolls. The measure, debated as Bill 28, has not advanced in committee and faces strong opposition. The matter, described as 'a last-minute funding move that drew fierce opposition,' has Krueger stating, 'I think it does not have support.' Assemblyman Brian Cunningham echoed, 'No new taxes.' The proposal would raise the payroll mobility tax, already increased last year, to fund the MTA. Rep. Jerry Nadler and business groups argue the tax unfairly targets NYC, while congestion pricing would have spread costs regionally. With the legislative session ending, MTA projects remain at risk. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Outrage mounts as Hochul pushes last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion tolls: ‘Insulting joke’, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-06

May 28 - A sedan slammed into an SUV on 107th Avenue. Metal twisted. Blood streaked a driver’s arm. The air reeked of alcohol. One man hurt, conscious, bleeding in the dark Queens night. Two cars, one crash, danger unchecked.

According to the police report, a sedan struck the back of a sport utility vehicle on 107th Avenue near 111th Street in Queens at 1:06 a.m. The report notes 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor in the crash. The sedan’s front end collided with the SUV’s rear, crumpling metal and causing severe bleeding to a 32-year-old male driver, who remained conscious. The narrative describes the scene: 'Metal crumpled. Blood ran down a 32-year-old man’s arm. He stayed conscious. The night smelled of alcohol.' Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the presence of alcohol and the violent impact that left one driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728519 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - A Dodge sedan hit a 23-year-old man head-on in the darkness of Van Wyck Expressway. The impact crushed his head and tore through his body. He died alone in the roadway before dawn, another life ended by steel and speed.

A 23-year-old man was killed when a southbound Dodge sedan struck him head-on on Van Wyck Expressway, according to the police report. The report states that the pedestrian was 'in the roadway' and that the sedan's center front end delivered the fatal blow. The narrative details that the impact 'crushed his head and tore through his insides,' leaving him dead at the scene before sunrise. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further explanation for the crash. The report does not cite any driver evasive action or mention any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when vehicles and vulnerable road users meet on high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725576 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Steel slammed at 120th Street and 107th Avenue. An SUV hit a sedan. Doors buckled. A man’s shoulder crushed. A woman’s body broken. Both survived, conscious. Right-of-way denied. Driver error left pain in Queens.

At 120th Street and 107th Avenue in Queens, a Ford SUV struck a northbound sedan. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV struck a northbound sedan. Metal screamed. Doors buckled.' A 26-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his shoulder. A 30-year-old woman endured injuries across her body. Both remained conscious. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the cause. The report states, 'The right-of-way was not given.' No contributing factors are listed for the victims. The crash shows the harm when drivers deny the right-of-way at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720541 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 22 - A motorcycle tore through the intersection at 114th Street and Liberty Avenue. It struck a 52-year-old woman. She died there, blood pooling on the asphalt. The bike’s front end crumpled. The street fell silent. Lives changed in an instant.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on 114th Street struck a 52-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with Liberty Avenue. The impact was severe, causing fatal head injuries; the woman died at the scene, bleeding from the head. The report notes the motorcycle’s center front end took the brunt of the collision and was left crumpled. The narrative describes the aftermath as quiet and grim. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the vehicle and the pedestrian, providing no evidence of victim error. The motorcyclist was 'going straight ahead' at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of the pedestrian’s actions contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of a motorcycle striking a pedestrian in a city intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 12 - A Ford pickup turned left at 120th Street and 101st Avenue. Its bumper hit a man crossing with the signal. He collapsed, broken and unconscious. He died in the street before dawn. Driver inattention marked his final moments.

A 47-year-old man was killed at the intersection of 120th Street and 101st Avenue in Queens when a Ford pickup truck turned left and struck him. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the signal' when the vehicle's 'left front bumper' hit him. The report states the driver was making a left turn and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The man collapsed, unconscious, suffering injuries to his entire body, and died at the scene. The police report makes no mention of any pedestrian error or unsafe behavior. The fatal impact occurred while the victim was lawfully in the crosswalk, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709148 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - 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

Dec 11 - A sedan hit a man head-on at 91st Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. Blood ran down his face. He stayed conscious but bled hard. The car’s front crumpled. The driver did not stop. The street stayed cold and raw.

A man was struck by a sedan at the corner of 91st Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan hit the pedestrian head-on. The man suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. The car’s front end crumpled from the impact. The driver did not stop. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection. No mention of helmet or signal was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 2 - 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 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - 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 2025-09-19

Oct 8 - 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 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - 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 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - 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 2025-09-19

May 22 - 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

May 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

Feb 20 - A speeding SUV slammed a parked sedan in Queens. A man, 28, clung outside. He flew. Hit the ground. Unconscious. Cut. Broken. Teens inside bled and bruised. The driver had no license. The street fell silent.

A violent crash unfolded on Lefferts Boulevard near 103rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, an unlicensed driver sped north in a 2006 SUV and struck a parked sedan. A 28-year-old man, riding on the outside of the SUV, was ejected and landed unconscious with severe lacerations and broken bones. Two 15-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy inside the SUV suffered head and facial injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed. Several occupants used no safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver’s errors. The crash left the street scarred and still.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 29 - 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 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - 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 2025-09-19

Sep 10 - 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 2025-09-19

Sep 10 - 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 2025-09-19