Queens AD25: speed, sleep, and a curb that bites

Dec 28 - A northbound SUV veered off course on 188th Street. The driver, a 48-year-old woman, fell asleep and crashed into a parked Jeep. Metal shrieked. Airbag burst. Blood spilled. The street held its breath. The city’s danger never sleeps.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old woman driving a northbound GMC SUV on 188th Street near 75-19 lost control after she 'drifted asleep behind the wheel.' Her vehicle collided with a parked Jeep, striking the left rear bumper and damaging the Jeep’s left rear quarter panel. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash triggered the airbag, and the driver suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. No other occupants or bystanders were involved. The parked Jeep was unoccupied. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver incapacitation and the vulnerability of everyone on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781898 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 24 - A man lay on Clearview Expressway. Three cars struck him. His chest crushed, life ended there. Another man behind the wheel, pinned and broken. Steel and rain, speed and error. The road did not forgive.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man was killed on the northbound Clearview Expressway after being struck by three vehicles. The report states, 'A man lay in the road. Three cars struck. His chest crushed. He died there.' Another 56-year-old man, driving one of the vehicles, was injured and pinned, suffering chest injuries described as 'crush injuries.' The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors, along with 'Pavement Slippery.' These driver errors—specifically following too closely—are cited as direct contributors to the crash. The narrative highlights the systemic danger posed by multiple vehicles traveling straight ahead on a slick roadway, with no mention of pedestrian error as a contributing factor. The deadly sequence unfolded on a rain-slicked expressway, where human error and hazardous conditions combined with fatal results.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - A flatbed truck rolled west on the Long Island Expressway. Its right front bumper struck a 65-year-old man lying off the roadway. Blood pooled. Death came before dawn. Driver inattention, police say, left the man unseen and unspared.

A 65-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The incident occurred off the roadway, with the pedestrian described as 'not in roadway' and 'not at intersection.' The police report states, 'Two flatbeds passed. One did not see. The right front bumper struck his head.' The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited in the police report is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No driver errors beyond inattention are listed. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the truck driver's failure to notice the man lying off the road, resulting in a fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 15 - A moped slammed into an SUV’s side on Goethals Avenue. The 26-year-old rider crumpled, blood pooling from his leg. He wore a helmet. The SUV turned left. Sirens echoed. The city’s danger pressed in, steel against flesh.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Goethals Avenue near 162nd Street in Queens at 1:30 p.m. when a moped traveling straight struck the left side of a station wagon/SUV making a left turn. The 26-year-old moped rider suffered severe lacerations to his leg and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, underscoring the SUV driver's error in turning left across the moped’s path. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The narrative details, 'The moped hit first, straight into the SUV’s side. The rider, 26, crumpled on impact. Blood ran from his leg. He wore a helmet. She turned left. He had a permit.' The data makes clear the systemic risk when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 21 - A westbound car swept past an 80-year-old man on 48th Avenue, its bumper slamming into his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious, wounded and cut. The street held no intersection, only danger and steel.

According to the police report, an 80-year-old pedestrian was walking with traffic along 48th Avenue near 206th Street at dusk when a westbound car 'passed too close.' The vehicle's right front bumper struck the man's head, causing severe lacerations and bleeding. The report notes that the pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Passing Too Closely,' a clear driver error. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative documents the impact, the injuries, and the absence of intersection controls, underscoring the peril faced by those on foot when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - A 21-year-old moped passenger died on 73rd Avenue, thrown from the seat, head striking asphalt. No helmet. Speed too high. Evening light fading. The crash left the street silent, the body still, the danger plain.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 73rd Avenue and 184th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a moped traveling east struck the center front end of an SUV heading north. The 21-year-old male passenger on the moped was ejected, suffering fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Speed too high,' and lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative describes the rider flying off the moped and striking his head on the pavement, with no helmet present. The crash occurred as daylight faded, underscoring the risks when speed overrides control. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, focusing instead on the excessive speed that led to the fatal impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 22 - A BMW motorcycle slammed into a pickup’s rear bumper on Clearview Expressway. The unlicensed rider, helmeted, was ejected and killed instantly. Speed and alcohol marked the scene. The night swallowed the body, torn and still.

A deadly collision unfolded on Clearview Expressway when a BMW motorcycle crashed into the left rear bumper of a pickup truck, according to the police report. The 39-year-old motorcycle rider, described as unlicensed and helmeted, was ejected from his seat and pronounced dead at the scene, his body suffering severe lacerations. The report notes that 'speed and alcohol marked the pavement,' underscoring the high-risk conditions present. Both the motorcycle and pickup truck drivers were unlicensed at the time of the crash, according to the police report. The motorcycle was traveling straight ahead while the pickup was changing lanes. The police narrative details the violence of the impact and the aftermath, but does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor beyond helmet use. The focus remains on the systemic dangers of unlicensed operation and high-speed driving on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734986 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 7 - A GMC SUV turned left on 73rd Avenue, striking a woman on her bike. Metal slammed flesh. Her face was crushed. She stayed conscious. The driver, distracted, failed to yield. Systemic danger left blood on the street.

A woman riding her bike eastbound on 73rd Avenue at 193rd Street was struck by a GMC SUV making a left turn, according to the police report. The cyclist, age 34, suffered crush injuries to her face but did not lose consciousness. The report states the SUV driver was 'distracted' and failed to yield right-of-way. Both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' are listed as contributing factors. The police narrative describes the moment: 'Metal met flesh. Her face crushed against steel.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the driver’s errors. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged, indicating the force of the impact. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by inattentive drivers turning across the paths of vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A Mercedes tore east on Grand Central Parkway, speed unchecked. The car flipped, metal shrieked, bodies struck. One young driver died, four others hurt. The road bore witness to reckless force and sudden, brutal silence.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old man was driving a Mercedes eastbound on Grand Central Parkway at 6:46 a.m. when the vehicle overturned. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The Mercedes, described as speeding and passing, flipped and was demolished. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. Four other occupants in the crash were injured. The police report details, 'The car flipped. His head struck. Four others hit. The metal folded. His body half-flung.' The violence of the crash left the Mercedes destroyed and the roadway scarred. Driver error—specifically unsafe speed and aggressive driving—are explicitly listed as causes in the official account. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725811 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 1 - A garbage truck struck a cyclist on College Point Boulevard, tearing his arm and mangling his bike. The man, conscious but bleeding, lost more than metal. The street bore witness to the violence of heavy machinery against flesh.

A 45-year-old man riding a bicycle was struck by a garbage truck on College Point Boulevard near 59th Avenue in Queens at 2:51 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the cyclist was 'thrown, conscious, bleeding,' with his arm torn and the bike mangled. The collision resulted in an amputation injury to the cyclist's upper arm. The point of impact for both vehicles was the center front end, indicating a direct collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'A garbage truck crushed a cyclist... He lost more than metal.' The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is not cited as a contributing factor. The data underscores the lethal risk posed by large vehicles sharing city streets with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 21 - A sedan barreled south on Francis Lewis Boulevard, slamming into an SUV and a parked car. The driver, head bloodied, lay unconscious. Alcohol and distraction fueled the crash. The street was silent, the toll loud and clear.

A violent crash unfolded on Francis Lewis Boulevard near 46th Avenue in Queens when a southbound sedan struck the rear of a sport utility vehicle and then collided with a parked car. According to the police report, the 29-year-old male driver of the sedan was found unconscious, suffering severe head bleeding. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The narrative details how the sedan 'slammed into the rear of an SUV, then a parked car,' leaving the driver slumped and bleeding. No evidence from the report indicates any error or contributing action by the SUV occupants or the parked vehicle. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver impairment and distraction, as documented by the responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 6 - A Honda SUV turned on Blossom Avenue and struck a 63-year-old woman riding an e-scooter. She was ejected, suffered fatal head trauma, and died alone in the morning light. Blood marked the pavement. Failure to yield sealed her fate.

A 63-year-old woman riding an e-scooter was killed when a Honda SUV struck her during a left turn on Blossom Avenue near College Point Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were making left turns when the SUV hit the e-scooter, ejecting the rider and causing fatal head trauma. The report states that 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor in the crash. The woman died at the scene, her blood marking the pavement. The police narrative describes the victim as 'unlicensed and unshielded,' but no victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the SUV driver's failure to yield, a systemic danger that continues to threaten vulnerable road users in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707767 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 3 - A 42-year-old man crossing Main Street met the front of an Audi SUV. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. He stayed conscious, head split open. The driver did not stop. The city’s danger pressed in from every direction.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old man was crossing Main Street at Blossom Avenue in Queens when an Audi SUV traveling south struck him head-on. The report states the collision occurred at 6:40 a.m. The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his head, with blood visible on the street, but remained conscious at the scene. The driver of the Audi did not stop after the impact. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor to the crash. Instead, both contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' The driver’s failure to remain at the scene stands out as a critical failure in duty and responsibility. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 24 - State lawmakers unlocked millions from the Outer Borough Transportation Account. The money will fund toll rebates and transit projects. Some cash backs driving. Some boosts buses. Advocates push for more bus service. Riders need better, faster, safer options now.

Bill: Outer Borough Transportation Account (OBTA) funding allocation. Status: Active as of January 24, 2024. Committee: State legislature, with final approval by the Capital Program Review Board. The OBTA, created in 2018, collects a taxi surcharge as 'Phase I' of congestion pricing. The first $300 million funded subway repairs; the next $50 million now goes to projects chosen by state legislators and the governor. The bill summary notes, 'A special fund created in 2018 to pay for transportation 'carrots' intended to counteract the supposed stick of congestion pricing finally has a balance of tens of millions of dollars.' Assembly Member Nily Rozic (D-Queens) secured restored Q46 bus service. Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA called for a weekly City Ticket. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance demanded better bus service, saying, 'The most important thing is better bus service.' The fund will shape how New Yorkers travel as congestion pricing nears.

• The Money For Congestion Pricing ‘Carrots’ Is Finally Here, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-24

Jan 11 - Two sedans slammed head-on on 67th Avenue. Parked cars shuddered. A 21-year-old woman, belted and conscious, was pinned behind the wheel, her legs crushed. The right-of-way was ignored. Metal screamed. The street held its breath.

A violent head-on collision between two sedans erupted on 67th Avenue near 172nd Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash left a 21-year-old woman pinned behind the wheel, her legs crushed, conscious but trapped. The report states, 'Two sedans collided head-on. A 21-year-old woman, belted and conscious, was pinned behind the wheel. Her legs crushed. Parked cars took the blow. The right-of-way was not given.' The collision’s contributing factor is listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' This failure to yield directly led to the impact, sending one or both vehicles into parked cars and causing severe injury. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The report centers the systemic danger when drivers disregard right-of-way, turning a street into a site of violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694221 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 24 - A BMW slammed into a Lexus at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman died. Speed killed. Metal bent. Life ended. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW struck the side of a Lexus SUV. The Lexus driver, a 72-year-old woman, was killed. The report states, “A BMW struck fast from the front. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman sat belted. Her body broke. She never woke.” The police list 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The victim was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash left one dead and exposed the lethal risk of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 20 - A Hyundai drifted down 164 Street. The driver, 66, lost consciousness. His car struck a parked Honda. His chest hit the belt. The street went silent. He died at the scene. No one else was hurt.

A 66-year-old man driving a Hyundai south on 164 Street lost consciousness at the wheel. According to the police report, his car drifted forward and struck a parked Honda sedan. The impact crushed his chest against the seatbelt. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. The driver was killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The parked Honda was unoccupied at the time. The police report does not list any other contributing factors or mention helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680918 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 16 - A Harley slammed a sedan’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider flew from his bike. His leg was crushed. He lay helmeted, conscious, on the cold asphalt. Traffic thundered by. The road did not stop for him.

A 31-year-old man riding a 2011 Harley motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan while traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his motorcycle and suffered crush injuries to his leg. He remained conscious and was wearing a helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The sedan’s right rear bumper and the motorcycle’s left front bumper were damaged. No other injuries are reported. The crash left the motorcyclist injured and exposed as traffic continued past.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 23 - A Mazda sped south on Clearview Expressway. It merged hard. The roof folded under the force. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. He stayed awake. No one else was hurt. The crash left metal and blood behind.

A 2016 Mazda sedan, traveling southbound on Clearview Expressway, crashed while merging at high speed. According to the police report, 'A 2016 Mazda, southbound and merging fast, struck hard. The roof folded. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. Hurt all over. He was awake. No one else was there.' The only occupant, a 28-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations and injuries across his entire body. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The impact crushed the roof and left the driver trapped. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 19 - Two SUVs crashed at 53rd Avenue and 206th Street. One slammed into the other’s side. A woman, 46, sat up front. Her head bled. The airbag burst. She stayed conscious. Inattention behind the wheel drew blood on glass.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at the corner of 53rd Avenue and 206th Street in Queens. According to the police report, one SUV struck the side of the other. A 46-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. She remained conscious after the crash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The airbag deployed in the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18