Crash Count for AD 26
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 3,384
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 1,853
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 350
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 26
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 5
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jun 7, 2025
Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in AD 26?
SUVs/Cars 44 6 2 Trucks/Buses 5 0 0 Bikes 0 0 0 Motos/Mopeds 0 0 0

One Child Dead, Sixty-Seven Hurt—Queens Streets Still Bleed

AD 26: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025

The Toll in AD 26: One Year, One Child Lost

A child died. Six hundred forty-six people were hurt. Nine suffered injuries so severe they may never walk the same. This is Assembly District 26. This is Queens. This is now.

In the last twelve months, one child was killed and sixty-seven more were injured in crashes. The old are not spared. Forty-one people over 75 were hurt. The numbers do not bleed, but the people behind them do. See NYC Open Data.

The Machines That Crush

Cars and SUVs do most of the damage. In three years, they killed two, left six with serious wounds, and battered dozens more. Trucks and buses added five more serious injuries. No one died on a bike. No one died on a motorcycle. The danger comes on four wheels, not two.

Leadership: Steps Taken, Steps Delayed

Assembly Member Ed Braunstein voted yes on a bill to bring speed cameras to school zones in Schenectady. Cameras catch drivers who speed where children walk. The bill passed. But this was not for Queens. It was not for Bayside or Douglaston or Little Neck. It was not for the children who cross 73rd Avenue or Utopia Parkway. See A 7652.

Braunstein has called for more express bus service before congestion pricing begins. He has spoken about funding for the MTA. But on the blood and bone of local streets, the record is thin. The silence is heavy. See NY Post.

What Comes Next: No More Waiting

The disaster is slow, but it is not fate. Lower the speed limits. Build real protection for people on foot and on bikes. Expand speed cameras to every school, every crossing. Hold drivers—not children—accountable.

Call Ed Braunstein. Call your council member. Demand action. Every day of delay is another day for the next siren, the next mother’s scream, the next toy left in the road.

Citations

Citations
Other Geographies

AD 26 Assembly District 26 sits in Queens, Precinct 111, District 19.

It contains Bay Terrace-Clearview, Fort Totten, Bayside, Douglaston-Little Neck, Alley Pond Park, Glen Oaks-Floral Park-New Hyde Park.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Assembly District 26

Distracted Driver Strikes Elderly Woman Crossing 263rd Street

A northbound sedan hit a 67-year-old woman crossing 263rd Street near 75th Avenue. She bled on the pavement, conscious, her leg torn. The driver, distracted, did not stop. Darkness, no crosswalk, no signal—just impact and aftermath.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old woman was crossing 263rd Street near 75th Avenue in Queens when she was struck head-on by a northbound Acura sedan. The crash occurred in the dark, with no crosswalk or signal present at the location. The report states the driver was distracted, citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The woman suffered severe bleeding from her leg but remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the collision. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing where there was no signal or crosswalk, but the police report lists driver distraction as the key factor in the crash. The focus remains on the driver's inattention and the systemic dangers faced by those crossing city streets outside of marked crossings.


Infiniti Speeding on Parkway Crushes Teen Passenger

A 2006 Infiniti raced north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal screamed, hips shattered. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, was crushed by the impact. The car lay demolished in the dark, the night echoing with pain and ruin.

According to the police report, a 2006 Infiniti sedan was traveling north on Cross Island Parkway at 2:40 a.m. when it crashed at high speed. The report states the vehicle was moving with 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as a contributing factor. The right front bumper took the brunt of the impact, leaving the car 'demolished.' A 17-year-old front passenger suffered severe crush injuries to his hips and upper legs. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and remained conscious after the collision. The report also notes 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as a secondary contributing factor. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The right front hit hard. Metal folded. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, screamed through crushed hips.' No actions by the passenger are listed as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the excessive speed and mechanical failure that led to devastating harm.


Speeding Sedan Overturns, Teen Passenger Killed

A sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway, speed unchecked. The car flipped, metal shrieked, six inside. A seventeen-year-old boy, unbelted, was thrown from the wreck. His body shattered. Sirens wailed through the night, marking another life ended by reckless velocity.

According to the police report, a 2014 Nissan sedan traveling southbound on Cross Island Parkway with six occupants crashed after the driver lost control at unsafe speed. The report states, 'A 2014 Nissan, six inside, hit speed and flipped.' The vehicle overturned, and a 17-year-old male passenger seated in the left rear was ejected from the car. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The teen suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The narrative details, 'A 17-year-old boy in the back, no belt, thrown clear. Whole body broken.' No other contributing factors are cited for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers exceed safe speeds, especially with multiple passengers in the vehicle.


5
Head-On SUV Collision Crushes Child, Woman

Two SUVs met head-on on Cross Island Parkway. Steel ripped. Roofs caved. A ten-year-old boy and a thirty-four-year-old woman were crushed in their seats. Five people injured. Speed and failure to yield tore lives apart in the night.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided head-on on Cross Island Parkway at 10:15 p.m. The impact was catastrophic: 'Roofs folded. Steel tore. A 10-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman crushed in their seats. Five injured. All awake. All broken.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors for at least one vehicle. The narrative underscores that 'speed was too much. Yielding came too late.' Both the child and the woman, along with three others, suffered crush injuries to their entire bodies. All occupants were conscious but injured. The data points to driver actions—excessive speed and failure to yield—as the primary causes of this violent crash. No contributing factors are attributed to the victims.


Improper Lane Use Sends Motorcyclist Bleeding on Expressway

A Honda motorcycle struck a Volkswagen SUV’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, helmeted but unlicensed, suffered severe bleeding. Metal screamed. The SUV’s bumper crumpled. Westbound lanes bore witness to the violence of improper lane use.

According to the police report, a 2009 Honda motorcycle collided with the rear of a Volkswagen SUV on the Long Island Expressway. The crash occurred in the westbound lanes. The motorcyclist, a 26-year-old man, was helmeted but unlicensed and suffered severe bleeding to his entire body, remaining conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV’s left rear bumper was damaged, and the sound of impact echoed across the highway. The police report makes clear that improper lane usage and unsafe speed were central to the crash, underscoring the dangers present on New York City’s high-speed corridors.


Sedan Backs Into Elderly Woman Off Roadway

A KIA sedan reversed near 26th Avenue. Its bumper struck a 78-year-old woman standing off the roadway. Her body crushed, pain unyielding. She stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. The street stayed indifferent.

According to the police report, a KIA sedan backed up near 208-11 26th Avenue in Queens at 14:53. The vehicle struck a 78-year-old woman who was standing off the roadway. The report states, 'A KIA sedan backed up. No damage to the car. A 78-year-old woman stood off the roadway. The bumper found her. Her whole body crushed. She stayed conscious. The pain did not let go.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her entire body and remained conscious at the scene. The police report identifies 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. No vehicle damage was reported. The data makes clear: driver error—specifically unsafe backing—directly led to severe injury for a vulnerable pedestrian.


Hyundai Sedan Driver Suffers Severe Crush Injuries

A Hyundai sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway. Metal twisted, glass shattered. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious as crush injuries swept her body. The car’s right front quarter bore the brunt. The night air held the sound.

A Hyundai sedan traveling north on Cross Island Parkway crashed, inflicting severe crush injuries on its sole occupant, a 30-year-old woman. According to the police report, the vehicle's right front quarter panel sustained heavy damage. The driver remained conscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness, but suffered injuries described as spreading through her entire body. The report states the driver was licensed and alone in the car. Both contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The narrative notes, 'A Hyundai sedan slammed hard on its right front. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious. Her seatbelt held. Her bones did not. Crush injuries spread through her body like fire through dry grass.' No other vehicles or road users are named in the report, and no driver errors are specified.


Speeding SUV Slams Stopped Car on Utopia Parkway

A Dodge SUV, moving too fast, struck a stopped Honda on Utopia Parkway. Metal screamed. A 73-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries. The afternoon stilled as bodies and steel absorbed the force. Speed left its mark.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling south on Utopia Parkway at an unsafe speed collided with the rear of a stopped Honda SUV. The crash occurred in the early afternoon. The report states, 'A Dodge SUV, speeding south, slammed into a stopped Honda. Metal groaned.' The 73-year-old male driver of the Honda, who was wearing his seatbelt, sustained crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The impact was severe enough to cause significant damage to both vehicles, with the Dodge's left front bumper striking the Honda's center back end. No actions or errors are attributed to the injured driver in the report. The focus remains on the danger posed by excessive speed on city streets.


4
High-Speed SUV Crash Shatters Four Lives

Three SUVs tore north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal slammed metal. Glass exploded. Four men, ages seventeen to forty-four, crushed in their seats. Belts held. Bones broke. Speed carved pain into steel. All awake. All broken.

On Cross Island Parkway, three SUVs collided in a violent chain-reaction, leaving four men aged 17 to 44 with severe crush injuries. According to the police report, all vehicles were traveling northbound when the crash occurred at 19:50. The report describes the scene: 'Three SUVs, metal to metal. A hard strike. Glass burst. Four men, ages 17 to 44, crushed in their seats. Belts held them tight. All awake. All broken. Speed carved the pain into steel.' The official contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' This systemic danger—drivers operating at speeds too high for control—directly led to the catastrophic injuries. No other contributing factors were cited for the victims. The report does not attribute any fault to the injured occupants, who were all restrained by seatbelts at the time of impact.


Box Truck Slams Tractor-Trailer, Driver's Legs Crushed

A box truck barreled into a diesel rig’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. Steel twisted. The 25-year-old driver’s legs were crushed. He stayed conscious, pain sharp and unyielding. Following too closely left him broken in the cab.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on the Long Island Expressway when a box truck crashed into the back of a diesel tractor-trailer, according to the police report. The report states the box truck 'slammed into a diesel rig’s rear,' folding steel and pinning the 25-year-old driver. He suffered severe crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious throughout, with pain keeping him awake. The police report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The impact targeted the center front end of the box truck and the rear of the tractor-trailer. The driver was wearing a lap belt at the time. No other contributing factors are listed in the report. The collision highlights the lethal consequences of driver error and the dangers inherent in truck traffic on city expressways.


Distracted SUV Driver Strikes Elderly Pedestrian Head-On

A left-turning SUV, driver distracted, struck a 68-year-old man crossing Westmoreland Street. The bumper hit his head. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, wounded. The street fell silent, danger revealed in the moment’s violence.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was crossing Westmoreland Street near 41st Drive in Queens when he was struck by a left-turning SUV. The report states the driver was distracted at the time of the crash, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding, and the man remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s left front bumper was the point of impact. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is only mentioned after the driver’s distraction is cited as the main factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention on city streets.


SUV Slams Motorcycle, Rider Ejected and Injured

An SUV struck a motorcycle from behind on Bell Boulevard. The rider flew from his bike. Blood pooled on the street. His leg was torn open. He wore a helmet. The crash left him conscious, wounded, and alone in the early morning dark.

A 27-year-old man riding a Kawasaki motorcycle was ejected after an SUV struck the rear of his bike on Bell Boulevard near 36th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV hit the motorcycle’s center back end, causing severe lacerations to the rider’s leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The scene was marked by silence, pain, and blood on the asphalt. The crash highlights the dangers faced by motorcyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or keep a safe distance.


4
Distracted SUV Driver Kills Pedestrian on 73 Avenue

A 67-year-old man stood mid-block on 73 Avenue. An SUV driver, distracted, struck him. Metal crushed bone. His legs broke. He died in the street, pinned between machines. The road stayed open. The city moved on.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was killed mid-block on 73 Avenue when a moving SUV struck him. According to the police report, 'Distraction behind the wheel. Metal met flesh. His legs shattered. He died there, between machines.' The crash involved two parked SUVs and one moving SUV. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was performing 'Other Actions in Roadway' when the crash occurred. No helmet or signal use is cited as a factor. The deadly impact highlights the danger of driver distraction and the vulnerability of people on foot.


SUV Swerves, Crushes Man Fixing Parked Car

A Jeep veered on Cross Island Parkway. It struck a man fixing his Ford. Steel crushed his pelvis. He stayed awake. Pain did not leave. Unsafe lane change left him broken on the roadside.

A 39-year-old man was working on his parked Ford SUV on Cross Island Parkway when a Jeep SUV, changing lanes, veered and struck him. According to the police report, "Unsafe Lane Changing" was the contributing factor. The impact crushed the man's pelvis, causing severe injuries. The police report states he remained conscious after the crash. The man was not at an intersection and was engaged in vehicle repair when the collision occurred. No errors are attributed to the pedestrian. The crash involved two SUVs, with the Jeep’s right front bumper hitting the Ford’s rear. No helmet or signal issues are listed as contributing factors.


2
Pickup Rear-Ends SUV at High Speed

A Ford pickup, speeding and changing lanes, slammed into a Lexus SUV on Clearview Expressway. Two men, trapped in their seats, suffered crush injuries. Metal pinned them. Pain did not let go. Unsafe speed turned steel into a cage.

Two men, aged 60 and 40, were injured on Clearview Expressway when a Ford pickup, moving at unsafe speed, changed lanes and crashed into a Lexus SUV from behind. According to the police report, 'A Ford pickup, changing lanes too fast, slammed into a Lexus SUV from behind. Two men, 60 and 40, were crushed in their seats. Both conscious. Both broken.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were pinned and suffered crush injuries to their entire bodies but remained conscious. The data shows no contributing factors from the victims. The force of the impact and the listed driver error show the systemic danger on this stretch of road.


SUV Turns, Strikes Woman Crossing Jordan Street

A Hyundai SUV turned right. The driver looked away. The front end hit a 62-year-old woman in the face. Blood poured. She stayed conscious. The SUV showed no damage. Distraction behind the wheel left her bleeding in the street.

A Hyundai SUV made a right turn on Jordan Street near 35th Avenue in Queens. The driver struck a 62-year-old woman crossing the street. According to the police report, 'A Hyundai SUV turned right. A 62-year-old woman crossing the street took the front end to her face. Blood poured. She stayed conscious. The SUV stood clean. The driver had looked away.' The woman suffered severe bleeding to her face but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV sustained no visible damage. No other contributing factors were cited.


Hyundai Swerves, Driver Bleeds on Expressway

A Hyundai veered on the Long Island Expressway. Metal tore. The driver, alone, slammed hard. Blood pooled from her pelvis. She sat stunned, strapped in, as traffic thundered past. The night swallowed her pain.

A single-car crash unfolded westbound on the Long Island Expressway at 1:49 a.m. A 30-year-old woman, driving a Hyundai sedan, swerved in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. According to the police report, 'A Hyundai swerved from a phantom car. Metal screamed. The driver, 30, belted and alone, bled from the pelvis. She sat in shock.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The driver suffered severe bleeding to the pelvis and was in shock. No other road users were involved or injured. The data notes the driver was wearing a lap belt and harness.


SUVs Crush Pedestrian on Cross Island Parkway

A 20-year-old man stood near parked cars. Two SUVs trapped him. Metal slammed flesh. His hip shattered. His leg broke. He lay conscious in the cold. The night was quiet. The road was not.

A 20-year-old pedestrian was crushed between two SUVs on Cross Island Parkway. According to the police report, the man suffered a shattered hip and broken leg. He remained conscious after the impact. The crash involved a BMW SUV moving straight ahead and two parked SUVs. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The injured man was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The force of two SUVs left the pedestrian with severe crush injuries.


Elderly Driver Dies After Falling Asleep in Queens

An 81-year-old man drove north on Douglaston Parkway. He fell asleep at the wheel. His sedan struck hard. The blow crushed his chest. He died alone in the dark. No other people were hurt. The road stayed silent.

An 81-year-old man was killed while driving a 2008 Acura sedan northbound on Douglaston Parkway near Rushmore Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the driver 'fell asleep at the wheel' and 'lost consciousness.' The sedan struck with force, causing fatal chest injuries to the driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other occupants or road users were reported injured. The police report lists 'Fell Asleep' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers when a driver loses control due to sleep or medical episodes. The victim died at the scene.


SUV Driver Bleeds After Rear-End Crash on Expressway

A Mercedes slammed into a Subaru’s back end on the Long Island Expressway. The Subaru driver, alone, bled from the head. He stayed conscious. Police cited driver inattention. The road did not stop. Metal and blood marked the night.

A 2001 Mercedes rear-ended a 2019 Subaru on the westbound Long Island Expressway. The Subaru driver, a 34-year-old man, was alone and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. According to the police report, 'A 2001 Mercedes slammed into the back of a 2019 Subaru. The Subaru driver, 34, sat alone, bleeding from the head. He was conscious. He wore a lap belt.' Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The Subaru’s back end took the impact. No other injuries were specified in the report. The crash left one man hurt and the road unchanged.