AD 29’s killing hours: Laurelton Parkway and Hillside take the hits

Jul 23 - A sedan hit a 16‑year‑old e‑bike rider who was merging on Jamaica Ave. The teen suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. Police recorded unsafe speed by the driver.

According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Unsafe Speed." A sedan traveling west on Jamaica Avenue struck a 16‑year‑old male riding an e‑bike who was merging. The sedan struck the e‑bike's center back end with its center front end. The bicyclist suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot and was conscious at the scene. Police recorded unsafe speed by the driver. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver or other occupants. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions.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

Jun 16 - A moped struck a taxi in Queens. Two riders hurt. One teen suffered severe face wounds. Police cite unsafe speed and lane changes.

A moped crashed into a taxi on Hillside Avenue at 170th Street in Queens. Two people on the moped were injured. A 16-year-old passenger suffered severe facial lacerations. The 21-year-old moped driver had head injuries and minor bleeding. According to the police report, the crash was caused by unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing. Both vehicles were traveling west. The taxi was starting from parking when struck. No pedestrians were involved. No helmet use was listed as a contributing factor. The report highlights driver errors as the main cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821714 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 12 - Brakes failed. Metal struck metal. Three people hurt. Neck injuries. Archer Avenue shook with the crash. System failed. Lives changed in seconds.

A crash on Merrick Blvd at Archer Ave in Queens left three people injured, including two women and a man, all suffering neck injuries. According to the police report, both vehicles—a box truck and an SUV—were traveling west when defective brakes caused the collision. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the main contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left one passenger partially ejected. The system failed to protect those inside. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 1 - A man crossed Linden Boulevard. A black car hit him and fled. Another car ran over him. He died in the hospital. The first driver vanished. The second stayed. Police search. The street stayed open. Blood on the asphalt.

Patch reported on May 1, 2025, that Christopher Gayton, 62, was killed at Linden Boulevard and 166 Street in Queens. He was struck by an eastbound black vehicle whose driver fled, then run over by a 2024 Ford Edge. The Ford's driver remained at the scene. Police said, 'Police are still searching for the first driver who fled the scene.' No charges have been filed. The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The crash highlights the dangers of multi-lane arterial roads and the ongoing risks for pedestrians in Queens. No arrests have been made.

• Pedestrian Killed In Queens Double Collision, Patch, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 18 - A sedan turned left on Hillside Avenue. Its right front hit a 71-year-old man crossing. Blood ran from his head. He stayed conscious. The driver, 76, walked away. A baby rode in the car. Only the pedestrian was hurt.

A 71-year-old man was struck and injured by a sedan making a left turn at Hillside Avenue and 202nd Street. According to the police report, 'the right front struck a 71-year-old man crossing. Blood ran from his head. He was conscious.' The driver, age 76, and a baby passenger were not hurt. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other errors or factors are cited. The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding to the head but remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 14 - A motorbike and SUV collide on 188th Street. The bike shatters. A 19-year-old is thrown, crushed, killed. The SUV driver, sixty, survives with pain. Sirens echo. The street holds the silence of death.

A deadly crash unfolded at 188th Street and 90th Avenue in Queens. A 19-year-old motorbike rider was ejected and killed after a head-on collision with an Audi SUV. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old woman, suffered pain but survived. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The motorbike was demolished. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No blame is placed on the victims. The crash left one dead and one injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 8 - A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Feb 4 - A 42-year-old man, walking outside the crosswalk on 89th Avenue, was struck by two westbound SUVs. His leg was crushed beneath steel. He remained conscious as pain demanded amputation. The drivers’ view was blocked. Failure to yield sealed his fate.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old man was walking outside the crosswalk on 89th Avenue near 168th Street in Queens when he was struck by two westbound vehicles—a sedan and an SUV. The narrative states, 'His leg crushed beneath steel. He stayed awake. The pain spoke plainly: amputation.' The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, explicitly citing driver error as central to the crash. The sedan was starting from parking, while the SUV was going straight ahead. The pedestrian suffered severe injury to his lower leg, resulting in amputation, but remained conscious throughout. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The impact and aftermath underscore the lethal consequences of driver inattention and obstructed views on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790442 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 8 - A sedan slammed into a 50-year-old cyclist near Liberty Avenue. The car’s front end crushed the man’s leg. He stayed conscious, pain sharp, bike twisted. Police cite driver distraction. The car rolled on, unscathed. The street bore the wound.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 170th Street near Liberty Avenue struck a 50-year-old man riding a bicycle. The report states the car’s center front end hit the cyclist, crushing his leg and leaving him with serious injuries, though he remained conscious at the scene. The police document lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The sedan showed no damage, while the bicycle was left twisted on the street. No evidence in the report points to any cyclist error or behavior as a cause. The collision underscores the systemic danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention, with vulnerable road users bearing the brunt of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 25 - A 21-year-old man, unlicensed and alone, sped down Laurelton Parkway. The Audi slammed, right side crushed. He died inside, body broken. No one else was hurt. The road fell silent, marked by reckless speed and shattered metal.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed man was driving a 2015 Audi sedan alone on Laurelton Parkway when he changed lanes at an unsafe speed. The sedan struck with force, its right side crushed and the vehicle demolished. The report states the driver was killed, suffering injuries to his entire body. No other people were involved or injured. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with the driver’s lack of a valid license also noted in the data. No seatbelt use was recorded. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed and unlicensed driving, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 5 - A Ford pickup turned right on Hillside Avenue, striking a 69-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Steel met flesh. She bled on the cold street, her knee, leg, and foot battered. The truck rolled on, unscarred. The driver failed to yield.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck made a right turn at the corner of Hillside Avenue and 172nd Street in Queens at 5:10 p.m. The vehicle struck a 69-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report details that the woman suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with severe bleeding noted at the scene. The driver was licensed and remained at the location. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors in the crash. The report emphasizes that the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the time of impact. The truck sustained no visible damage. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield and inattention, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 30 - An SUV barreled west on 140th Avenue. An 87-year-old woman walked outside the crosswalk. The vehicle struck her. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still, silent under the morning sky.

According to the police report, an 87-year-old woman was walking outside the crosswalk on 140th Avenue near Southgate Plaza when a westbound SUV struck her. The report states, 'Head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still.' The vehicle, a 2008 Toyota SUV, showed no reported damage and was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police narrative lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or violations, but the driver failed to remain at the scene after the collision. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The focus remains on the impact and the driver’s decision to leave, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - A northbound Kia SUV hit a 44-year-old woman head-on on Laurelton Parkway. Her skull broke. She died alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The road stayed still. No driver errors were specified in the report.

A 44-year-old woman walking in the roadway on Laurelton Parkway was struck head-on by a northbound Kia SUV, according to the police report. The impact broke her skull and she died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report states, 'A northbound Kia SUV struck her head-on. Her skull broke. She died there, alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front crumpled.' The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No specific driver errors, such as failure to yield or distraction, are cited in the data. The focus remains on the fatal impact and the absence of explicit driver accountability in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 2 - An e-bike rider turned on 165th Street, failed to yield, and struck a woman stepping from a car. She fell hard, blood pooling, her leg torn open. The rider kept going. The street bore witness. No damage to the bike. Only flesh.

A woman, age 54, was seriously injured on 165th Street near Jamaica Avenue in Queens when an e-bike rider making a right turn struck her as she stepped down from a car, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike 'did not stop' and that the rider 'kept going.' The woman suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg, with blood visible on the pavement. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the sole contributing factor, explicitly attributing the crash to the e-bike rider's actions. The victim was not at an intersection and was in the process of getting on or off a vehicle when struck. No damage was reported to the e-bike. The narrative centers the impact and aftermath, underscoring the consequences of driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 31 - A Honda SUV hit a 56-year-old man on Hillside Avenue. The left front bumper struck him. He fell, head bleeding, unconscious. He died beneath the streetlights. The crash happened near 171st Street in Queens.

A 56-year-old man was killed when a Honda SUV struck him on Hillside Avenue near 171st Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report states the SUV's left front bumper hit the man as he stepped into the road. The pedestrian fell, suffered a head injury, and died at the scene. The crash occurred at 21:09, with the police narrative describing the victim as 'unconscious' and 'head bleeding.' According to the police report, the contributing factor was listed as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The vehicle was traveling straight ahead, and the impact point was the left front bumper. No driver errors were cited in the data provided. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk and not at an intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 8 - A moped crashed into a turning SUV on 167th Street. The rider, nineteen, was thrown partway off, blood streaming from his leg. Brakes failed. He sat stunned in the street, helmet still on, as dawn crept over Queens.

A collision unfolded on 167th Street near Highland Avenue in Queens when a moped struck a turning SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider, age nineteen, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg, remaining in shock at the scene. The incident occurred at 4:34 a.m. The police report explicitly lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical vehicle failure that led to the crash. The SUV was making a left turn while the moped was traveling straight ahead. The moped's brakes failed, resulting in a direct impact with the SUV's left front quarter panel. The rider's helmet remained on, but the report centers the mechanical failure as the primary cause. No driver errors by the SUV operator are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 15 - A sedan hit a 60-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk at 188th Street and 90th Avenue. She lay unconscious, head bleeding. The car’s front end was crushed. The street fell silent. Only the cold and the blood remained.

A sedan struck a 60-year-old woman as she crossed 188th Street at 90th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman was in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. She suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious at the scene. The sedan’s center front end was heavily damaged. No driver errors were listed in the police report. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'She lay unconscious, head bleeding on the cold street. The car’s front was crushed. The morning was quiet again.' The data does not mention any contributing factors related to the driver or the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 31 - A Toyota SUV hit an 8-year-old boy on Farmers Boulevard. Blood pooled from his head. Halloween lights flickered. He lay conscious on the asphalt. Sirens cut through the Queens dusk. The boy survived, injured and shaken.

An 8-year-old boy was struck by a Toyota SUV while crossing Farmers Boulevard near Montauk Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing without a signal when the SUV hit him, causing severe bleeding from his head. The boy remained conscious at the scene. The crash occurred as Halloween lights flickered and emergency sirens echoed through the evening. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. No driver errors were specified in the data. The boy was not at an intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18