Blood on Broadway: End the Killing, Reclaim Our Streets

A sedan turns left on 71st Street. A motorbike charges straight. Metal collides. The rider, thirty-four, is hurled onto the street, leg pouring blood. No helmet. Sirens echo. The city’s lanes betray the vulnerable again.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 71st Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens involving a sedan making a left turn and a motorbike traveling straight. The report states, 'A sedan turns left. A motorbike goes straight. Metal strikes metal.' The motorbike driver, age 34, was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from the leg, remaining conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The impact was to the right side doors of the motorbike and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report notes the motorbike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the driver errors. The crash underscores the dangers posed by improper lane usage and driver inexperience on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807882, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council eyes 150 new street cameras to ticket illegal parkers. Double parking blocks crosswalks, hydrants, bike lanes. Lawmakers say chaos endangers walkers and riders. DOT backs tech to clear streets. Delivery drivers worry. Streets stay dangerous until cars yield space.

On March 4, 2025, Assemblyman Steven Raga proposed a bill to install 150 automated cameras across New York City. The measure, discussed in the council and supported by the NYC Department of Transportation, aims to ticket drivers who double park or block critical spaces. The bill summary states: 'Double parking and curb violations aren’t just a nuisance – they’re a public safety hazard.' Raga and DOT officials argue that manual enforcement cannot keep up with rising car numbers, leaving pedestrians and cyclists at risk. Raga led the push, highlighting blocked hydrants and crosswalks as threats. DOT said automated enforcement 'helps keep streets clear, reduces congestion, and protects New Yorkers.' Delivery drivers voiced concern about work impacts, but the bill’s focus remains on clearing space for vulnerable road users. The proposal awaits further council action.

• NYC lawmaker wants 150 new street cams to ticket drivers — including double-parkers: ‘It’s a headache’, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-04

Lawmakers push for cameras to ticket double parkers. Streets choke with blocked bike lanes and chaos. Manual enforcement fails. DOT backs automation. Some lawmakers resist, call for cops. Vulnerable road users left dodging danger as debate drags.

On March 3, 2025, a legislative proposal surfaced to deploy automated parking enforcement cameras across New York City. Assemblymember Steven Raga leads the push for a $35 million pilot, aiming to install 150 cameras targeting double parking and illegal stops. The bill, not yet assigned a committee or number, seeks to automate enforcement where manual efforts fall short. Raga writes, 'manual enforcement has not been able to meet the demand to combat double parking and illegal parking.' State Senator Simcha Felder of District 44 opposes the measure, arguing for traditional police summonses instead. The Department of Transportation supports the expansion, stating, 'Automated enforcement has proven to change driver behavior and make our streets safer for everyone.' The debate centers on whether automation or police presence best protects pedestrians and cyclists from blocked lanes and traffic hazards.

• New push for automated ticketing of drivers who double park in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-03

A Nissan sedan turned left at 90th Street and 56th Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 65-year-old woman in the crosswalk. The bumper crushed her arm. She stayed conscious as pain radiated through her body. Metal met flesh in the Queens dusk.

A 65-year-old woman was hit by a turning Nissan sedan at the corner of 90th Street and 56th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the woman was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The report states the driver was making a left turn and was distracted at the time of the crash. The left front bumper of the sedan struck the pedestrian’s left side, resulting in crush injuries to her arm. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The woman remained conscious after the impact. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive drivers making turns at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 24-year-old woman riding an e-scooter on Queens Boulevard was struck head-on. She was ejected, her head split and bleeding, but she stayed conscious as traffic thundered by. Driver inattention left her broken in the street.

A 24-year-old woman operating an e-scooter was struck head-on near 59-11 Queens Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The impact ejected her from the scooter, causing severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The police report states that she remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' highlighting a systemic danger on city streets. The report notes the absence of helmet use, but only after emphasizing the role of driver distraction. The collision underscores the peril faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781101, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A turning SUV cut across 72nd Street. A motorcycle slammed into its side. The young rider, helmetless, flew from the seat, legs shattered, blood pooling on the pavement. The road bore witness to violence and error, not mercy.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn from 72nd Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens when a motorcycle traveling straight collided with the SUV's right side doors. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected from his seat, suffered severe bleeding, and sustained serious injuries to his legs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV driver’s failure to yield during the turn is explicitly cited. The motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail appears after the primary driver errors. The crash unfolded at 3:19 p.m., leaving the rider incoherent and gravely hurt, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver mistakes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758181, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped, driven too fast and without a license, slammed into a 61-year-old man crossing Woodside Avenue. Both men fell. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The machine lay shattered. The street bore the mark of reckless speed.

According to the police report, a moped traveling east on Woodside Avenue near 67th Street struck a 61-year-old pedestrian mid-block. Both the pedestrian and the moped rider, age 34, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to their entire bodies. The report states the moped was operated at 'Unsafe Speed' and that the driver was 'Unlicensed.' The Zongzhen moped sustained heavy front-end damage. The narrative describes the moped as tearing down the street 'too fast,' before colliding with the pedestrian. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing the street outside a crosswalk or signal, but no pedestrian actions are cited as contributing factors. The focus remains on the unlicensed, speeding driver whose actions left two people bleeding on the pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743841, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A distracted SUV driver turned left on 65th Street. A moped slammed into the bumper. The rider crashed, blood streaming from his head onto the pavement. He lay conscious, helmetless, as the SUV’s torn bumper marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 65th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens when a southbound moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV’s right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding from the head, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood pouring from his head onto the pavement. The SUV’s bumper was torn in the crash. The police report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention while turning across traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722243, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped struck a turning sedan on Queens Boulevard. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, silent, as speed and steel tore through the evening air.

At Queens Boulevard and 69th Street, a moped traveling east collided violently with a sedan making a right turn. According to the police report, the primary cause was 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact severely injured the 17-year-old moped driver, resulting in the amputation of part of his lower arm and hand. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a turning sedan. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' Damage was concentrated on the sedan's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban traffic. No victim behavior was listed as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720532, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man crossed Roosevelt Avenue before dawn. A Ford SUV hit him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.

A 38-year-old man was killed while crossing Roosevelt Avenue near 70th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 a.m. when a 2011 Ford SUV, traveling east, struck the pedestrian in the chest with its center front end. The report states the man was crossing outside an intersection, with no signal or crosswalk present. The narrative notes, 'A man crossed alone before dawn. A 2011 Ford SUV struck him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further explanation for the fatal impact. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of vehicle movement through pedestrian space in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped struck a 78-year-old woman in a Queens crosswalk. Her hip shattered. She died on Grand Avenue. The rider, distracted, did not stop. The morning stayed silent. Systemic danger lingered at the intersection.

A 78-year-old woman was killed while crossing Grand Avenue at 80th Street in Queens. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a northbound moped struck her head-on. The report states the rider was 'distracted' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact broke her hip and caused fatal injuries. The narrative notes the rider did not stop. No driver errors other than inattention are cited. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection; the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and systemic threats facing those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi rolled backward on Woodside Avenue. Its broken brakes failed. The rear bumper hit a man standing off the road. Blood pooled at his feet. He stayed conscious, leg torn open, as the street watched in silence.

According to the police report, a taxi with defective brakes rolled backward near 68-02 Woodside Avenue in Queens. The vehicle's rear bumper struck a 46-year-old man who was standing off the roadway. The report states the pedestrian suffered severe bleeding to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Brakes Defective.' The taxi was backing up at the time of the crash. No driver errors beyond the mechanical failure are cited in the report. The pedestrian was not in the roadway and is not listed as contributing to the collision. The incident underscores the danger posed by vehicle equipment failures, especially in busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714116, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A dump truck, turning right at 57th Avenue and 80th Street, struck a 43-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She died there, morning light on the asphalt. The truck showed no damage. The driver failed to yield. The city grieves.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 57th Avenue and 80th Street in Queens. She was crossing with the signal when a southbound dump truck, making a right turn, struck her. The report states the truck showed no damage. The woman died at the scene. The police report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, underscoring the driver's responsibility in the collision. The vehicle involved was a large Ford dump truck, classified as an oversized vehicle, which the report also lists as a contributing factor. The victim's behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted in the report, but only after the driver's errors. The impact, the loss, and the systemic risk posed by oversized vehicles remain clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709152, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck struck a 47-year-old man on a bike, crushing him. He was thrown, suffered fatal head trauma, and died on the cold street. The truck kept straight. The man did not move again.

A fatal collision occurred on Maurice Avenue when a box truck struck a 47-year-old male cyclist, according to the police report. The narrative states the cyclist was thrown, crushed, and killed, suffering head trauma. The police report notes the truck 'kept straight' as it struck the cyclist, who lay still after impact. The contributing factor listed by police is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but no specific driver error is cited in the data. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as recorded in the report, but this is not listed as a contributing factor to the crash. The violence of the impact and the truck's continued path underscore the danger faced by cyclists sharing streets with large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705063, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 75-year-old man crossed Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike sped west. The man fell hard. His head hit the street. Bones snapped. He faded, silent, as traffic rolled on. The city moved. He did not.

A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed on Roosevelt Avenue near Broadway in Queens. According to the police report, the man stepped into the crosswalk as an e-bike traveled westbound. He fell, struck his head, and suffered severe fractures and dislocations. The report states he was semiconscious before becoming unresponsive. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the data. The e-bike sustained no damage. The victim was crossing at an intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695751, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 31-year-old man rode his e-scooter east on Queens Boulevard. The front end crumpled. He struck head-first, was ejected, and died alone in shock on the cold pavement. No helmet. No other vehicles listed. The street stayed silent.

A 31-year-old man riding an e-scooter east on Queens Boulevard near 73rd Street was killed. According to the police report, he struck head-first, was ejected, and died in shock on the pavement. The report states, 'The front end crumpled. He died in shock, alone on the cold pavement.' The only vehicle involved was the e-scooter. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were named in the report. The man was not wearing a helmet, as noted after the absence of any specified driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692319, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan turned right on Justice Avenue. Its front end struck a 71-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg broke under steel. Blood pooled. She lay silent, stunned. The driver failed to yield. The street did not forgive.

A 71-year-old woman was struck and severely injured by a sedan while crossing Justice Avenue near 55th in Queens. According to the police report, she crossed with the signal when a 2002 Honda sedan turned right and hit her, crushing her lower leg and causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The impact left the woman in shock, silent beneath the car. The data shows she was in the crosswalk, obeying the signal. The driver’s failure to yield and inattention led to the crash. No helmet or signal use is listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676206, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle tore down 69th Street. Wrong lane. Steel met steel. The rider, 29, flew from the seat. Legs crushed. He wore a helmet. He stayed awake. Northbound ended in pain on 50th Avenue.

A 29-year-old man riding a 2021 Honda motorcycle crashed head-on at 69th Street and 50th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle 'slammed head-on.' The rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The crash involved the motorcycle traveling north and another vehicle traveling south, both with center front-end damage. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670641, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 7979 would force drivers with a record of reckless speeding or red-light running to install speed-limiting tech. The bill targets those who rack up points or camera tickets. It aims to keep the most dangerous drivers in check.

Assembly Bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, was introduced on August 19, 2023. The bill sits in the Assembly, awaiting committee action. Its summary reads: 'Requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' The primary sponsor is Emily Gallagher (District 50), joined by co-sponsors Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, Patricia Fahy, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, MaryJane Shimsky, Yudelka Tapia, Steven Raga, Anna Kelles, Robert C. Carroll, and Sarahana Shrestha. The bill cracks down on repeat offenders, forcing them to install technology that blocks speeding. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill’s intent is clear: rein in drivers who endanger others again and again.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-19

A bus turned on 74th Street. An e-scooter hit its rear. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, flew off. Her head bled on the pavement. The bus rolled away, untouched. The street held her pain. No helmet. No mercy.

A bus turned near 57th Avenue in Queens. An e-scooter struck the bus’s rear bumper. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A bus turned. An e-scooter struck its rear. A 64-year-old woman flew off, no helmet, head bleeding. She lay conscious on the pavement. The bus rolled on. Its bumper bore no mark.' The police listed 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary error was the bus’s improper turn. The crash left the rider injured and the bus undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655019, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14