Astoria: Three Killed at Food Cart on 42nd Street

Sep 10 - A sedan driver turned right at 74 St and 31 Ave in Queens. He hit a cyclist riding straight. The cyclist, 45, suffered crush injuries to his lower leg. Police listed no contributing factors.

At 74 St and 31 Ave in Queens, a sedan driver turned right and hit a bicyclist who was riding straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 45-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. According to the police report, the sedan was making a right turn and the bicyclist was going straight when they collided. Police recorded no contributing factors or specific driver errors in the dataset for this crash. The driver is listed as a 74-year-old man. Injury information for the driver is noted as unspecified. Vehicle data lists a 2008 Nissan sedan with impact at the right front bumper. The bike shows impact at the left front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 12 - A northbound sedan struck two men outside the crosswalk on 42 St near 19 Ave. Both pedestrians died. A driver in a left‑turning SUV was involved. The sedan driver, 84, was also killed. Parked cars were damaged at the scene.

Two pedestrians were killed after a northbound sedan struck them on 42 St near 19 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as "Unspecified." The report records the sedan as "Going Straight Ahead" and the SUV as "Making Left Turn." Two men — one age 70 and one listed with unknown age — died of crush injuries. The 84‑year‑old driver of the sedan is also recorded as killed. Parked vehicles sustained damage from secondary impacts. Police data show no pedestrian contributing factors assigned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 12 - A speeding driver killed himself and two pedestrians in Astoria. Politicians demand lower speed limits, protected lanes, and daylighting. Slower speeds save lives. The city holds the power. Action is overdue.

On August 12, 2025, after a deadly Astoria crash, Council Member Tiffany Caban, Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, and Zohran Mamdani called for urgent street safety reforms. Caban demanded a 20 mph limit, protected bike lanes, and universal daylighting. Mamdani backed Sammy’s Law and curbs on car traffic near schools. Transportation Alternatives urged the city to use its new authority to lower speed limits, stating, "Slower speeds are proven to reduce crashes dramatically." Safety analysts confirm: lowering limits cuts crash severity and frequency, protecting pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. No bill was filed, but the call is clear—speed kills, and the city can stop it.

• UPDATE: Speeding Senior Driver Kills Self and Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Pols Call for 20 MPH Limit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.

• Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two, New York Post, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 8 - DOT stands firm on Astoria’s protected bike lanes. Businesses sue. Misinformation clouds facts. Cyclists and pedestrians face delay. Safety waits while lawsuits drag on.

On August 8, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its commitment to protected bike lanes and traffic calming on 31st Street in Astoria, despite a lawsuit from local businesses. The project, not tied to a council bill or committee, aims to cut injuries on a deadly corridor. DOT spokesman Will Livingston said, “We stand firmly behind this project and will defend our work in court.” Council Member Tiffany Caban, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas backed the redesign in June. The safety analyst warns: opposition and misinformation from businesses can stall proven safety measures, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• DOT Stands By Astoria Safety Project Despite Foes’ Anti-Bike Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Jul 7 - The driver of an SUV ran traffic control and struck a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The 39-year-old moped driver was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. Police cite driver inattention and traffic-control disregard.

A driver in an SUV collided with a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The moped driver, 39, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved a station wagon/SUV and a moped. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The moped’s record shows the rider was unlicensed and was riding east when struck. Police recorded the point of impact on both vehicles as left front quarter panels. The crash ended with the moped driver killed. No pedestrians were reported involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 20 - DOT pushes ahead. Protected bike lanes coming to 31st Street. Community board erupts. Lawmakers back the plan. Business owners protest. City stands with cyclists and pedestrians. Proven safety gains for vulnerable users. Change rolls forward. Streets shift. Lives may be spared.

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its plan to install protected bike lanes under the elevated tracks on 31st Street in Astoria. The proposal, discussed at a heated community board meeting, remains active and is set for installation after summer repaving. Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas endorsed the plan in a letter, stating it would 'protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers while making our streets safer and less congested.' DOT spokesman Will Livingston said the design improves safety and supports local businesses. Despite opposition from some business owners, the plan moves forward. Safety analysts note: 'Protected bike lanes are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for cyclists and pedestrians, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity by reallocating space from cars to vulnerable users.'

• DOT Stands By Astoria Bike Lane Plan Despite Foes’ ‘Childish’ Outbursts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

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

May 9 - Lawmakers stripped Hochul’s safety plans from the state budget. No daylighting near schools. No lower bike lane speed limits. No new e-bike rules. City and state leaders bickered. Streets stay dangerous. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. The system failed them again.

On May 9, 2025, during New York State’s $254-million budget negotiations, lawmakers rejected Governor Hochul’s proposed street safety measures. The legislature dropped a mandate for daylighting—banning parking at corners near elementary schools—deferring instead to New York City, where Council Member Julie Won’s universal daylighting bill faces opposition from the Department of Transportation. Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, herself a crash survivor, vowed to keep fighting for daylighting, saying, 'I think daylighting would have helped me.' Hochul’s proposals to let the city set lower bike lane speed limits and to reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds were also cut. Critics argued these would not address core safety issues. The Adams administration opposes a City Council bill for e-bike registration and plates, while State Sen. Jenifer Rajkumar’s state version would shift licensing to the DMV. As Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives put it, 'A daylighting requirement would have made intersections safer around elementary schools, and it’s disappointing that this provision was cut from the New York State budget.'

• Live from Albany: Hochul’s ‘Safety’ Measures Stripped from Budget, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-09

Apr 12 - A Ford pickup hit a man on an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue. He flew, struck his head, and bled. The driver was distracted. A baby watched. The truck was unscathed. The man was not.

A Ford pickup truck hit a 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was ejected, suffered a head injury, and was conscious but bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pickup showed no damage, but the e-scooter rider was left with severe bleeding. No helmet was noted for the rider, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. A baby witnessed the crash. No injuries were reported for the truck’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805222 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 8 - A 39-year-old man crossed Ditmars Boulevard before dawn. An eastbound Toyota SUV hit him with its left front bumper. Blood pooled from his head. The street was empty. He remained conscious, wounded and alone in the early morning dark.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old pedestrian was crossing Ditmars Boulevard near 35th Street in Queens when a 2013 Toyota SUV, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. The crash occurred before dawn, on an empty street. The report states the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but was conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing with no signal or crosswalk present. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and pedestrian, providing no further detail on driver actions. The impact location and vehicle trajectory underscore the danger faced by pedestrians on wide, empty streets, especially when driver errors are left unaddressed or unreported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 3 - Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

Jan 2 - A bus struck a 53-year-old woman head-on at Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street. Her body broke beneath the wheels. She died in the street. The bus rolled on into the morning. The city’s machinery did not stop for her.

A 53-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street when a 2009 bus struck her head-on, according to the police report. The report states the woman was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The bus, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. The force of the impact crushed her body beneath the wheels, resulting in her death at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The narrative notes the bus continued on after the collision. The report centers the fatal outcome for the pedestrian, with systemic danger underscored by the presence of a large vehicle moving through a busy intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 4 - Just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a speeding sedan slammed into the rear of an SUV. The impact crushed metal and left a 19-year-old passenger bleeding from a severe head wound, conscious but seriously injured in the back seat.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling at unsafe speed collided with the left rear bumper of a sport utility vehicle on Grand Central Parkway shortly after midnight. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's rear, crushing metal and causing significant damage. Inside the SUV, a 19-year-old male passenger suffered severe head lacerations; he remained conscious but was bleeding heavily. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations but was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed. No victim behaviors or safety equipment issues were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and inexperience behind the wheel on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776248 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 19 - A cyclist’s front wheel slams into a 17-year-old crossing 31st Avenue. Her knee splits open. Blood stains the street. She lies conscious, torn and bleeding in the evening light. The crash leaves pain and silence in its wake.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling east on 31st Avenue near 51st Street struck a 17-year-old girl as she crossed the roadway. The report details that the bike’s front wheel impacted her leg, causing severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg. The victim remained conscious but was left bleeding on the asphalt. Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The victim was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but the report explicitly lists driver inattention and obstructed view as primary causes. The collision underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets when drivers—regardless of vehicle type—fail to maintain awareness and visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 25 - The Cross Bay Bridge’s deadly ramp is gone. In its place: a wide, gentle slope. Pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users now cross safely. The upgrade, forced by a 2021 law, marks progress. But other bridges still leave vulnerable users stranded. Advocates demand more.

On September 25, 2024, the MTA completed a major upgrade to the Cross Bay Bridge, replacing its hazardous Rockaway-side ramp with a wider, ADA-compliant path. This action fulfills a mandate from the 2021 MTA Bike Access bill. Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who sponsored the law, said, "I'm excited about the ADA-accessible ramp on the Cross Bay Bridge and that cyclists and pedestrians can access this space... because we passed my legislation." The MTA also announced similar improvements for the Henry Hudson and Triboro Bridges. However, plans for the Verrazzano, Gil Hodges-Marine Parkway, Bronx-Whitestone, and Throgs Neck bridges remain uncertain. Cycling advocates praised the MTA’s progress but criticized its reluctance to consider lane conversions for safer, broader access. The new ramp removes a deadly barrier, but the fight for safe passage on all city bridges continues.

• The Cross Bay Bridge Pedestrian ‘Ramp of Death’ Has Been Replaced, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-25

Aug 21 - A moped crashed into a parked SUV on Broadway at Newtown Road. The rider’s legs broke under steel. Blood pooled. He stayed awake, staring at his ruined knees. Police cited driver inattention. No helmet. Flesh torn. Bone crushed. Sirens followed.

A violent crash unfolded on Broadway at Newtown Road in Queens when a moped collided with a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider, a 30-year-old man, suffered severe crush injuries to his knees and lower legs, remaining conscious at the scene. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The narrative describes the moped slamming into the stationary SUV, with the rider’s legs folding and breaking under the impact. The police report notes the absence of a helmet or protective armor on the rider, but this detail follows the primary factor of driver inattention. The SUV was legally parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The collision left the moped’s right side and the SUV’s left doors damaged, underscoring the force of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 1 - A 15-year-old boy, unlicensed and bareheaded, collided with a bus at 19th Avenue and 43rd Street. He flew from his motorscooter, struck the pavement, and died from head injuries. The street fell silent. No helmet. No chance.

A 15-year-old boy driving a motorscooter was killed in a violent crash with a bus at the corner of 19th Avenue and 43rd Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report states the teen was 'unlicensed and bareheaded' when he struck the bus and was ejected from his motorscooter, suffering fatal head injuries. The bus, registered in New Jersey, was traveling west and was struck on its right front bumper. The police report lists the boy as unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. Contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified' in the report. The narrative emphasizes the severity of the impact and the absence of a helmet, but does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor before listing the lack of helmet use. The focus remains on the systemic dangers present when young, unlicensed individuals operate motor vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737138 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 20 - A Porsche, chased by police, smashed into two sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 17-year-old boy, unbelted in the front seat, died instantly. The street, once roaring, fell silent in the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Porsche sedan fleeing police at unsafe speed crashed into two other sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. The report states the Porsche's 'right front crumpled' on impact. A 17-year-old boy, riding as a front passenger in the Porsche, died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Porsche was engaged in a 'Police Pursuit' at the time of the crash. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the street in silence, underscoring the lethal consequences of reckless driving and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734553 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18