Broken Bodies, Broken Promises: Blood on District 34’s Streets

A 23-year-old man, riding in the back of a Nissan SUV on Northern Boulevard, was thrown from the car. His head shattered. His body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.

A fatal crash occurred on Northern Boulevard near 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 23-year-old man riding as a rear seat passenger in a 2015 Nissan SUV was ejected from the vehicle. The report states: 'A 23-year-old man, rear seat of a 2015 Nissan SUV, was thrown from the car. Head shattered. Body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained no damage and continued moving after the passenger was ejected. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the ejection and death of a rear seat passenger underscore the lethal risks present for vehicle occupants. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700221, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sixty-year-old woman crossed 37th Avenue. An SUV, speeding, hit her. Steel met flesh. She fell, blood spreading on the cold street. She died before help arrived. The city’s danger revealed in a moment’s impact.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 37th Avenue and 90th Street in Queens when an SUV struck her as she crossed the street. The report states the SUV was traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The narrative describes the vehicle coming fast, with the impact causing fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who died before emergency responders arrived. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the driver. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the driver’s excessive speed is cited. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers operate at unsafe speeds, especially at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699492, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

A driver hit Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas in a Jackson Heights crosswalk. She broke her arm. The driver failed to yield. The intersection lacked daylighting. González-Rojas vows to fight for lower speed limits and more protected bike lanes. Danger remains for all.

On January 7, 2024, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas was struck by a driver while crossing 78th Street near 35th Avenue in Jackson Heights. She suffered a broken arm and bruises. The driver received a summons for failure to yield. González-Rojas called the intersection dangerous, citing poor visibility and lack of daylighting. She stated, "If we had universal daylighting—he could have seen me." González-Rojas renewed her push for Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph, and called for more protected bike lanes. She said, "I absolutely had the right of way. He just turned right into me—and the next thing you know I was on the floor." The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians and the urgent need for systemic street safety reforms.

• Queens Pol Recovering From Broken Arm, Bruises After Driver Strikes Her in Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-07

A BMW hit a man on 85th Street. His head was crushed. He died where he fell. No intersection, no crowd, no noise. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt. The city moved on. The loss stayed.

A 43-year-old man walking near 25-17 85th Street in Queens was struck and killed by a BMW. According to the police report, 'A BMW struck a 43-year-old man. His head was crushed. He died where he fell, alone, not at an intersection. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt.' The crash occurred away from any intersection. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No other injuries were reported. The victim, a pedestrian, suffered fatal head injuries. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the data. The deadly impact ended one life and left the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679552, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans met mid-turn. Steel tore. A baby boy, strapped in, bled from the head. He sat silent, eyes wide. The world roared. Traffic control was ignored. The crash left wounds and shock behind.

Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard. One sedan went straight. The other turned left. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the crash. A baby boy, an occupant, suffered severe head lacerations and shock. He was strapped in with a lap belt and harness. The report describes the child sitting still, eyes wide, bleeding from the head. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and turn improperly. The impact left lasting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678296, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW turned right on Astoria Boulevard before dawn. The street was empty. A man walked outside the crosswalk. The car struck him. His body lay broken in the dark. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. One life ended. The city kept moving.

A 50-year-old man was killed when a BMW sedan, making a right turn on Astoria Boulevard near Steinway Street, struck and crushed him at 4:02 a.m. According to the police report, 'A 50-year-old man crushed beneath a turning BMW at 4:02 a.m. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. No intersection. The street was empty. Then it wasn’t. His body lay broken in the dark.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' The BMW’s right front bumper was the point of impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The second vehicle, a Nissan sedan, was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet or signal use is included.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672149, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Ditmars Boulevard. The rider’s legs tore open. Blood spilled on the quiet street. He stayed conscious. No one else was hurt. The crash left flesh and bone exposed in the midnight dark.

A 46-year-old moped rider crashed into a parked sedan near 38-11 Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the collision happened at midnight. The moped struck the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his knees and feet but remained conscious. No other people were injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and undamaged. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the rider with serious injuries, underscoring the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658369, 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 21-year-old man crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. His back broke. He stayed conscious. The lap belt held him. Amputation followed. The Mazdas and Fords stood still. He moved, then stopped.

A 21-year-old male driver crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, the driver suffered a broken back and an amputation but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The parked Mazdas and Fords did not move; the impact came from the moving sedan. The police report notes the driver wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the driver with severe injuries, underscoring the risks posed by inattention and inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645971, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Albany failed New York’s streets. Lawmakers blocked Sammy’s Law and other safety bills. Cyclists, pedestrians, and bus riders lost. Car culture ruled. Advocates called it a wasted session. Only transit funding and a bus pilot survived. No real progress for the vulnerable.

In the 2023 legislative session, Albany lawmakers failed to pass major street safety bills, including Sammy’s Law (which would let New York City set its own speed limits). The session ended June 13, 2023, with most safety and transit measures stalled in committee or blocked from a vote. The matter summary reads: 'This year's legislative session in Albany was considered one of the worst for livable streets and street safety, largely due to the failure to pass key bills such as Sammy's Law.' Council members and advocates like Eric McClure, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Amy Cohen, and Sara Lind voiced anger and disappointment. McClure said, 'We have to give the state legislature an 'F' for wasting an entire session without advancing legislation to make streets safer or to improve public transit.' The Assembly’s inaction left vulnerable road users exposed. Only increased MTA funding and a free bus pilot moved forward. The rest—protection for cyclists, pedestrians, and bus riders—died in committee.

• The Albany Report Card: A Scoundrel’s ‘F’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-13

A Nissan sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist from behind on Northern Boulevard. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, unlicensed and unhelmeted, suffered severe bleeding and lost consciousness. The street stayed silent as the crash left the rider broken.

A 24-year-old man riding a bike east on Northern Boulevard was struck from behind by a 2003 Nissan sedan. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The cyclist suffered severe, entire-body injuries and lost consciousness at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was unlicensed and unhelmeted, but these details appear only after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by distracted driving, especially to vulnerable road users like cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pickup struck an e-scooter from behind on Northern Boulevard. The rider flew. His head hit the street. Blood pooled. He did not rise. The truck followed too close. The city kept moving. The street stayed silent.

A pickup truck rear-ended an e-scooter at Northern Boulevard and 84th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, the pickup was 'Following Too Closely' and traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are the driver’s errors. Both vehicles were moving east when the crash happened. The report describes the rider as conscious but bleeding on the asphalt after the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633300, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV hit an 80-year-old woman crossing 31st Street in Queens. She suffered a head wound. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver was young and distracted. The right side of the SUV crumpled. The woman stayed conscious.

An 80-year-old woman was struck by a northbound SUV on 31st Street near 23rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash happened under midday sun. The woman was crossing the street when the SUV hit her, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The right side of the SUV was damaged in the impact. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian beyond her location and action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612056, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Governor Hochul’s budget dodges state duty. City pays more, gets less. Riders face fare hikes, no better service. State hoards surplus, starves transit. Lawmakers protest. Suburbs dodge taxes. The city shoulders the load. Riders pay the price. Streets stay dangerous.

Governor Hochul’s 2023 state budget proposal, analyzed March 3, 2023, keeps New York State’s long-running refusal to match MTA funding under law 18-b. The budget, now under legislative review, forces New York City to cover a $500 million gap, while the state sits on an $8.7 billion surplus. The matter: 'Hochul's budget not only asks city residents to cover the largest chunk of the MTA's budget gap, but does so in part by continuing long-running practices that essentially under-fund the MTA by millions of dollars each year.' Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes both object, demanding the state honor its legal obligations. Riders Alliance and Reinvent Albany condemn the austerity. With fare hikes looming and no service improvements, city transit riders—often pedestrians and cyclists—bear the brunt. The budget leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as transit stagnates and car dominance persists.

• Analysis: Hochul Turns Her Back on Transit Riders With Her MTA Budget, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-03

A bus and an e-scooter clashed near 25-39 72nd Street. The scooter tried to pass. Metal struck. A 31-year-old woman hit head-first. Blood marked the street. She stayed conscious. Passing went wrong. The city counted another wound.

A bus and an e-scooter collided near 25-39 72nd Street in Queens. The e-scooter, operated by a 31-year-old woman, attempted to pass the bus. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was a contributing factor. The front end of the e-scooter struck, causing the rider to hit head-first and suffer severe head lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The bus carried two occupants, both uninjured. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after citing improper lane usage as the primary factor. The crash left the street marked by blood and silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605600, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Queens Community Board 2 voted to block a new SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard. Local leaders demand housing, not more cars. They cite danger, pollution, and reckless driving. Council Member Julie Won and Assembly Member González-Rojas back the board. The fight moves to City Planning.

On November 7, 2022, Queens Community Board 2 passed a resolution rejecting a rezoning application for a Lincoln SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard, Woodside. The matter, described as a call for a moratorium on car-related development, pits housing needs against car infrastructure. Council Member Julie Won supported the board, stating, "It should be a neighborhood rezoning instead of spot rezoning... we need to make it safer and more liveable." Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas also opposed the dealership, urging the space be used for affordable housing and highlighting dangerous driving by existing dealerships. Despite Borough President Donovan Richards' support for the rezoning, citing cycling and EV promotion, the application faces strong local resistance. The City Planning Commission now reviews the case, with a City Council vote possible. The board and electeds argue more cars mean more risk for pedestrians and cyclists on a deadly stretch.

• Woodside Wants Housing, But It’s Likely to Get More SUVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-07

Bus lanes crawl while people die. Advocates and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas rally on Northern Boulevard. Only 5.4 miles built, far short of the 20-mile goal. The city stalls. Streets stay deadly. Families mourn. The clock runs out.

On November 1, 2022, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas joined advocates in Jackson Heights to demand faster bus lane construction under the New York City Streets Plan. The plan, launched to comply with a 2019 law, mandates 150 miles of protected bus lanes by 2026—20 miles in 2022 alone. With two months left, only 5.4 miles were finished. González-Rojas declared, 'We demand to get our 20 miles of bus lanes.' The rally took place on Northern Boulevard, a corridor scarred by pedestrian deaths, including 9-year-old Giovanni Ampuero. His father spoke out: 'If you don’t improve the street, people are going to still get killed.' The Department of Transportation claims progress and a $900 million investment, but the pace lags. The city’s delay leaves vulnerable road users at risk, as deadly streets remain unchanged.

• Adams admin has slowed to a crawl on bus lane construction, advocates say, amny.com, Published 2022-11-01

Cyclists can now cross the Cross Bay Bridge. The Henry Hudson Bridge will follow after renovations. Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas pushed the law. Advocates pressed the MTA. Progress is slow, but real. Bike access grows. Riders still face gaps and delays.

Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas sponsored the 2021 bill that forced the MTA to plan bike and pedestrian access on its bridges. On October 26, 2022, the MTA announced legal cycling on the Cross Bay Bridge, with sharrows painted on the path. The Henry Hudson Bridge will open to cyclists after a major renovation, expected by 2025. The MTA will award a contract for that work next year. Gonzalez-Rojas said, 'This is what we worked toward when...we introduced and passed the MTA Bike Access bill.' Bike New York’s Jon Orcutt called the move 'pretty good progress.' The MTA also plans to add bike parking at 37 subway stations and expand bike access near transit. The Verrazzano Bridge remains off-limits for now. The announcement marks a step forward, but cyclists still face barriers and delays.

• Cyclists Will Finally Be Welcome on Cross Bay and Henry Hudson Bridges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-26

A man crashed his bike on Aske Street. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled from his head. No helmet. No other vehicle. He stayed conscious, pain etched on his face. The cause was unknown. The street stayed silent.

A 33-year-old man suffered a head injury while riding his bike on Aske Street near Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, he was found bleeding from the head, conscious but in pain, with no other vehicles or crash partners involved. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or outside causes were identified in the data. The man was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report only after the absence of any driver or vehicle error. The crash left the cyclist injured and the cause remains undetermined.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575021, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14