Northern Boulevard at 107th: one red light, one life, and a district on edge

Aug 28 - Queens crash near 26-50 94 St. A bicyclist and a 20-year-old woman collided. Both suffered crush injuries and shock. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

A bicyclist and a pedestrian collided near 26-50 94 St in Queens. The 20-year-old woman suffered lower-leg and foot injuries. The 49-year-old bicyclist reported a back injury. Both complaints were recorded as crush injuries, and both were in shock. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as Unspecified for both parties; police did not record a specific driver error. Vehicle data show the bicyclist was going straight ahead before the crash, and the bike was recorded with no damage. The report lists no on-street name for the location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 18 - A southbound motorcycle hit a left-turning SUV on 31 Dr at Buell St. The rider, 19, suffered head trauma and crush injuries. He went unconscious. Impact crushed the bike’s front. The SUV took damage on its right side.

A southbound motorcycle struck a left‑turning SUV at 31 Dr and Buell St in Queens. The 19‑year‑old motorcycle driver was injured with head trauma and crush injuries and was unconscious at the scene. According to the police report, the SUV was making a left turn and the motorcycle impacted the right front quarter panel, crushing the bike’s front. Listed driver issues include the motorcyclist being unlicensed. Contributing factors are marked as Unspecified in the dataset. The SUV driver was licensed and reported uninjured. The record notes the injured rider had no safety equipment. The crash underscores a dangerous turn conflict at this location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835924 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - A southbound driver turned left at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue and blew the signal. The westbound cyclist rode straight. Metal met flesh. The rider went down with head wounds and deep cuts. The street failed him. The driver failed the law.

A crash at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue in Queens injured a 31-year-old male bicyclist. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Traffic Control Disregarded.” The southbound turning vehicle was making a left while the cyclist was traveling west, straight ahead. The cyclist suffered head injuries and severe lacerations and was listed as injured and conscious. Driver error led the sequence: Traffic Control Disregarded during a left turn. Only after that does equipment appear: the report notes “None” for the cyclist’s safety equipment. No other factors are cited beyond the listed driver violation and unspecified factors for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 24 - A motorcycle slammed into a truck on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, age 24, was ejected and killed. Others survived. The crash left a body broken, a city shaken.

A 24-year-old motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a tractor truck on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle was changing lanes when it struck the right side of the truck. The rider was ejected and suffered fatal crush injuries. Other occupants in the involved vehicles, including a driver in an SUV and the truck operator, were not seriously hurt. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The deceased rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 18 - A driver in an SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway and struck a motorcycle rider. The 33-year-old rider suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe lane changing.

A driver in an SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway and struck a motorcycle traveling straight west. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' contributed to the collision. Police recorded the SUV's pre-crash action as 'Changing Lanes' and the motorcycle's as 'Going Straight Ahead.' The SUV's right rear bumper impacted the motorcycle's center front end. No pedestrians were involved; the report lists the rider's injury as crush injuries to the entire body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 10 - Two SUVs collided on 107th Street at 37th Avenue in Queens. A 20-year-old driver was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. A 31-year-old driver was conscious with unspecified injuries. Police noted alcohol involvement.

Two SUVs collided on 107th Street at 37th Avenue in Queens. One driver was going straight ahead; the other was parked. A 20-year-old man driving one SUV was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. A 31-year-old woman in the other SUV was conscious and sustained unspecified injuries. According to the police report, “alcohol was a contributing factor.” The report lists “Alcohol Involvement” as a cause. Both vehicles sustained damage to the front and right rear quarter panels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826810 - 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

May 21 - E-bike rider hit hard on Northern Blvd. Head injury. Blood on the street. Distraction and inexperience listed. Night in Queens turns violent for the vulnerable.

A 37-year-old e-bike rider was injured on Northern Blvd near 106th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the rider suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The rider was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was noted. The impact struck the center front end of the e-bike. No other vehicles or persons were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814780 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 13 - A sedan making a U-turn struck a southbound cyclist head-on near Junction Blvd. The rider, 27, suffered head crush injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The street was quiet. Then it wasn’t.

A sedan struck a 27-year-old bicyclist head-on during a U-turn near 59-17 Junction Blvd in Queens. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the head and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the car failed to yield right-of-way. The contributing factor listed is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but only after citing the driver’s failure to yield. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 28 - A speeding Mercedes ran a red in Queens. The driver, high and drunk, struck a young airport worker headed to his job. The worker died. Two passengers survived. The driver, a probationary firefighter, now faces manslaughter charges.

NY Daily News reported on March 28, 2025, that Michael Pena, a probationary FDNY firefighter, was fired after being charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Queens crash. Prosecutors said Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and struck Justin Diaz, 23, who had the right-of-way. Pena's blood-alcohol content was 0.156%, nearly double the legal limit, and he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. The article states, 'Pena was driving nearly 60 mph above the speed limit after a night of drinking at a bar.' Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence. Two passengers in Pena's car were hospitalized. The crash highlights ongoing risks from impaired and reckless driving, even among public servants.

• Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28

Mar 4 - A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

Feb 27 - A firefighter ran a red. Metal struck metal. A young man died. The street echoed with sirens. Two more rode to the hospital. The city keeps count. The danger stays.

According to the New York Post (February 27, 2025), off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena drove through a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens, striking Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance video captured Pena’s Mercedes “passing a red light on Northern Boulevard and T-boning Diaz’s 2022 BMW.” Diaz, 23, died at Elmhurst Hospital. Pena faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breath test. Two passengers in Pena’s car were hospitalized. The FDNY suspended Pena for 28 days without pay. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of red-light running and impaired driving, raising questions about enforcement and accountability on city streets.

• Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 26 - A BMW driver ran the red on Northern Boulevard. Metal screamed as a Mercedes struck head-on. The 23-year-old behind the wheel died, unbelted. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent, marked by violence and disregard.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW sedan 'ran the red,' disregarding traffic control. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The BMW was struck head-on by a Mercedes sedan traveling straight. The 23-year-old BMW driver, unbelted and alone, was killed behind the wheel. The impact was severe enough that a parked Toyota SUV was also damaged. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Metal screamed. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the deadly consequences of driver actions—specifically, running a red light and alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 18 - A tanker swung right on Northern Boulevard, striking a 31-year-old e-bike rider moving straight. The truck’s bumper crushed the man’s knee and foot. The tanker rolled on. The rider stayed down, battered and conscious, helmetless in the street.

At the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 108th Street in Queens, a collision unfolded between a tanker truck and an e-bike, according to the police report. The tanker was making a right turn while the e-bike rider, a 31-year-old man, continued straight. The police report states the truck’s right front bumper struck the e-bike, crushing the rider’s knee and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s failure to yield. The tanker sustained no damage, while the e-bike was damaged at the center front end. The man remained conscious at the scene, suffering serious crush injuries. The report’s narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 6 - A Tesla sedan hit a 17-year-old boy in Queens as he crossed 99th Street with the light. Steel crushed his arm. He stayed awake. The car showed no damage. The street fell silent after the impact.

According to the police report, a Tesla sedan traveling northwest on 99th Street at 62nd Drive struck a 17-year-old pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The report states the teen suffered crush injuries to his arm but remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage, but the impact left the boy with serious injuries. The report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal,' indicating he had the right of way. The collision underscores the consequences of improper lane usage and driver inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778801 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 1 - A man clung to a dump truck on Astoria Boulevard. No harness, no shield. He fell, skull to asphalt, blood pooling. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man, forty-seven, left with severe head wounds. The city’s machinery did not stop.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was riding on the outside of a dump truck near Astoria Boulevard and 88th Street in Queens. The report states he was 'ejected' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head after falling from the moving vehicle. The narrative details: 'A 47-year-old man clung to the outside of a dump truck. No belt. No shield. He fell. Skull met asphalt. Blood pooled. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man did not.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle, a 2005 PTRB dump truck registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage and continued westbound, according to the report. The man was not using any safety equipment at the time, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unsecured riders and the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - Steel crumpled on the Long Island Expressway. An SUV slammed into another from behind. The young driver’s neck snapped forward, pain blooming beneath the belt. He stayed awake, but something inside broke, crushed by inexperience and speed.

A collision occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway involving two SUVs, according to the police report. A young man driving an SUV struck another SUV from behind, causing significant front-end damage to his vehicle and rear-end damage to the other. The driver suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and remained conscious at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The narrative states, 'His neck snapped forward. The belt held. He stayed awake. But something inside gave way, crushed beneath steel and inexperience.' Two occupants were injured, both suffering whiplash, and both were wearing lap belts and harnesses. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors are cited. The focus remains on the inexperience of the driver as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 29 - A cyclist’s face smashed into the steel rear of a parked van on 108th Street near 62nd Drive. Blood streaked his cheek. He stayed conscious, upright, torn open. The van never moved. The man did.

A 32-year-old cyclist was injured on 108th Street near 62nd Drive in Queens when he collided with the back of a parked Chevrolet van, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 18:55. The report states the cyclist 'struck the rear of a parked van. His face met steel. Blood ran down his cheek. He stayed upright, conscious, torn open.' The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The van was stationary at the time, with no occupants. The cyclist suffered severe facial lacerations but remained conscious. The data does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent danger of parked vehicles and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 28 - A taxi reversed without warning at 111th Street and 55th Avenue. The cab struck a 60-year-old man’s leg as he stood off the roadway. Bone crushed. He did not cry out. The cab bore no mark. The street swallowed the pain.

According to the police report, a taxi backed up at the corner of 111th Street and 55th Avenue in Queens, striking a 60-year-old man who was standing off the road. The report states the man suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was left in shock. The collision occurred at 17:57. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The man was not in the roadway at the time of impact. The taxi showed no visible damage. The report does not list any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to pay attention and the unsafe backing maneuver that led to the severe injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 26 - A 15-year-old moped rider collided with a Ford SUV on 32nd Avenue. He flew from the seat, helmetless, body torn and bleeding, screaming awake. Speed and alcohol shadowed the crash. The street bore witness to another young life shattered.

A violent collision unfolded at 32nd Avenue and 107th Street in Queens when a moped, operated by a 15-year-old boy, slammed into the left front quarter panel of a Ford SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider was 'partially ejected,' suffering severe lacerations to his entire body, and was found conscious and screaming at the scene. 'Unsafe Speed' is cited as a contributing factor in the crash, with 'Alcohol Involvement' also listed in the police data. The teen wore no helmet, as documented in the report. The Ford SUV was traveling west, while the moped headed north; both were reportedly going straight ahead before impact. The police narrative describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Blood spread. He was awake. He screamed.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of speed and alcohol on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18