Fourteen Dead, Still Waiting: Make Valdez Act Now
AD 37: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll in AD 37
The numbers do not flinch. Fourteen dead. Thirty seriously hurt. Over 2,500 injured. This is Assembly District 37 since 2022. The dead include a 16-year-old girl crossing at an intersection, a cyclist crushed by a turning truck, an 8-year-old in the back seat, and a 75-year-old man who never made it home. The list grows. Each number is a name, a family, a future cut short. NYC Open Data
Who Pays the Price
Pedestrians and cyclists take the brunt. Cars and trucks are the main killers, with SUVs and sedans striking most often. Trucks crush, mopeds and motorcycles add to the toll, and bikes are not spared. The violence is not random. It is relentless. It happens on Skillman, Greenpoint, Laurel Hill, Queens Boulevard. It happens in the crosswalk, at the curb, in the bike lane. It happens to the young and the old.
What Has Been Done—And What Has Not
Assembly Member Claire Valdez has put her name to bills that could matter. She co-sponsored a measure to force speed limiters on repeat dangerous drivers—those with too many points or camera tickets A 2299. She backed a bill for complete streets, demanding roads built for people, not just cars A 1077. She signed on to a bill for automated bike lane enforcement. These are steps. But the blood on the street is not washed away by bills waiting in committee. No law has passed. No street is safer until action is real.
The Next Step Is Yours
This is not fate. This is policy. Call Valdez. Call the council. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand protected bike lanes and crossings that put people first. Demand that every bill for safer streets gets a vote, not a press release. Do not wait for another name to become a number.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709150, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Queens Residents Rally Against Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Flip Flop, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11
- Velázquez leads Queens town hall against Trump policies, calls for activism, amny.com, Published 2025-02-20
- Readers sound off on charging drivers, Bill Maher’s Trump visit and the Obamas, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-04-15
- MTA honcho Janno Leiber quiet on plan to fill $33B budget hole — but outside group pitches longshot taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-06
- File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-17
- File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08
▸ Other Geographies
AD 37 Assembly District 37 sits in Queens, Precinct 108, District 26.
It contains Sunnyside Yards (North), Sunnyside, Sunnyside Yards (South), Calvary & Mount Zion Cemeteries, Maspeth, Queens CB2.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Assembly District 37
E-Bike Rider Thrown After Striking Stopped Truck▸A box truck stood still on Laurel Hill Boulevard. An e-bike hit its rear. The rider, 33, flew forward, helmet on, blood streaming from his eye. He landed hard, conscious, half-thrown. Distraction and speed cut through the afternoon.
On Laurel Hill Boulevard near 58th Street, a box truck was stopped in traffic. An e-bike, traveling straight, struck the back of the truck. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The e-bike rider, a 33-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered a severe eye injury with heavy bleeding. He was wearing a helmet and remained conscious. No injuries were reported for the truck's occupants. The data lists driver inattention as a key factor, with no mention of errors by the e-bike rider beyond the helmet, which is only noted after driver actions.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540072,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns, Cyclist Thrown on Flushing Avenue▸A sedan turned right on Flushing Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head bleeding. He was conscious but hurt. The car’s side was smashed. The bike twisted, silent in the street.
A sedan and a cyclist collided at Flushing Avenue and Troutman Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan turned right while the cyclist went straight. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right side was damaged; the bike’s front end was crushed. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The crash left the cyclist injured and the scene marked by twisted metal and blood.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539372,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Tesla Slams Parked Truck, Driver Bleeds▸A Tesla crashed headlong into a parked box truck on Rust Street. The roof caved. The driver, 67, was found slumped and bleeding from the head. The street was quiet. Police cited driver inattention. No other injuries reported.
A 67-year-old man driving a Tesla struck a parked box truck on Rust Street near 59th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan drove straight into the truck, crushing the roof. The driver was found unconscious, bleeding from the head, and wearing a seatbelt. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other occupants or bystanders were injured. The box truck was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or violations.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536274,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Distracted E-Bike Rider Hits Boy in Queens▸A distracted e-bike rider struck a 5-year-old boy crossing Skillman Avenue with the signal. The child bled from the head but stayed conscious. The bike’s front end bore the mark. The crash left the street stained and silent.
A 5-year-old boy was hit by a westbound e-bike while crossing Skillman Avenue at 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider, distracted and inattentive, struck him. The boy suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The e-bike’s front end showed damage from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger posed to pedestrians, especially children, by inattentive riders on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531561,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A box truck stood still on Laurel Hill Boulevard. An e-bike hit its rear. The rider, 33, flew forward, helmet on, blood streaming from his eye. He landed hard, conscious, half-thrown. Distraction and speed cut through the afternoon.
On Laurel Hill Boulevard near 58th Street, a box truck was stopped in traffic. An e-bike, traveling straight, struck the back of the truck. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The e-bike rider, a 33-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered a severe eye injury with heavy bleeding. He was wearing a helmet and remained conscious. No injuries were reported for the truck's occupants. The data lists driver inattention as a key factor, with no mention of errors by the e-bike rider beyond the helmet, which is only noted after driver actions.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540072, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns, Cyclist Thrown on Flushing Avenue▸A sedan turned right on Flushing Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head bleeding. He was conscious but hurt. The car’s side was smashed. The bike twisted, silent in the street.
A sedan and a cyclist collided at Flushing Avenue and Troutman Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan turned right while the cyclist went straight. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right side was damaged; the bike’s front end was crushed. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The crash left the cyclist injured and the scene marked by twisted metal and blood.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539372,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Tesla Slams Parked Truck, Driver Bleeds▸A Tesla crashed headlong into a parked box truck on Rust Street. The roof caved. The driver, 67, was found slumped and bleeding from the head. The street was quiet. Police cited driver inattention. No other injuries reported.
A 67-year-old man driving a Tesla struck a parked box truck on Rust Street near 59th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan drove straight into the truck, crushing the roof. The driver was found unconscious, bleeding from the head, and wearing a seatbelt. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other occupants or bystanders were injured. The box truck was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or violations.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536274,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Distracted E-Bike Rider Hits Boy in Queens▸A distracted e-bike rider struck a 5-year-old boy crossing Skillman Avenue with the signal. The child bled from the head but stayed conscious. The bike’s front end bore the mark. The crash left the street stained and silent.
A 5-year-old boy was hit by a westbound e-bike while crossing Skillman Avenue at 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider, distracted and inattentive, struck him. The boy suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The e-bike’s front end showed damage from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger posed to pedestrians, especially children, by inattentive riders on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531561,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A sedan turned right on Flushing Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head bleeding. He was conscious but hurt. The car’s side was smashed. The bike twisted, silent in the street.
A sedan and a cyclist collided at Flushing Avenue and Troutman Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan turned right while the cyclist went straight. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right side was damaged; the bike’s front end was crushed. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The crash left the cyclist injured and the scene marked by twisted metal and blood.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Tesla Slams Parked Truck, Driver Bleeds▸A Tesla crashed headlong into a parked box truck on Rust Street. The roof caved. The driver, 67, was found slumped and bleeding from the head. The street was quiet. Police cited driver inattention. No other injuries reported.
A 67-year-old man driving a Tesla struck a parked box truck on Rust Street near 59th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan drove straight into the truck, crushing the roof. The driver was found unconscious, bleeding from the head, and wearing a seatbelt. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other occupants or bystanders were injured. The box truck was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or violations.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536274,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Distracted E-Bike Rider Hits Boy in Queens▸A distracted e-bike rider struck a 5-year-old boy crossing Skillman Avenue with the signal. The child bled from the head but stayed conscious. The bike’s front end bore the mark. The crash left the street stained and silent.
A 5-year-old boy was hit by a westbound e-bike while crossing Skillman Avenue at 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider, distracted and inattentive, struck him. The boy suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The e-bike’s front end showed damage from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger posed to pedestrians, especially children, by inattentive riders on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531561,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A Tesla crashed headlong into a parked box truck on Rust Street. The roof caved. The driver, 67, was found slumped and bleeding from the head. The street was quiet. Police cited driver inattention. No other injuries reported.
A 67-year-old man driving a Tesla struck a parked box truck on Rust Street near 59th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan drove straight into the truck, crushing the roof. The driver was found unconscious, bleeding from the head, and wearing a seatbelt. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other occupants or bystanders were injured. The box truck was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or violations.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536274, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Distracted E-Bike Rider Hits Boy in Queens▸A distracted e-bike rider struck a 5-year-old boy crossing Skillman Avenue with the signal. The child bled from the head but stayed conscious. The bike’s front end bore the mark. The crash left the street stained and silent.
A 5-year-old boy was hit by a westbound e-bike while crossing Skillman Avenue at 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider, distracted and inattentive, struck him. The boy suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The e-bike’s front end showed damage from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger posed to pedestrians, especially children, by inattentive riders on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531561,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A distracted e-bike rider struck a 5-year-old boy crossing Skillman Avenue with the signal. The child bled from the head but stayed conscious. The bike’s front end bore the mark. The crash left the street stained and silent.
A 5-year-old boy was hit by a westbound e-bike while crossing Skillman Avenue at 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider, distracted and inattentive, struck him. The boy suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The e-bike’s front end showed damage from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger posed to pedestrians, especially children, by inattentive riders on city streets.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531561, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15