Streets of Sorrow: Deadly Policy, Broken Lives

A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

A man on a motorcycle died after being ejected on Jackie Robinson Parkway. Head injury. Helmet listed. Police cite unspecified factors. The road claimed another life. No other injuries reported.

A 39-year-old man riding a motorcycle east on Jackie Robinson Parkway was killed after being ejected from his bike. According to the police report, the rider suffered a fatal head injury and was wearing a helmet. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the motorcycle damaged on its left front quarter panel. The police report does not name any specific driver errors or outside causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Voters chose candidates who back bike lanes, open streets, and transit. Opponents lost. The message is clear: New Yorkers want safer roads. No new laws yet, but the council’s direction is set. Vulnerable road users watch and wait.

On June 25, 2025, New York City held local elections with major implications for street safety. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, saw candidates who championed 'the importance of bike lanes, public transit, and open streets' win across the city. Council members Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Shekar Krishnan, Chi Oss, Crystal Hudson, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams all prevailed on platforms supporting safer streets. Mark Levine, who called for bold highway changes, won the Comptroller race. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text is a vague statement of support for livable streets but does not describe a specific policy action or legislative change, so its direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists cannot be determined.' The victories signal a mandate for people-first streets, but concrete safety gains depend on future action.

• Down-Ballot Recap: A Great Night for the Livable Streets Movement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

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

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 2025-06-12

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

A soul singer crossed Woodhaven at Myrtle. A Yamaha motorcycle struck her. She died at Jamaica Hospital. The rider kept going as the light changed. Police have not charged him. Dreams ended in the street. The city moves on.

NY Daily News reported on April 27, 2025, that Breanna Henderson, 23, was fatally struck by a Yamaha motorcycle while crossing Woodhaven Blvd. at Myrtle Ave. in Queens. The crash happened around 2:20 a.m. as the traffic light turned from yellow to red. The article notes, 'the motorcyclist hit her as the light turned from yellow to red.' Police have not charged the 34-year-old rider, and the investigation continues. Henderson was returning home from a performance. The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at major intersections and the risks posed by vehicles failing to yield during signal changes.

• Singer Killed Crossing Woodhaven Boulevard, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-27

A motorcycle sped through a red on Woodhaven. Metal hit flesh. A 23-year-old woman died in the crosswalk. The street ran red. The city slept. The driver ignored traffic control and speed.

A 23-year-old woman was killed at Woodhaven Boulevard near 83rd Street when a northbound motorcycle struck her in the intersection. According to the police report, the motorcycle disregarded traffic control and traveled at unsafe speed. The pedestrian died at the scene from severe injuries. The driver, a 34-year-old man, wore a helmet. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford SUV veered sharply on 87th Street as its driver lost consciousness. Two men, aged 31 and 67, were struck mid-block and killed. Parked cars shattered. The street fell silent. The deadly crash exposed the peril of driver incapacitation.

According to the police report, at 10:31 a.m. on 87th Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens, a Ford SUV traveling south veered off course when the driver lost consciousness. The vehicle struck two men, aged 31 and 67, walking mid-block, killing them both with injuries to their entire bodies. The report highlights 'Lost Consciousness' as the primary contributing factor on the part of the SUV driver. Parked cars were also hit and damaged in the crash. No other driver errors or pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident underscores the lethal risk posed by sudden driver incapacitation and the vulnerability of pedestrians outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Dozens gathered in Midtown. They demanded e-bike registration and license plates. Priscilla’s Law, named for a pedestrian killed by an e-bike, drove the call. Council Member Holden and Assembly Member Rajkumar led. Advocates want accountability. They say e-bike chaos endangers walkers and cyclists.

On March 12, 2025, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) joined Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and advocates in Midtown to rally for Priscilla’s Law (A339). The bill would require all e-bikes to have license plates and be registered with the DMV or DOT. The rally, held near Governor Hochul’s office, drew support from the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance. The matter title: 'New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC.' Holden supports both city and state versions, stating, 'We need the state DMV to issue license plates for e-bikes.' Rajkumar declared, 'We will usher in a new era free of e-bikes blasting through red lights.' The bill is named for Priscilla Loke, killed by an e-bike in 2023. Advocates say e-bike collisions often end in hit-and-runs. They demand rules and consequences to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC, amny.com, Published 2025-03-12

A 2002 Suzuki motorcycle crashed hard at 1 a.m. on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The driver, 36, thrown and bleeding from the head. The passenger, 52, left with a torn leg. Helmets on. Both hit the ground. The road stayed quiet.

According to the police report, a 2002 Suzuki motorcycle crashed at 1 a.m. on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The report states, 'A 2002 Suzuki slammed headlong. The man, 36, thrown and bleeding from the head. The woman, 52, leg torn open.' Both occupants were ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe lacerations—one to the head, the other to the lower leg. The report notes both wore helmets. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and the motorcycle was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and passenger, providing no further detail on the cause. No evidence of victim error is cited. The crash left both individuals injured and the road silent.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota SUV turned left at 80th Street and Myrtle Avenue, crushing a 17-year-old girl’s leg as she crossed with the signal. The driver’s license remained intact. The SUV showed no scars. Her knee did.

At the intersection of 80th Street and Myrtle Avenue in Queens, a 17-year-old pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg when a Toyota SUV turned left and struck her. According to the police report, the girl was 'crossing with the light' at the time of the collision. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The SUV, described as a 2015 Toyota, sustained no visible damage, and the driver retained his license after the crash. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report makes clear that the victim was in the intersection and had the signal in her favor when the SUV made its left turn, resulting in her injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765708 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided on Cypress Avenue. Metal slammed metal. A 24-year-old man, belted in, stayed conscious as his back burned and his leg was torn away. The crash left blood and silence in the Queens night.

According to the police report, two station wagon/SUVs crashed near Cypress Avenue and Cypress Hills Street in Queens at 23:05. The report states that 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor. One SUV struck the other’s center back end. The impact left a 24-year-old male driver with severe injuries, including back trauma and a leg amputation. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the danger of tailgating, as documented by the official finding of 'Following Too Closely.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762568 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 28-year-old man riding east on Jackie Robinson Parkway was crushed and killed. A lane change ended him. His motorcycle struck head-on. He was ejected, his body broken. The road stayed still. His life did not.

A fatal crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway claimed the life of a 28-year-old man riding a FENGYUAN motorcycle, according to the police report. The collision occurred as the motorcycle, traveling east, was struck head-on during a lane change. The report states the rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his entire body, resulting in death. The police narrative describes the impact as sudden and violent: 'A lane change ended him. The road stayed still. His body did not.' The contributing factor listed in the police report is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' with no specific driver error cited for the other vehicle. The report notes the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the description of the crash mechanics and contributing factors. The focus remains on the deadly consequences of a lane change on a high-speed parkway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752246 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Motorcycle hit Jeep’s rear on Jackie Robinson Parkway. Rider, 43, ejected. Leg torn. Blood on asphalt. Engines roared past. Police cite following too closely. One man lay semiconscious, bleeding, motionless.

According to the police report, a motorcycle struck the rear of a Jeep on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The crash happened at 1:10 p.m. The report states, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Jeep. The rider, 43, was thrown hard. Semiconscious. Leg torn. Blood pooled on hot asphalt.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries and heavy bleeding. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other causes are cited. The Jeep was traveling straight ahead when the motorcycle, while passing, hit its left rear quarter panel. The crash left one man broken on the road, a stark mark of danger on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan lunged from its spot on Park Lane South. Metal met flesh. A woman on her bike crashed, her body torn, blood spilling. She stayed awake. The car bore no mark. The street swallowed the pain and kept moving.

According to the police report, a sedan pulled from parking on Park Lane South near Myrtle Avenue as a woman rode her bike eastbound. The report states: 'A sedan pulled from parking. A woman rode east on her bike. Metal struck flesh. Her body broke open, bleeding.' The cyclist, a 38-year-old woman, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan, driven by a man with a permit, showed no visible damage. The report notes the cyclist wore no helmet, but this is mentioned after the driver actions and only because it appears in the official record. The crash underscores the danger when vehicles enter traffic from parking, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727668 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound SUV turned wrong at 109th and 103rd. Its front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed. She lay in shock on the pavement, beneath the afternoon sun. The driver failed to yield.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV at the corner of 109th Street and 103rd Avenue turned improperly and struck a baby girl who was crossing with the signal. The report states, 'A southbound SUV turned wrong. The front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed.' The child suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was left in shock on the pavement. The police report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The victim was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error and failure to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan surged from its spot on Myrtle Avenue. Its front bumper slammed a 46-year-old cyclist. He flew, hit pavement, crushed. The car rolled on. Blood pooled. The street bore witness to another brutal collision.

According to the police report, a sedan pulled from its parking spot near 67-03 Myrtle Avenue in Queens and struck a 46-year-old man riding a bike. The cyclist was hit by the sedan's left front bumper, ejected from his bike, and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. The report states the cyclist remained conscious after the impact. The crash occurred at 2:00 PM. Police cite 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting the sedan driver's failure to provide adequate space for the cyclist. The narrative notes the car 'kept rolling' after the collision. The report also mentions the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by cyclists on city streets when drivers disregard safe passing distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus struck a stopped bike at Myrtle Avenue and 69th Street. The rider, fifty-four, was thrown off, bleeding and conscious, pain everywhere. The bus did not stop. The bike lay broken, the street stained, the city indifferent.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on Myrtle Avenue at 69th Street collided with a stopped bicycle. The narrative states, 'A bus hit a stopped bike. The rider, 54, flew off. No helmet. Blood ran. He was awake, hurting everywhere. The bus kept going. The bike stayed down.' The cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and was ejected from the bike, sustaining severe bleeding but remaining conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but the primary sequence of events centers on the bus striking a stationary cyclist. The bus driver continued without stopping. No driver-specific errors are cited in the data, but the impact and aftermath underscore the systemic dangers facing cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Member Rajkumar pushes harsh e-bike rules. Her own car racks up 10 school-zone speeding tickets. She calls e-bikes a menace, but city data shows cars injure far more. Vulnerable road users face danger from both policy and reckless driving.

Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar introduced bills A9092 and A9114, aiming to require e-bike registration, insurance, and inspections. The bills are not yet law and have not advanced through committee. Rajkumar, a close ally of Mayor Adams, claims e-bikes are a 'singular threat' and a 'safety hazard,' citing injury numbers that city data does not support. She stated, 'We have to get rid of the e-bike problem.' Despite her focus on e-bikes, a car used by Rajkumar’s office received 10 school-zone speeding tickets in under a year. Her spokesperson denied she drives the car, later confirmed to belong to her chief of staff. Rajkumar declined further comment. The push for e-bike regulation comes as cars continue to inflict the greatest harm on New York’s streets.

• Reckless with Rajkumar! Queens Pol and Adams Ally Was Driven In Car Slapped with 10 Speeding Tix, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-11