Woodhaven Kills. City Shrugs. Who Will Stand Up for the Dead?

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 roars through a red at Woodhaven Boulevard. Metal collides with flesh. A young woman, twenty-three, falls broken in the night. The street runs red. She dies there, as the city sleeps, struck down by speed and disregard.

According to the police report, a fatal crash occurred on Woodhaven Boulevard near 83rd Street in Queens at 2:20 a.m. A motorcycle, traveling north, 'barrels fast, ignoring the light.' The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the driver. The motorcycle struck a 23-year-old woman crossing at the intersection. The report states she was 'crossing against the signal,' but the focus remains on the driver's actions: running the light and speeding. The impact was severe, with the victim suffering fatal injuries to her entire body. The police narrative describes the scene: 'Metal strikes flesh. The street runs red. She dies there, whole body broken, as the city sleeps.' Driver error—disregard for traffic control and unsafe speed—stands at the center of this tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

City Council urges Albany to regulate high-speed motorized scooters. The resolution targets unregulated, seatless scooters topping 20 mph. Sponsors want registration, insurance, and inspections. The bill aims to close loopholes and define these fast machines as a separate class.

Resolution 0602-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced October 10, 2024. The Council calls on the State Legislature and Governor to pass A.9747/S.9209, which would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to regulate motorized scooters. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9747/S.9209, to amend the New York State Vehicle and Traffic law, in relation to the regulation of the operation of motorized scooters.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, and Joann Ariola back the measure. The bills would require registration, insurance, and inspection for scooters, and define them as a new vehicle class. The move targets fast, unregulated scooters now flooding city streets, aiming to bring them under clear legal control.

• File Res 0602-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle slammed into a Jeep’s rear on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The rider, 43, was thrown, leg torn, blood pooling on the asphalt. Engines roared past. According to police, following too closely led to carnage. The rider lay semiconscious, bleeding, motionless.

According to the police report, a motorcycle collided with the rear of a Jeep on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The crash occurred 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, the only person injured, suffered severe bleeding and was ejected from the motorcycle, sustaining significant leg injuries. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the crash. The Jeep was traveling straight ahead when the motorcycle, while passing, struck its left rear quarter panel. No other contributing factors are cited in the report. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by close following at speed on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735419, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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

A moped tore through the noon silence on 60th Street, smashing into a sedan. Blood pooled on the pavement. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was thrown and conscious, head split. Speed and disregard for control left the street scarred.

At the corner of 60th Street and 70th Avenue in Queens, a violent collision unfolded between a moped and a sedan, according to the police report. The moped, traveling west, struck the sedan's left front quarter panel with force, folding in the car's side. The moped rider, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe head injuries and was partially ejected, bleeding heavily but conscious. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, underscoring the moped driver's dangerous actions. The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the report, but these details follow the primary driver errors. The sedan driver, licensed and traveling south, was also involved. Noon sun, silent street—speed and disregard for traffic rules turned routine movement into trauma.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714982, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Councilmember Rajkumar pushes for e-bike insurance and registration. Delivery workers push back. City launches campaign after fatal crashes spike. The fight over who pays for safety lands on the street. Riders, not corporations, face new penalties.

On March 19, 2024, Councilmember Jenifer Rajkumar announced new legislation requiring e-bikes to be insured and registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill follows a surge in deadly e-bike crashes—23 deaths last year, up from nine in 2022. The city’s new campaign, 'get smart before you start,' aims to educate riders on safe operation. Rajkumar’s bill drew immediate opposition from delivery workers. Gustavo Ajche of Los Deliveristas Unidos said, 'We're deeply disappointed to see local and state leaders introduce legislation that would put the burden of penalty on delivery workers rather than trying to regulate the app companies.' The campaign and bill highlight a growing rift: who shoulders the cost of safety—workers or the corporations that profit from their labor?

• New campaign aims to stop deadly e-bike crashes in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2024-03-19

A Jeep struck a Volkswagen at Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. The right side of the Volkswagen caved in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died as the airbag burst. The street went silent. Metal and silence remained.

At the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, a Jeep collided broadside with a Volkswagen, according to the police report. The impact crushed the Volkswagen’s right side, killing a 32-year-old woman seated in the front passenger seat. The report states, 'A Jeep struck a Volkswagen broadside. The right side folded in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died. The airbag bloomed.' Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, drawing attention to driver error and systemic visibility hazards at this intersection. The victim was not ejected and the airbag deployed, but the force proved fatal. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls and sightlines are compromised.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703790, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped slammed into a parked SUV on Cypress Avenue. The unlicensed rider, 41, was trapped, legs crushed, conscious in the cold. The moped’s front end folded. No other people were present. Metal and bone tangled in the night.

A violent crash unfolded on Cypress Avenue near Centre Street in Queens when a moped collided with the rear of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped's front end 'folded in' from the impact, leaving the 41-year-old unlicensed rider trapped with crushed legs. The rider was conscious at the scene, suffering severe lower leg injuries. Police records confirm the SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The report notes the moped operator was 'unlicensed,' and lists 'unspecified' as contributing factors, but does not cite any victim behavior as a cause. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when vulnerable road users and stationary vehicles collide on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698391, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man, 47, crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. A Toyota hit him head-on. A Jeep struck next. His head broke the silence. He died there, between two sedans and the cold.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was killed on Woodhaven Boulevard in the early morning. The report states he was crossing outside the crosswalk when a Toyota sedan struck him head-on. A Jeep sedan hit him next. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, with no further detail on specific driver errors. The victim’s location—crossing not at an intersection and not at a signal or crosswalk—is described, but not listed as a contributing factor. The lethal impact of two sedans in rapid succession highlights the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692381, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14