Rajkumar’s District: Where Kids Bleed and Drivers Walk Free

Apr 25 - 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 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - 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

Mar 31 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - 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

Mar 17 - A sedan cut left on Jamaica Avenue. A moped sped straight. Metal struck flesh. A 26-year-old man flew, slammed headfirst onto the street, bleeding and semiconscious, sirens closing in. Failure to yield and unsafe speed left him sprawled under cold lights.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on Jamaica Avenue collided with a moped traveling straight at an unsafe speed. The impact flung the 26-year-old moped driver headfirst onto the pavement, leaving him semiconscious and bleeding from the head. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The moped driver was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. The police report notes that the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and operate at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - Two sedans struck a man and woman on Woodhaven Boulevard. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Head trauma. Crush injuries. Both died where they fell. Southbound traffic did not stop. The street swallowed them whole.

Two sedans, both heading south on Woodhaven Boulevard, struck a 71-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man. Both pedestrians were walking outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'Head trauma. Crush injuries. Blood on the asphalt. Both died where they fell. Southbound traffic did not stop in time.' The report lists no specific driver errors, only 'Unspecified' contributing factors for both victims. The impact was severe: both pedestrians suffered fatal head and internal injuries. The drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680207 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 2 - A Jeep lunged from the curb on Jamaica Avenue. Two boys on an e-bike slammed into its nose. Metal met flesh. Legs crushed, arms broken. Both boys hurled onto the street, conscious, bleeding, no helmets. The night echoed with pain and sirens.

Two boys, ages 16 and 19, riding an e-bike west on Jamaica Avenue, collided with the front of a Jeep SUV that pulled from the curb near 92nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Jeep pulled from the curb. An e-bike with two boys struck its nose. No helmets. No chance. One boy’s legs crushed, the other’s arms broken. Both thrown. Both conscious. Both bleeding on the asphalt.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both boys were ejected from the e-bike and suffered serious crush injuries to their arms and legs. The report notes neither wore helmets, but the primary cause was the Jeep driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - A dump truck turned right at Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. Its front bumper struck a 63-year-old woman working in the road. She died beneath the truck. The driver’s view was blocked. The truck showed no damage. Her body bore the weight.

A fatal crash took place at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a dump truck made a right turn and struck a 63-year-old woman who was working in the roadway. She was killed, suffering crush injuries to her entire body. The report states, “The view was blocked.” Contributing factors listed include 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Oversized Vehicle.' The truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. The woman was working at the intersection when the truck’s right front bumper hit her. No helmet or signal issues were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 28 - A teenager on an e-bike crashed into a parked garbage truck on Atlantic Avenue. His head split open. Blood pooled on the steel. He lay semiconscious, battered, helmetless. The truck did not move. The street stayed silent. The boy did not.

A 19-year-old riding an e-bike struck a parked garbage truck near Atlantic Avenue and 100th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious on the pavement. The report states the crash was caused by 'Passing Too Closely.' The garbage truck was parked and sustained no damage. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary contributing factor listed is 'Passing Too Closely.' No other injuries were reported. The truck remained stationary throughout the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657592 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 30 - NYC leaders went to Albany. They demanded lawmakers pass Sammy’s Law. The bill lets the city set its own speed limits. Brad Hoylman-Sigal led the charge. The law is named for a child killed by a car. The fight is urgent. Lives hang in the balance.

On May 30, 2023, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and other NYC officials lobbied the state legislature to pass key transportation and housing bills before the session ends June 9. The centerpiece is 'Sammy’s Law,' which would let New York City set its own speed limits, potentially lowering them to 20 mph. Hoylman-Sigal, the bill’s sponsor, said, 'Senators in Massapequa shouldn’t set the speed limit for Manhattan—or the reverse.' The law is named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old killed by a car in Brooklyn. The bill had stalled before, but this year the required home rule resolution was submitted. Mayor Adams’ administration also pushed for affordable housing reforms. The push for Sammy’s Law is a fight to give NYC control over its streets and protect vulnerable road users from deadly speeding.

• NYC officials press Albany to pass critical bills on housing, city speed limit and others before session ends, nypost.com, Published 2023-05-30

May 1 - A sedan hit a 72-year-old man at Saint Nicholas and Gates. The right bumper struck his head. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, bleeding under the sun. Driver inattention led to the crash. The city’s danger pressed in.

A 72-year-old man was struck by a sedan while crossing at the intersection of Saint Nicholas Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 72-year-old man crossing against the light. The right bumper hit his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. He lay conscious, bleeding, beneath the sun.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when it hit the man. The data also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the primary driver error remains inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4625492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 11 - A Mercedes sped west on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The road was slick. The car slammed, crumpled, and threw its driver. He died on the pavement, head crushed. Unsafe speed and slippery asphalt left no room for mercy.

A single-car crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway killed a 28-year-old man. According to the police report, a 2011 Mercedes sedan was traveling west at unsafe speed on slick pavement. The car was demolished. The driver, unbelted, was ejected and died from head injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash left the driver alone on the road, the car destroyed. The police report states: 'The car crumpled. The unbelted driver, 28, was thrown from the wreck. He died alone on the road, head shattered, speed his final word.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 22 - A driverless Ford SUV rolled down 82nd Street. It struck a 49-year-old man. His leg broke. He lay in the street, pain sharp and sudden. The SUV showed no damage. No one sat behind the wheel. Metal moved. Flesh broke.

A 1998 Ford SUV, left without a driver, rolled south near 91-29 82nd Street in Queens. The vehicle struck a 49-year-old man, breaking his leg. According to the police report, 'a driverless 1998 Ford SUV rolled south. It struck a 49-year-old man in the leg. Bone broke.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when hit. The report lists 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle' as the main contributing factor. No one was inside the SUV at the time of the crash. The vehicle showed no damage. The man suffered a serious leg injury and was left hurt in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566634 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 16 - A sedan lurched on Myrtle Avenue. Metal struck a young man standing off the street. His leg was severed. He stayed conscious. The driver swerved for a car that never touched them. The street stayed silent. Blood marked the concrete.

A sedan on Myrtle Avenue jolted forward from a stop and struck a 25-year-old man standing off the roadway. According to the police report, the impact severed the pedestrian’s leg, but he remained conscious at the scene. The driver swerved in reaction to another vehicle that did not make contact. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not in the street when hit. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left one person grievously injured and exposed the danger of sudden, uncontrolled vehicle movement near sidewalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 2 - A Nissan sedan hit a woman in the crosswalk on Woodhaven Boulevard. She crossed with the signal. The car’s right bumper smashed her head. Blood pooled on the asphalt. She lay stunned and broken as traffic rolled past.

A northbound Nissan sedan struck a 52-year-old woman as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard at Jamaica Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A northbound Nissan struck a 52-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The right bumper hit her head. She lay bleeding on the asphalt, skull torn, eyes wide, incoherent beneath the morning traffic.' The pedestrian suffered severe head injuries and lacerations. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal. The crash left her incoherent and bleeding in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - A BMW SUV tore down Myrtle Avenue. The driver moved too fast. A 74-year-old man tried to cross. The front end hit him. His body broke on the asphalt. He died there, under the streetlights. The driver did not slow down.

A BMW SUV struck and killed a 74-year-old man crossing Myrtle Avenue. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling east at unsafe speed when its front end hit the pedestrian, who was not in a crosswalk. The man suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by speeding drivers to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555865 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A Ford pickup struck a parked box truck and a Nissan on 101st Avenue. Metal crumpled. A 26-year-old woman in the back seat bled from the head. She stayed conscious. Driver inattention cut through the morning quiet. Pain and blood marked the scene.

A Ford pickup traveling east on 101st Avenue near 111th Street crashed into a parked box truck and a Nissan sedan. According to the police report, the driver had looked away before impact. The collision left a 26-year-old woman in the back seat with severe head bleeding; she was conscious at the scene. Two drivers, aged 34 and 40, suffered injuries to the body and arm. Multiple other occupants reported pain or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash tore through metal and flesh, leaving pain and blood behind. All injured parties wore lap belts and harnesses, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19