Blood on Northern Boulevard—No More Ghosts in the Crosswalk

Sep 4 - At Linden Pl and 31 Rd, a pickup driver turned right and hit an 81-year-old man in the intersection. He bled from the head. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver and distraction.

An 81-year-old pedestrian was hit by the driver of a pickup truck during a right turn at Linden Pl and 31 Rd in Queens at 7:51 a.m. He suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was conscious. According to the police report, the vehicle was a “Pick-up Truck,” the pre-crash action was “Making Right Turn,” and the point of impact was the “Right Front Bumper.” Police recorded “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” by the driver and “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” The location is listed as the intersection. The report notes no damage to the truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840546 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - A taxi cut a U-turn on Prince Street and hit a young e-biker going straight. The rider went down with crush injuries. Metal against flesh. Night in Flushing. The car kept turning. The street paid.

An e-bike rider, 21, was injured when a taxi making a U-turn struck him on Prince St at Roosevelt Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Turning Improperly.” The taxi was making a U-turn; the e-bike was traveling straight. The bicyclist suffered crush injuries and was listed as injured. The report lists driver error: Turning Improperly. Only after that does it note the bicyclist’s safety equipment as “None,” which the report does not cite as a cause. A parked sedan was also struck in the chaos. No injuries were reported for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 17 - A sedan hit a man crossing Union Street. The impact left him unconscious, bleeding from the head. The driver was unhurt. No driver errors listed. The street turned violent in a flash.

A 30-year-old man was struck by a sedan while emerging from behind a parked vehicle on Union Street in Queens. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious. According to the police report, the driver, a 76-year-old woman, was going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the sedan. The driver was not injured. The crash highlights the danger pedestrians face, even outside intersections, when cars and people cross paths.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

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

Jun 14 - Two SUVs crashed on College Point Boulevard. A six-year-old boy suffered crush injuries. Police cite unsafe speed. One driver was unlicensed. Impact hit hard. Metal twisted. Lives changed.

Two station wagons collided on College Point Boulevard at King Road in Queens. A six-year-old boy riding as a rear passenger was injured, suffering crush injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, the crash was caused by unsafe speed. One driver was unlicensed. The impact struck the right side doors of one SUV and the center front end of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 8 - A car struck two boys crossing Linden Place at 31st Road. Both walked with the signal. Both suffered crush injuries to their legs. The driver sped south and failed to yield. The street turned violent. The boys survived. The danger remains.

Two boys, ages 4 and 13, were injured while crossing Linden Place at 31st Road in Queens. According to the police report, both children were pedestrians at the intersection, crossing with the signal when a southbound vehicle struck them. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. Both boys suffered crush injuries to their knees, lower legs, and feet, but remained conscious after the crash. The data does not specify the vehicle type or driver details. The crash highlights the risk faced by pedestrians, especially children, when drivers fail to yield and speed through intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819004 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 5 - A sedan and SUV collided on 155th Street in Queens. An 83-year-old man was trapped, unconscious, with crushed legs. Police cite passing too closely. Metal twisted. Doors smashed. The street fell silent as first responders worked to free the injured driver.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 42-20 155th Street in Queens involving a sedan and a station wagon/SUV. An 83-year-old male driver suffered crush injuries to his lower legs and was found trapped and unconscious in his vehicle. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The SUV sustained damage to its right side doors, while the sedan was hit on the left front bumper and left side doors. No other injuries were specified for the remaining occupants. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers pass too close, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 15 - Motorcycle struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk on Northern Blvd. Pedestrian suffered head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite traffic control disregard and improper turn.

A motorcycle hit a pedestrian at the intersection of Northern Blvd and Prince St in Queens. The pedestrian, a 27-year-old man, was crossing with the signal and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control and turned improperly. The motorcycle driver, a 37-year-old man, was also injured. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was unconscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813114 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 15 - A garbage truck hit an e-bike at Union Street and 32nd Avenue. The cyclist lost a leg. The truck kept going straight. The bike was demolished. The street stayed quiet. Blood on the asphalt.

A garbage truck and an e-bike collided at Union Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens. The 35-year-old male cyclist was partially ejected and suffered a leg amputation. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead. The e-bike was demolished. The truck showed no damage. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 28 - SUV turned right on Parsons. Struck a man in the crosswalk. His head hit. His body crushed. Driver failed to yield. Streets did not protect him.

A westbound SUV turned right from Parsons Blvd onto Beech Ave and struck a 48-year-old man crossing in the marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian was conscious but suffered head and crush injuries. The driver, age 64, failed to yield the right-of-way and turned improperly. The report states: “He failed to yield.” The pedestrian was following the crosswalk. The crash highlights driver errors—failure to yield and improper turning—documented in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808895 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 26 - E-bike slams front-first on Northern Boulevard. Young man’s face bleeds under his helmet. He stays conscious. The street falls silent but for him.

A 26-year-old man riding an e-bike east on Northern Boulevard near 137th Street crashed, suffering severe facial lacerations. According to the police report, the rider was conscious and wore a helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The impact struck the center front of the e-bike, causing deep cuts to the rider’s face. No other vehicles or people were involved, and the street was quiet except for the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 14 - A 78-year-old woman crossed Northern Blvd. An SUV hit her head-on. She died beneath the headlights, the street silent and cold. The crash left her broken body sprawled on the blacktop, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old woman was crossing Northern Blvd near Parsons Blvd in Queens when a westbound SUV struck her head-on. The report states she was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The impact killed her instantly, leaving her body in the roadway. The vehicle involved was a station wagon or SUV traveling straight ahead, with the point of impact at the center front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on driver behavior or conditions. The narrative underscores the stark aftermath: 'her body still beneath the glare of headlights, as silence settled over the blacktop.' No evidence from the report suggests any action by the victim contributed to the crash; the focus remains on the lethal force of the vehicle and the vulnerability of the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 13 - A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13

Mar 9 - Two sedans collided on College Point Blvd, metal shrieking, parked cars mangled. A man gripped his chest. An 11-year-old girl’s neck was pinned. Both left broken. Improper lane use carved chaos into Queens streets.

According to the police report, two sedans collided near 35-32 College Point Blvd in Queens, sending violence through the line of parked cars. The crash left a 35-year-old man with chest injuries and an 11-year-old girl with neck injuries, both described as conscious but suffering crush injuries. The report states, 'Improper passing carved silence into steel,' and lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles involved. Parked sedans absorbed the brunt of the impact, their rear ends crumpled. The data makes clear: driver error—specifically improper passing and lane usage—set the stage for this collision. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the dangerous decisions behind the wheel and the systemic risks that haunt Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798374 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 27 - A sedan backed up on Station Road and crushed a 59-year-old man. The car’s bumper stayed clean. His head did not. He remained conscious as the car kept moving, leaving him with severe crush injuries.

According to the police report, a 2007 Honda sedan reversed on Station Road near 162nd Street in Queens, striking a 59-year-old man who was crossing without a signal. The report states, 'A 2007 Honda backed into him. The bumper was clean. His head was not. He stayed conscious. The car kept moving. He was crushed.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The vehicle showed no damage, according to the report. The driver’s actions—backing without apparent awareness of a person behind—created a lethal hazard for the man on foot. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative centers the impact and ongoing movement of the sedan as the source of harm. The pedestrian’s crossing without a signal is noted only after the vehicle’s actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 21 - A sedan tore down Parsons Blvd and crashed into three parked SUVs. Metal twisted. The driver, alone and belted, suffered crushing injuries. Alcohol was present. The night in Queens was split by screeching steel and broken glass.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Parsons Blvd near Cherry Ave collided with three parked SUVs at 9:00 p.m. The driver, a 40-year-old man, was alone in the vehicle and wearing a seatbelt. He sustained crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes 'alcohol involvement' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other individuals were injured, as all struck vehicles were unoccupied and parked. The narrative describes the sedan slamming into the stationary SUVs, with metal folding and lights blinking in the aftermath. The data highlights the presence of alcohol in the driver's system, a critical factor in the violent impact. No victim behavior is cited as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by impaired driving and the vulnerability of anyone on or near city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794838 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 21 - A van struck a Ford SUV near 39th Avenue. A woman in front suffered a head wound. A young man in back could not move his leg. Blood pooled. Engines cooled. Both passengers remained trapped by their belts.

According to the police report, a van collided with a Ford SUV on College Point Boulevard near 39th Avenue in Queens. The crash left two passengers in the SUV injured: a 49-year-old woman in the front seat suffered head injuries, while a 21-year-old man in the rear seat sustained crush injuries to his lower leg. The report describes, 'The woman in front took the blow to her head. The young man behind could not move his leg. Belts held them in place. Blood pooled. Engines cooled.' Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both injured passengers and does not cite any specific driver error. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the vulnerability of vehicle occupants in crashes involving larger vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 3 - A Toyota sedan turned left on 32nd Avenue and struck a 77-year-old woman crossing with the light. The car’s front bumper caught her head-on. She bled from the head but stayed conscious. Driver inattention marked the crash.

According to the police report, a 77-year-old woman was crossing 32nd Avenue at an intersection, walking with the signal, when a Toyota sedan making a left turn struck her head-on. The report states the vehicle’s front bumper hit her directly, causing severe bleeding from her head. The woman remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was reportedly distracted at the time of the collision. The police narrative confirms the pedestrian was crossing with the light, emphasizing that driver error—specifically distraction—led to the impact. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian’s actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 10 - A Ford SUV turned left at Bowne Street and 41st Avenue. A woman on a bike, age sixty-three, pedaled west. Steel struck flesh. She flew, her head hit pavement. She died alone, her bicycle twisted beside her.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 41st Avenue and Bowne Street in Queens when it struck a 63-year-old woman riding her bicycle westbound. The report states the SUV's driver was inattentive or distracted at the moment of impact. The cyclist was ejected from her bike, suffering fatal head injuries. The narrative notes, 'Her head struck pavement. She died there, alone on the asphalt, her bike crumpled beside her.' The contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention, especially during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18