Three Dead, 254 Hurt: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

A man crossed Columbus Avenue. A moped hit him head-on. His leg split. Blood pooled on the street. The rider did not stop. The man stayed awake, pain sharp and real. The moped vanished south, leaving injury behind.

A 33-year-old man was crossing Columbus Avenue near West 70th Street in Manhattan when a southbound moped struck him head-on. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a severe leg injury and remained conscious at the scene. The moped did not stop and continued south. The report notes the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but lists driver inattention as a primary cause. The crash left the man bleeding on the asphalt while the moped rider fled, unmarked and unaccounted for.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645202, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Albany keeps the keys. The Assembly refused to vote on Sammy’s Law. The city stays locked out of lowering its own speed limits. Advocates rage. Another year, another failure. Streets remain fast. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay exposed.

Sammy’s Law, blocked again. The bill—named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van at age 12—would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping the default to 20 mph and some streets to 10 mph. The Senate passed it 55-7, but the Assembly ended its June 22, 2023 session without a vote. Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal said, 'We just can't be deterred.' Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the failure 'heartbreaking.' Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to the floor. Advocates say the city’s hands are tied while deaths and injuries mount. The Council and Mayor Adams support the bill. For the third year, Albany blocks local control. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Sammy’s Law advocates angry after push to give NYC power over its speed limit fails in Assembly, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-22

Sammy’s Law hit a wall in Albany. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly. Advocates and families mourn another delay. Streets stay fast. Vulnerable lives remain at risk.

Sammy’s Law, a bill to let New York City set and lower its speed limits, stalled in the Assembly on June 19, 2023. The bill passed the state Senate but did not reach a vote in the Assembly, blocked by Speaker Carl Heastie and opposition from outerborough members. The City Council, including Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, supported the measure with a home rule message. The bill’s summary: 'allow New York City to set speed limits as low as 10 mph on some streets and 20 mph citywide.' Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill in the Assembly. Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams both backed it. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called it 'common sense.' Advocates, including Amy Cohen, mother of the bill’s namesake, vow to keep fighting. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill’s failure leaves city streets unchanged and vulnerable road users exposed.

• Sammy’s Law bill to let NYC set speed limit falters, supporters hoping special Assembly session will finally push it through, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-19

Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City set its own speed limits, sits idle. Speaker Carl Heastie refuses to bring it to a vote. The Senate passed it. The governor, mayor, and council back it. Families mourn. Lawmakers dodge responsibility. Streets stay deadly.

Sammy’s Law, Assembly Bill to grant New York City control over its speed limits, remains stalled. On June 16, 2023, Speaker Carl Heastie kept it off the legislative agenda, despite Senate passage and support from Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council. The bill’s matter summary: 'the years-long effort to earn New York City the power to set its own speed limits.' Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal sponsors the bill, but Heastie’s inaction blocks a vote. Activists, including Families for Safe Streets, protested with a die-in at Heastie’s office. Gary Eckstein, father of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, spoke of the pain caused by legislative failure. The legislature’s refusal to act leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as lawmakers avoid accountability and delay a measure with broad support.

• Cycle of Rage Update: Speaker Heastie Has Not Put Speed Limit Bill on Next Week’s Agenda, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-16

Two mothers starve for justice. Their children killed by reckless drivers. They demand lawmakers let New York City set its own speed limits. The Assembly stalls. Grief and anger fill the halls. No more excuses. They want action. Now.

On June 6, 2023, two mothers began a hunger strike at the State Capitol, demanding action on Sammy’s Law. The bill, first introduced in 2020 by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and carried in the Assembly by Linda Rosenthal, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. The City Council backed the measure with a 'home rule' message last month. But Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has not brought it to a vote. The matter title: 'Sammy’s Law.' Amy Cohen, whose son Sammy was killed in 2013, and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, whose son Bryan was killed in 2006, lead the protest. Mendieta-Cuapio says, 'We need to pass Sammy's Law today, no more excuses.' Lawmakers hide behind closed doors. The mothers refuse to let their children’s deaths be ignored.

• ‘Sammy’s Law’ Hunger Strike Begins at State Capitol, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-06

Two mothers starve for justice at the State Capitol. Their children were killed by reckless drivers. They demand lawmakers pass Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City set lower speed limits. Assembly leaders stall. Grief meets gridlock.

On June 6, 2023, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and advocates launched a hunger strike at the State Capitol for Sammy’s Law. The bill, introduced by Hoylman-Sigal and carried in the Assembly by Linda Rosenthal, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. The official summary states it 'would authorize NYC to set speed limits below 25 mph but would not automatically change them.' Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, mothers whose children were killed by drivers, lead the protest. Despite majority City Council support and a home rule message, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refuses to bring the bill to a vote. Advocates accuse lawmakers of hiding and demand transparency. The hunger strike exposes the human cost of legislative inaction.

• ‘Sammy’s Law’ Hunger Strike Begins at State Capitol, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-06

Albany stalls Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph. Families mourn. Lawmakers argue. Streets stay deadly. Supporters demand action. The Assembly hesitates. Lives hang in the balance. The city waits for a vote.

Sammy’s Law, debated on June 2, 2023, remains stalled in the New York State Assembly. The bill, championed by State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, would let New York City lower speed limits to 20 mph. The Transportation Committee, led by Bill Magnarelli, cited opposition and procedural delays. The City Council delivered the required home rule message. Amy Cohen, mother of Sammy, pressed the Assembly: "We are demanding that the Assembly bring the bill to a vote." Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal withdrew support, claiming, "This bill is about revenue, not public safety." Despite 68% public support and backing from the mayor and Council, the Assembly remains undecided. The bill’s fate is uncertain. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while lawmakers debate.

• NYS Assembly still undecided on ‘Sammy’s Law’ to lower NYC speed limit, nypost.com, Published 2023-06-02

Albany lawmakers refuse to vote on Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. Council and mayor back it. Assembly leadership stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Families wait. The city’s hands remain tied.

Sammy’s Law, named after 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, would let New York City set speed limits below the state’s 25 mph minimum. The bill, carried by State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, stalled in the Assembly despite strong support from the City Council and Mayor. Council Member Jen Gutierrez called the refusal to vote 'unbelievable,' saying, 'Families across the city deserve this vote.' Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother, called the inaction 'unconscionable.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said the bill lacks support to reach the floor. The bill passed the City Council’s home rule message but faces Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s resistance. The session ends June 8. Without action, the city cannot lower speed limits to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• Sammy’s Law Not Expected to Pass in Assembly, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-31

An e-bike struck a 74-year-old woman on West 72nd Street. She bled from the head. The bike stood untouched. Blood marked the pavement. She stayed conscious. The street fell silent. The city kept moving.

A 74-year-old woman was hit by an e-bike on West 72nd Street. According to the police report, she was outside the crosswalk when the crash happened. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'She lay bleeding from the head. Conscious. Hurt. The bike stood untouched.' The e-bike showed no visible damage. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The crash left the woman injured and the street stained with her blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631167, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers signed onto the Sammy’s Law resolution. The bill would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. Brooks-Powers stressed pairing lower speeds with street redesigns. The resolution now has 23 co-sponsors, still short of a majority.

On May 17, 2023, Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers joined the resolution for Sammy’s Law, a measure urging Albany to let New York City set speed limits under 25 mph. The resolution, led by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, is a required step before state passage. Brooks-Powers had withheld support until the bill included street redesigns for safety, especially in low-income communities of color. She said, 'Lowering speed limits works best when paired with traffic calming and street safety infrastructure.' The resolution now has 23 co-sponsors, three short of a majority. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not signed on. Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal sponsors the bill in Albany. Sammy’s Law is named for a child killed by a reckless driver. Last year, the Council failed to pass a home rule message under Speaker Adams.

• Council Transportation Chair Signs Onto ‘Sammy’s Law’ Resolution, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-17

A man on a Citi e-bike struck by two sedans at West 51st and 11th Avenue. Thrown from his seat. Blood on the cold street. He lay conscious as traffic moved past. The city kept moving. He did not.

A 30-year-old man riding a Citi e-bike was struck by two sedans at West 51st Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A man on a Citi e-bike hit by two sedans. Thrown from the saddle. No helmet. Bleeding from everywhere.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe bleeding to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. No driver errors are listed in the data. The sedans involved were a Mazda, moving west, and a Honda, which was parked. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the facts of the crash. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610626, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An e-scooter hit a woman crossing West 74th near Central Park West. The taxi stood still. Her face took the blow. Crush wounds. Dusk pressed in. Driver inattention cut through the street. The woman fell. The city watched.

A 55-year-old woman was struck by an e-scooter while crossing West 74th Street near Central Park West in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A woman crossed without a signal. The e-scooter struck her face. The taxi stood still. Her body crumpled. Crush wounds. No helmet. No warning.' The woman suffered facial injuries and was in shock. The e-scooter driver, a 40-year-old man, was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The taxi was parked and not involved in the impact. The report notes the pedestrian was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s inattention. The crash shows how distraction behind the handlebars endangers those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609689, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A parked sedan. A woman inside. An SUV struck from behind. Her head took the blow. She died before sunset. Metal twisted. The street fell silent. No warning. No chance.

A 37-year-old woman sat inside a parked sedan on West 53rd Street in Manhattan. An SUV crashed into the rear of her car. According to the police report, the SUV struck hard, front to rear. The woman suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No seat belt was used, but this is noted only after the absence of driver errors. The crash left the street quiet, the toll clear: one life lost, another deadly impact in the city.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589347, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Toyota SUV struck at West 44th and 11th. Inside, a 67-year-old woman bled from the face. The driver, distracted, kept southbound. No damage outside. The wound ran deep. The city’s danger hid in plain sight.

A Toyota SUV crashed at the corner of West 44th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver was southbound and distracted when the crash happened. A 67-year-old woman, seated in the right rear, suffered severe facial lacerations. She wore her seatbelt. The driver, a 59-year-old man, was also in the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No exterior damage was noted, but the injury inside was serious. The crash shows how distraction behind the wheel can bring sudden harm, even when the vehicle itself appears untouched.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577953, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Honda SUV struck a sedan’s rear on West 57th and 12th Avenue. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man bled from the arm, trapped by his lap belt. Distraction ruled the moment. He stayed conscious. The street stayed dangerous.

A southbound Honda SUV crashed into the rear of a sedan at West 57th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A southbound Honda slammed another’s rear. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man bled from the arm, held in place by a lap belt. He stayed awake. Distraction didn’t.' The crash left the 51-year-old male driver with severe lacerations to his arm. Other occupants, including a 58-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, were listed as uninjured. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data does not list any errors by the injured driver. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569858, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a bike crashed into a parked truck. The tire failed. Blood pooled on the street. He clutched his shoulder. The crash left him hurt and bleeding. The truck stood empty. The avenue stayed busy.

A 34-year-old man riding a bike struck the rear of a parked Hino truck on West End Avenue near West 66th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a severe shoulder injury and bled onto the street. The report lists 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as the contributing factor. The truck was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but no helmet use was listed as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the vulnerability of cyclists when equipment fails.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4551934, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called on state DOT to take a lane from cars on the West Side Highway. He wants a two-way protected bike lane. The Greenway is packed. Delivery workers need space. Local boards and lawmakers back the move.

On August 1, 2022, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine demanded the state Department of Transportation repurpose a lane on the West Side Highway for a two-way protected bike lane. Levine wrote, 'The Hudson River Greenway is one of the most heavily used bike paths in the country... congestion has worsened significantly.' He sent his letter to state DOT Commissioner Therese Dominguez and city DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Local elected officials and Community Board 1, which voted 41-3 in May 2020 to support the change, also back the plan. State senators, assembly members, and council members signed a letter urging the same. Levine and supporters argue the new lane would ease crowding and give e-bike delivery workers—many of them immigrants—a safe, legal route. The state DOT has resisted, citing car congestion. Advocates say more space for cyclists is overdue.

• SEE IT! Manhattan BP to State: Take a Lane from Drivers on the West Side Highway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-01

A man on a bike struck a parked Audi on West 73rd. His head hit metal. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious. The SUV never moved. Night pressed in. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A 50-year-old man riding a bike crashed into a parked Audi SUV on West 73rd Street near West End Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist's head struck metal and he suffered severe bleeding but remained conscious. The SUV was stationary and unoccupied. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the dangers faced by cyclists on city streets, even when vehicles are parked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4548278, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 28-year-old man rode north on 12th Avenue. He lost control. The motorcycle struck head-on. He was ejected, helmeted, killed. His head crushed, organs torn. Inexperience and failure to yield ended his life. The bike lay demolished on the street.

A 28-year-old unlicensed man was killed while riding a 1982 Honda motorcycle northbound on 12th Avenue near West 46th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the rider 'struck head-on. Ejected. Helmeted. Dead. Head crushed. Organs torn.' The crash left the motorcycle demolished. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The victim was wearing a helmet, but the severity of the impact proved fatal. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of driver inexperience and missed yields.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534266, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist hit an open SUV door on West 53rd. His head struck hard. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake, injured. The SUV door remained open. The city kept moving. The crash left pain and silence behind.

A 48-year-old man riding a bike on West 53rd Street in Manhattan collided with an open door of a parked SUV. According to the police report, the cyclist's head struck the door, causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The SUV was parked at the time, and the door was left open. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary error cited is improper lane usage. The crash left the cyclist injured and conscious. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530320, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14