Second Avenue Bleeds—Hold Leaders to Account Before More Bodies Hit the Street

Oct 19 - A bicycle, racing west on East 31st, slammed into a six-year-old girl crossing with the signal. Her head hit pavement. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious, bleeding, as the city roared around her.

According to the police report, a bicycle traveling west on East 31st Street near Madison Avenue struck a six-year-old girl in the crosswalk. The report states she was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision occurred. The cyclist was cited for 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The narrative details that the girl's head struck the pavement and she suffered severe bleeding but remained conscious. The police report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The data centers the cyclist's excessive speed as the primary cause, underscoring the dangers posed by reckless riding even on non-motorized vehicles. The incident highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially children, in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764628 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 16 - A cyclist cut through Gramercy dusk and struck a man crossing with the light. Blood spilled on the crosswalk. The rider looked away. The man did not. Flesh torn, arm gashed, the city kept moving.

A man crossing Gramercy Park South and 17th Street with the signal was struck by a cyclist, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 p.m. The report states the cyclist was traveling east and hit the pedestrian’s arm with the front wheel, causing severe lacerations. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The narrative details: 'A man stepped into the crosswalk, light in his favor. A bike cut through the dusk. Its front wheel struck his arm. Skin tore. Blood spilled.' The pedestrian, age 38, suffered injuries to the elbow and lower arm and remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal.' The focus remains on the cyclist’s failure to yield and inattention, which led to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - A Jeep struck a northbound Vespa on East 26th near FDR. The rider, 28, was ejected, his leg crushed. He lay helmeted, conscious, on the pavement. Right bumper met scooter’s front. Failure to yield left blood and metal on the street.

According to the police report, a Jeep traveling on East 26th Street near FDR Drive collided with a northbound Vespa. The crash occurred at 17:27. The report states, 'A Jeep struck a northbound Vespa. The rider, 28, was ejected. His leg crushed. He lay conscious, helmeted, on the pavement. Right bumper met scooter’s front quarter. Failure to yield.' The Vespa rider suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and foot and was ejected from his motorcycle. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The SUV’s right front bumper struck the Vespa’s front quarter, confirming the impact location. The Vespa rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but helmet use is not cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the Jeep driver’s failure to yield, which led directly to the violent collision and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 19 - A cyclist tore up 3rd Avenue, speed unchecked. He flew from his bike, face smashing hard on East 24th’s pavement. Blood pooled. The night held its breath. He lay semiconscious, helmetless, broken and still.

A 28-year-old cyclist suffered severe facial injuries after crashing on 3rd Avenue at East 24th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when he struck at high speed, his bike’s front end crushed. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, with additional mention of 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was ejected from the bike, landing face-first on the pavement, and was found semiconscious and bleeding. No helmet was worn, as noted in the police report, but the primary causes cited are the rider’s aggressive actions and unsafe velocity. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when speed and aggression combine on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - A man’s skull cracked on Park Avenue South. A northbound cyclist struck him head-on and did not stop. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider vanished. The city’s traffic violence left another body broken, another story unfinished.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old man was struck by a northbound cyclist near 287 Park Avenue South, close to 28th Street in Manhattan. The cyclist hit the pedestrian head-on, causing severe head trauma; the victim lay semiconscious on the asphalt with a cracked skull. The cyclist did not remain at the scene and continued riding north. The report notes the pedestrian stepped into the street without a signal, but does not list any driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The critical driver error highlighted is the cyclist's failure to stop after the crash, as detailed: 'The rider did not stop. The bike rode on.' This incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 10 - A sedan struck a man lying on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. The driver, distracted, hit him head-on. The man died instantly, his head taking the blow. The road was dark. The driver kept going. Silence followed.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old man was killed on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. when a southbound sedan struck him head-on. The report states, 'A man lay in the dark. A southbound sedan struck him head-on. His head took the blow. He died there, still and silent.' The driver was found to be distracted at the time of the crash, with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' listed as a primary contributing factor. The sedan's center front end took the impact, matching the pedestrian's fatal head injury. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver's inattention, which led to the fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746817 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 5 - A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into a turning bus at Avenue D and East 10th. The rider struck the pavement headfirst. Blood pooled. The signal was there. It was not obeyed. Sirens cut the silence. One man lay unconscious, grievously hurt.

A violent collision unfolded at Avenue D and East 10th in Manhattan when a Yamaha motorcycle, traveling straight, crashed into a bus making a left turn. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:39 a.m. and involved a 39-year-old male motorcyclist who suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious, bleeding heavily. The report explicitly lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, stating, 'The signal was there. It was not obeyed.' The impact was to the center front end of the motorcycle and the left side doors of the bus. The data does not specify which driver disregarded the signal, but the failure to obey traffic control devices stands out as the central cause. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report after the primary driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 29 - A 31-year-old woman died beneath the city’s hush, struck by a northbound SUV on FDR Drive. The driver’s inattention cut her down, leaving her alone in the dark, far from any crosswalk, her life ended by steel and neglect.

A 31-year-old woman was killed when a 2003 Ford SUV, heading north on FDR Drive, struck her with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the collision occurred far from any crosswalk, with the victim crossing the roadway. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The narrative notes she was alone, in the dark, and not at an intersection. The data does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact and the cited driver inattention underscore the persistent systemic dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City’s high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 7 - Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Mar 1 - A bus turned right at Avenue D and East 10th. Its rear wheel crushed a man’s skull. Blood spread across the street. The bus rolled on, undamaged. The man, age forty-five, died where he fell. The city’s machinery did not stop.

A 45-year-old man was killed at Avenue D and East 10th Street in Manhattan when a bus making a right turn struck him with its rear wheel, according to the police report. The report states: 'A bus turned right. The rear wheel struck a man’s head. He was 45. Blood pooled on the pavement. The bus showed no damage. He died where he fell.' The pedestrian was at the intersection, engaged in 'other actions in roadway' as described in the report. The vehicle, a 2018 bus, was undamaged and driven by a licensed male driver. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the narrative centers the lethal consequences of a turning bus and the vulnerability of those on foot. No mention of pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708174 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 5 - A tow truck swung left on Avenue C. The front end hit a 67-year-old woman standing in the roadway. Her head took the blow. She died beneath the streetlights, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a tow truck traveling south on Avenue C turned left onto East 10th Street. During this maneuver, the front of the truck struck a 67-year-old woman who was standing in the roadway at the intersection. The report states, 'The front of the truck struck her. Her head took the blow. She died there, beneath the streetlights and steel.' The pedestrian was killed on impact, suffering fatal head injuries. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, providing no further detail about specific errors or circumstances. The driver was licensed and operating a 2022 Dodge tow truck. The narrative centers on the lethal consequences of a left turn at a city intersection, with the pedestrian's presence in the roadway noted but not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700486 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 30 - A Lexus turned left. An e-bike kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 23, flew and hit the street. Blood pooled. He died under the cold Manhattan sky. The driver disregarded traffic control. The city swallowed another cyclist.

A deadly crash unfolded at Park Avenue South and East 27th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a Lexus sedan made a left turn while an e-bike rider, 23, continued straight. The sedan struck the cyclist, ejecting him from the bike. He suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. He died at the scene. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The data shows the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691254 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 29 - Assembly bill A 8423 orders complete street design on all DOT projects with state or federal cash. Lawmakers push for safer roads. No loopholes. No half-measures. Streets must serve all, not just cars.

Assembly bill A 8423, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. The bill requires 'inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects undertaken by DOT or which receive both federal and state funding and are subject to DOT oversight.' Dana Levenberg leads as primary sponsor, joined by Patricia Fahy, MaryJane Shimsky, Harvey Epstein, Fred Thiele, Albert A. Stirpe, Jonathan Jacobson, Keith Brown, David McDonough, and Chris Burdick. The measure aims to force every qualifying project to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 8423, Open States, Published 2023-12-29

Nov 17 - A boom lift reversed at East 7th and 1st. No horn. Steel crushed a 19-year-old crossing the street. The machine showed no damage. The young man died there, body broken beneath the weight. Morning light revealed the loss.

A 19-year-old man was killed at the corner of East 7th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a boom lift backed up without sounding a horn. The vehicle struck the pedestrian as he crossed, crushing him beneath its steel frame. The report lists 'Oversized Vehicle' as a contributing factor. The boom lift sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. No other contributing factors were cited in the report. The young man died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 16 - A man rode his e-bike north on 1st Avenue. He struck something head-on. He flew from the bike. His abdomen crushed. He died on the street. Distraction and alcohol played their part. The city stayed silent. The street claimed another life.

A 46-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound on 1st Avenue near East 47th Street was killed in a crash just before dawn. According to the police report, the rider struck something head-on, was ejected from the bike, and suffered fatal abdominal injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The man was alone at the time of the crash. No helmet was used, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. The crash left the street cold and empty, another life lost to distraction and danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667965 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 4 - A man rode south on Avenue C. His e-scooter bucked. He flew off. His head struck the pavement. He lay still. The street fell silent. The undercarriage cracked. He did not get up.

A 44-year-old man riding a KAABO Mantis e-scooter southbound on Avenue C was killed after being ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'He was thrown off. His head struck pavement. He lay still. The undercarriage cracked.' The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were involved. The man suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious at the scene. The crash highlights the vulnerability of e-scooter riders in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 4 - A sedan sped through the corner of East 21st and 3rd. It struck a 23-year-old man on an e-bike. His head was crushed. Blood pooled on the street. The car did not stop. Alcohol fueled the crash. The cyclist died at the scene.

A 23-year-old man riding an e-bike was struck and killed by a speeding sedan at the corner of East 21st Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A 23-year-old man on an e-bike was struck and killed by a speeding sedan. His head was crushed. Blood spread on the asphalt. The car kept moving. Alcohol was involved.' The crash involved a sedan traveling north and an e-bike stopped in traffic. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver did not remain at the scene. The cyclist suffered fatal head injuries and died on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634861 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 25 - A cyclist slammed into a parked SUV on East 28th. Metal shrieked. He flew, hit the pavement, blood streaking his arm. His hand split open. He lay conscious, torn, in the sun. The street stood silent, marked by pain and steel.

A 38-year-old cyclist crashed into a parked SUV on East 28th Street near Third Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision occurred at 11:10 a.m. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered severe lacerations to his arm and hand. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The SUV was parked at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The aftermath was blood, torn flesh, and twisted metal on a sunlit city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4632017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 14 - A Lexus reversed on East 21st Street. It struck an 80-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg shattered. Her skin burned. She stayed conscious. The car was untouched. The woman was not.

An 80-year-old woman was crossing East 21st Street near 2nd Avenue with the signal when a Lexus sedan backed into her. According to the police report, 'A Lexus backed into an 80-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg shattered. Her skin burned. She stayed awake through it. The car was fine. She was not.' The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered severe injuries to her leg and burns but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The driver’s unsafe backing led directly to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 19 - A Honda sedan struck a 74-year-old man on FDR Drive. The car’s right front bumper ripped open his head. He stayed conscious. Blood pooled on the highway. The crash left the road raw and silent.

A 74-year-old man was hit by a southbound Honda sedan while walking with traffic on FDR Drive. According to the police report, 'A 74-year-old man walked with traffic on the highway. A southbound Honda struck him with its right front bumper. He stayed conscious. His head was torn open. The cuts ran deep.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his head but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No specific driver errors are cited. No other injuries were reported among the car’s occupants. The impact and aftermath show the brutal risks pedestrians face on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18