No More Names on Asphalt

A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.

• Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-17

A cyclist struck an electric unicycle rider in Central Park. The rider was left in critical condition. Police say the cyclist fled but later turned herself in. Details remain sparse. The street stays dangerous.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-02) reports a crash on Central Park's West Drive. Carolyn Backus, a cyclist, faces charges for leaving the scene after colliding with a 40-year-old electric unicycle rider, who suffered critical injuries. NYPD says Backus turned herself in after her photo was circulated. The article notes, 'EMS transported the critically injured one-wheeler to New York-Presbyterian with serious injuries.' Electric unicycles can exceed 40 mph and are illegal in New York City. The incident highlights risks from high-speed devices and gaps in enforcement on shared paths.

• Cyclist Charged After Unicycle Collision, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02

A taxi hit a 56-year-old man crossing at W 51st and 8th. The impact tore his leg. Blood on the street. The driver stayed. Police list no clear cause.

A 56-year-old pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg after a taxi struck him at the intersection of W 51st Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited. The taxi showed no visible damage. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen box truck crashed into a Midtown building. The front awning buckled under the force. No injuries. Police detained a person of interest. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. The city watched, unblinking.

CBS New York reported on June 23, 2025, that a stolen box truck struck a building in Midtown Manhattan, damaging the front awning. According to police, 'no one was hurt and a person of interest was taken into custody.' The incident highlights the risk posed by unauthorized drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles. The crash did not result in injuries, but the impact damaged property and disrupted the area. The report underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and the potential for harm in dense urban environments, where even a single reckless act can threaten public safety.

• Stolen Truck Slams Midtown Building, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-23

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

City bans cars from 34th Street. Busway stretches from 3rd to 9th Avenue. Residents protest. They say more buses, not fewer cars, would help. Officials push ahead. Tensions flare. Policy shifts, but questions remain on safety and congestion.

According to the New York Post (June 14, 2025), City Hall approved a plan to ban cars on 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues, creating a dedicated busway. The article details heated opposition from local residents and bus riders, who argued the plan was rushed and lacked proper traffic analysis. Stacy Rauch, a daily bus rider, said, 'The bigger problem is we don’t have enough buses.' Critics worried diverted car traffic would overwhelm nearby streets. The city compared the move to the 14th Street car ban, but residents noted differences in bus frequency. The article highlights accusations of conflicts of interest involving community board members and advocacy groups. The policy aims to prioritize buses and vulnerable road users, but leaves open questions about implementation and neighborhood impact.

• 34th Street Busway Plan Sparks Debate, New York Post, Published 2025-06-14

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 2025-06-12

City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

A pickup truck struck a cyclist on West 57th Street. The cyclist, a 55-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Unsafe lane changing played a role. The crash left the street marked by blood and confusion.

A crash at 165 West 57th Street in Manhattan involved a pickup truck and a bicycle. The cyclist, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was a contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck, registered in New Jersey, was traveling west and going straight ahead, while the cyclist was making a U-turn. The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor, but the primary systemic danger cited is unsafe lane changing. No injuries were reported for the truck occupants. The crash underscores the risks vulnerable road users face when drivers fail to maintain safe lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816137 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

A cyclist struck a woman crossing West 45th. The bike moved too fast. The impact crushed her leg. She was left in shock. The street saw blood and pain. Speed was the cause.

A 33-year-old woman was injured when a cyclist hit her while she crossed West 45th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her lower leg and foot and was left in shock. The cyclist, a 36-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. No other errors or equipment issues were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man’s leg crushed by a vehicle’s back end on West 50th. Blood on the pavement. Sirens cut through Manhattan’s noise. The street swallowed another pedestrian.

A 21-year-old man walking near 226 West 50th Street in Manhattan was struck and injured by a vehicle. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot after being hit by the center back end of an unspecified vehicle. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The victim was conscious at the scene. No further details on vehicle type or driver actions were provided in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810578 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi veered left near 206 Fifth Avenue. Four men on foot were hit. Legs crushed, blood pooled, shock set in. Alcohol played a role. The street did not forgive.

Four pedestrians were struck and injured by a taxi making a left turn near 206 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'a taxi turned left into the night and struck four men on foot. One bled from the leg. Another’s foot was crushed. A 65-year-old man stared, in shock, at his broken knee. Alcohol was involved.' The crash data lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The injuries ranged from severe bleeding and crush injuries to shock. No driver errors beyond alcohol involvement were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807203 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 7997 lets speed cameras catch drivers hiding or altering plates. It extends camera use in school zones. Lawmakers push to close loopholes that shield reckless drivers from accountability.

Assembly bill A 7997, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Deborah Glick with co-sponsors Jo Anne Simon, John Zaccaro Jr., Linda Rosenthal, and Tony Simone, was introduced on April 16, 2025. It 'permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York City for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.' By targeting plate obstruction, the bill seeks to stop drivers from dodging speed camera enforcement, a move that could help protect pedestrians and cyclists from repeat offenders.

• File A 7997, Open States, Published 2025-04-16

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

A distracted taxi driver struck an 87-year-old woman on West 57th. Metal tore her leg. Blood on the street. She stayed conscious. The city moved on.

An 87-year-old woman was injured on West 57th Street near Sixth Avenue when a distracted taxi driver struck her as she exited a vehicle. According to the police report, 'A taxi, parked, driver distracted. An 87-year-old woman steps from a vehicle. Metal meets flesh. Blood on the pavement. Her leg torn open. She remains conscious.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg but remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804863 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck hit a man head-on near West 40th. Steel crushed his skull. He died in the street before dawn. The truck kept moving. No driver errors listed. The city stayed dark.

A 39-year-old man was killed when a box truck struck him head-on on 9th Avenue near West 40th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in the roadway, not at an intersection, when the truck hit him. He suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The driver, a 75-year-old man, was not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist rode north through Heckscher Fields and struck a 57-year-old woman standing in his path. The bike hit her head, causing bleeding. She stayed down, conscious but still. The cyclist did not stop. The bike showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old man riding a bike northbound in Central Park's Heckscher Fields collided with a 57-year-old woman who was standing in his path. The report states, 'The bike struck her head. Blood ran. She stayed down, conscious but still.' The cyclist did not stop after the crash, and the bike showed no visible damage. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver-specific errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and suffered a minor abrasion to his lower leg. The incident highlights confusion and error as systemic dangers in shared park spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-on at Broadway and West 60th. Metal tore. A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head, wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted, fueling a violent collision in Manhattan’s streets.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed head-on at Broadway and West 60th Street in Manhattan at 11:00 a.m. Both vehicles sustained severe front-end damage. The 75-year-old male passenger, seated in the right rear and wearing a lap belt, suffered a serious head injury with bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor for both drivers. One driver was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight. The narrative states: 'A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted.' No victim behavior contributed to the crash. This collision highlights the deadly consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801266 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04