No More Names on Asphalt

A Dodge SUV struck a 29-year-old man crossing West 30th Street. The impact crushed his chest. He lay conscious on the pavement. Police cite aggressive driving. The SUV rolled on, undamaged. The street bore the weight of violence.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling east on West 30th Street near 11th Avenue struck a 29-year-old man who was crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his chest and remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor, explicitly pointing to the driver’s actions as the cause. The SUV showed no damage and continued straight after the collision. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is listed only after the driver’s aggressive behavior. The focus remains on the SUV driver's cited aggression and the resulting severe injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck slammed into a woman’s face as she crossed Avenue of the Americas with the signal. Blood spilled onto the street. The driver kept going. She stayed conscious, injured and bleeding, her right-of-way ignored in the city’s rush.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling east on Avenue of the Americas struck a 45-year-old woman at the intersection with West 52nd Street. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' and had the right-of-way when the truck’s front end hit her face, causing severe bleeding. The woman remained conscious despite her injuries. The driver did not stop after the collision. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The victim’s behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted in the report, but the focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield, which directly led to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman pedaled west on 27th. She smashed into a parked sedan. Her face split on steel. Blood pooled. The car stood silent. She moved, then lay still. Inexperience listed. No helmet, but the street did not forgive.

A 29-year-old woman riding a bike westbound on West 27th Street in Manhattan collided with a parked sedan, according to the police report. The report states she suffered severe facial lacerations after striking the left side doors of the stationary vehicle. The sedan, registered in New Jersey, was parked and did not move before or during the crash. The police report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor in the collision. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, a detail included in the narrative, but only after the primary driver error. The report describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Her face split open on the steel. Blood pooled on the pavement. The car never moved. She did, and then didn’t.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of inexperience and the unforgiving nature of city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi rear-ended a KIA SUV on 9th Avenue. Metal crumpled. The 65-year-old SUV driver bled from the head, held in by his belt. Flesh split. Southbound traffic moved on. Only one man left whole.

According to the police report, a taxi crashed into the rear of a KIA SUV at 9th Avenue and West 37th Street in Manhattan at 3:20 p.m. The report states, 'A taxi slammed into the back of a KIA SUV. The 65-year-old driver bled from the head. Lap belt held him in. Flesh split.' The SUV driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors in the crash. The taxi struck the center front end into the SUV’s left rear bumper, both vehicles traveling south. The data points to driver error—specifically inattention and aggression—as the cause of the violent impact. No evidence in the report attributes the crash to any action by the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep hit a young cyclist at 5th and East 29th. The rider flew, slammed headfirst, blood pooling on hot pavement. The SUV stood untouched. Silence swallowed the scene. The cyclist lay semiconscious, ejected, head bleeding under the Manhattan sun.

A 26-year-old cyclist was struck by a Jeep at the corner of 5th Avenue and East 29th Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The cyclist, traveling south, was ejected from his bike and landed headfirst, suffering severe bleeding and a semiconscious state. The report notes the SUV was undamaged, while the cyclist lay on the pavement. According to the police report, the collision involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as documented in the report, but this is listed after the driver-related contributing factors. The narrative describes a violent impact and aftermath, emphasizing the vulnerability of the cyclist and the lack of damage to the Jeep.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck blocked West 34th. The driver failed to yield. A young cyclist smashed into steel, head torn open, blood darkening the asphalt. The bike twisted. The truck stood silent. The cyclist stayed awake, pain sharp and present.

A 25-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations after colliding with the side of a box truck on West 34th Street. According to the police report, the truck driver failed to yield the right-of-way, causing the cyclist to strike the truck's right side doors. The report states, 'A box truck failed to yield. A 25-year-old cyclist hit its side. Head split open. Blood pooled on blacktop.' The cyclist remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the driver’s error in the report. The crash left the bicycle twisted beneath the truck, underscoring the danger when large vehicles disregard vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chevy SUV struck a man riding with traffic on West 33rd Street. The driver, distracted by a passenger, crushed the cyclist’s leg. Steel met flesh. The city’s silence echoed. The pain was immediate. The street stayed straight. The wound stayed open.

According to the police report, a man riding with traffic on West 33rd Street was struck by the rear quarter of a Chevy SUV. The collision left the cyclist with a broken leg and crush injuries. The report states the driver was distracted by a passenger at the time of the crash, listing 'Passenger Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was traveling east and had two occupants. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and was not at an intersection. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as contributing to the crash. The impact occurred on a straight stretch of street, with the SUV’s right rear quarter panel making contact. The report does not mention any evasive action or hazardous conditions, focusing solely on the driver’s distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740066 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dualtron e-scooter, unlicensed and fast, tore up Avenue of the Americas. Two women fell. One bled from the face. The other’s skull shattered. The street, lit and busy, became a field of wounds and sirens.

According to the police report, an unlicensed man operating a MINIMOTORS Dualtron Thunder e-scooter traveled north on Avenue of the Americas near West 34th Street. The report states the e-scooter struck two women, ages 43 and 51, who were not at an intersection. One woman suffered severe facial lacerations and remained conscious; the other sustained crush injuries to the head and was found unconscious. The narrative describes the scene as the e-scooter 'tore through the night,' leaving both victims injured in its wake. The police report highlights that the driver was unlicensed, a critical factor in the crash. No driver errors beyond the lack of a license are specified in the report. The victims’ actions are listed only as 'other actions in roadway,' with no indication from the report that these contributed to the collision. The focus remains on the unlicensed operation and the resulting harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737136 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel struck flesh in the heart of Times Square. A scooter, northbound, collided head-on with a cyclist. Blood pooled on the pavement. The cyclist’s face torn open. Tourists recoiled. The city’s lights flashed, but the street did not yield.

A 24-year-old cyclist was seriously injured in a head-on collision with a northbound scooter at 3 Times Square, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe facial injuries and heavy bleeding after being struck by the scooter. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor for the crash, highlighting a failure in lane discipline by at least one vehicle operator. The narrative describes the moment: 'Face split open. Blood on the pavement. Steel met skin.' The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but places primary emphasis on improper lane usage. The collision left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt, underscoring the dangers vulnerable road users face amid chaotic Midtown traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City leaders cut the ribbon on Plaza33. Once a car-choked block, now a pedestrian haven. Trees, tables, and open space replace exhaust and noise. Years of work. A new chapter for Midtown. People walk, sit, and breathe. Cars banished. Safety reclaimed.

On June 27, 2024, city officials and civic leaders marked the completion of Plaza33, a pedestrian plaza on 33rd Street by Penn Station. The event capped years of transformation, turning a block once 'full of cars and trucks' into a car-free space. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Tony Simone, and Council Member Erik Bottcher attended the ribbon-cutting. Levine recalled, 'I remember the battle over transforming this space and all the people who said that it would clog up traffic all over Midtown if we turned this street over to people and here we are and it's gorgeous.' Vornado Realty Trust funded the $65-million project with the Department of Transportation. The plaza, now permanent, offers 16,000 square feet for pedestrians, with trees, seating, and public programming. The change removes cars from a busy Midtown block, giving vulnerable road users safe, open ground.

• Penn Station Block Completes Years-Long Transformation into ‘Plaza33’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-27

A car moving east on West 58th Street struck a 29-year-old woman head-on before sunrise. Her body was crushed. She died alone in the street, unnamed, as the city slept. The impact left silence and loss in its wake.

According to the police report, a woman was walking in the roadway near West 58th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan at 3:41 a.m. when an eastbound car struck her head-on. The report states her body was crushed and she died at the scene, 29 years old, alone in the dark. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and the car was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No information is provided about the vehicle type or the driver. The victim's actions are described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly force of the car and the lack of identified driver error in the report highlight the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially in the early hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Governor Hochul halted New York City’s congestion pricing plan days before rollout. She cited economic pain for working New Yorkers. Transit advocates called it a betrayal. The move leaves city streets clogged and transit funding in limbo. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

""Leaders stand by policies that work. Leaders take the brunt of the hits when things don't become popular."" -- Tony Simone

On June 5, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul abruptly paused New York City’s congestion pricing plan, just weeks before its scheduled start. The policy reversal, covered by Gothamist, sparked outrage among transit advocates and progressives. Hochul claimed, 'We need to make sure our solutions work for everyone, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet.' Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani condemned the move as 'political malpractice.' Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, District 23, was mentioned in coverage but did not take a direct action. The decision leaves the city’s streets congested and public transit funding uncertain. No safety analyst has yet assessed the impact on vulnerable road users, but the pause maintains current dangers for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Hochul says NYC congestion pause is good economics. Critics say it’s politics., gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-05

A man crossed West 36th near Seventh. A Toyota SUV, its driver distracted, struck him head-on. He died on the pavement. The SUV showed no scars. The man bore them all. The city’s streets demand attention. Distraction delivers death.

A 34-year-old man was killed while crossing West 36th Street near Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. At 11:31 p.m., a 2023 Toyota SUV, described as 'going straight ahead,' struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The narrative states, 'A man crossed the street. A 2023 Toyota SUV drove straight. Its front end struck him. He died there on the pavement. The driver was distracted.' The SUV sustained no visible damage, while the pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. No contributing factors were attributed to the victim. The report underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 78-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a southbound Chevy sedan turning left at 7th Avenue and Broadway. His head split open. Blood pooled on white paint. The driver remained in her seat. The car showed no scars.

At the intersection of 7th Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan, a 78-year-old man was struck by a southbound Chevy sedan making a left turn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:30 a.m. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision happened. The man suffered a severe head injury, with 'severe bleeding' noted at the scene. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan, registered in New York and driven by a licensed driver from New Jersey, showed no visible damage. The driver remained in her seat after the crash. The report makes clear that the pedestrian was lawfully crossing at the intersection when the driver failed to execute a proper turn and struck him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford pickup stopped in traffic was struck from behind by an Alfa sedan. Metal crumpled. The pickup driver, 49, belted in, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The sedan driver’s failure to maintain distance caused the crash. Impact left lasting harm.

On Central Park West near 68th Street, a Ford pickup truck was stopped in traffic when an Alfa sedan traveling north struck it from behind, according to the police report. The sedan’s point of impact was its center front end, colliding with the pickup’s center back end. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors linked to the sedan driver. The pickup driver, a 49-year-old man, was belted in with a lap belt and harness and sustained neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The police report explicitly attributes the crash to the sedan driver’s failure to maintain a safe following distance. No contributing factors were assigned to the pickup driver. The collision caused significant metal deformation and left the pickup driver with crush trauma and neck injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724931 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Pre-dawn on 8th Avenue, a Ford SUV plowed into a parked tractor-trailer. Metal shrieked. Four inside, belted, left bloodied and broken. The truck’s rear split open. Shock and pain filled the silence. Unsafe speed and failure to yield ruled the scene.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling north on 8th Avenue collided with the rear of a parked tractor-trailer, tearing open the truck’s rear and crushing the SUV’s front. The crash occurred in the pre-dawn hours, shattering the quiet with metal and glass. All four occupants of the SUV—aged 23 to 36—suffered serious injuries, including head trauma and crush injuries, and were left in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the SUV occupants, with the driver specifically cited for failing to yield. The tractor-trailer was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The front folded. Metal screamed. Four inside: arms broken, heads bloodied, bodies crushed.' The data points to driver error and systemic danger as the root causes of this early-morning disaster.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met flesh at Madison and East 29th. A bus rolled north. An e-scooter crossed west. Metal shrieked. A man, forty-five, lay trapped, pelvis shattered, blood pooling. The scooter was crushed. The street fell silent, danger written in the wreckage.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Madison Avenue and East 29th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a bus traveling north struck a westbound e-scooter. The report details, 'A 45-year-old man lay trapped, bleeding from the pelvis. The scooter was crushed.' The injured man, operating the e-scooter, suffered severe bleeding and abdominal trauma, with the report noting he was 'trapped.' Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, underscoring driver error and systemic hazards at this intersection. The bus's right rear quarter panel and the scooter's front end bore the brunt of the impact. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash exposes the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls and sightlines fail.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 39-year-old taxi driver died behind the wheel on West 47th Street. No crash, no screech, just silence and a worn seat. The police report cites driver inexperience. The city’s streets claim another life, quietly, in the evening rush.

According to the police report, a taxi was parked on West 47th Street near Sixth Avenue when its 39-year-old driver died behind the wheel at 17:10. The report states, "No crash, no screech, no struggle. Just a lap belt, a worn seat, and the quiet failure of inexperience." The only contributing factor listed is "Driver Inexperience." The driver was found in the parked vehicle, wearing a lap belt, and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists involved in the incident. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic risks and challenges faced by drivers on New York City streets, as underscored by the official attribution of inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi turned left at Avenue of the Americas and West 25th. Steel struck skull. A 26-year-old cyclist flew, hit pavement, bled from the head. Conscious, blood pooled. The night split open by driver distraction.

According to the police report, a taxi making a left turn at the corner of Avenue of the Americas and West 25th Street collided with a northbound cyclist at 11:44 p.m. The report states, 'A taxi turned left. A cyclist rode north. Steel met skull. He flew, struck pavement. Blood pooled on the street.' The 26-year-old male cyclist was ejected from his bike, sustained a head injury, and was conscious but bleeding severely from the head. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the driver error is cited. The impact point was the taxi’s left front bumper and the bike’s right front. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04