May 13 - Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

May 11 - A cyclist struck the back of a parked USPS truck on 2nd Avenue. He suffered severe head lacerations. Unsafe speed played a role. The truck showed no damage. The street bore the mark of impact.

A 25-year-old male bicyclist was injured after colliding with the rear of a parked USPS truck at 579 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor in the crash. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to the head and was conscious at the scene. The truck was parked and showed no damage. The report lists no other contributing factors from the cyclist. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 10 - SUV hit a 73-year-old man crossing West 135th. The impact killed him. Head injury. Police cite pedestrian confusion. Night, street, blood on the asphalt.

A 73-year-old man was killed when a station wagon/SUV struck him at the intersection of West 135th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with no signal or crosswalk when the SUV, traveling east, hit him with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a fatal head injury and was semiconscious at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The police report does not list any driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 10 - An SUV struck a cyclist on Canal Street. The rider suffered severe head cuts. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The crash left the cyclist bleeding, the SUV undamaged.

A crash on Canal Street in Manhattan left a 23-year-old cyclist with severe head lacerations. According to the police report, an SUV traveling west struck the cyclist, who was making a left turn. The cyclist was partially ejected and injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. No damage was reported to the SUV. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the report centers driver error as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 4 - A cyclist died in Manhattan. Two vehicles struck. Both drivers stayed. Police have not charged anyone. The street claimed another life. Metal and speed met flesh and bone. The city keeps moving. The loss remains.

Patch reported on May 4, 2025, that a bicyclist was killed in Manhattan after a collision involving two vehicles. According to the NYPD, 'Both drivers remained at the scene.' The article notes that 'it is not yet clear if either of the drivers will be charged in connection to the incident.' No further details on the crash circumstances or contributing factors were provided. The case highlights ongoing risks for cyclists in New York City streets, where multi-vehicle collisions can have fatal consequences. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by vulnerable road users and the need for continued scrutiny of street design and traffic enforcement.

• Bicyclist Dies In Manhattan Collision, Patch, Published 2025-05-04

May 3 - A sedan struck a man crossing Broadway. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered head wounds and severe cuts. The crash left pain and confusion on the street.

A BMW sedan traveling south on Broadway struck a 45-year-old man as he crossed at the intersection with West 97th Street. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and severe lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the vehicle. The driver and a passenger were also listed in the report, but only the pedestrian was reported injured. The data notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary error cited is driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 3 - A motorcycle and sedan collided on East 76th. The crash left the motorcyclist with crushed hips and legs. Police cite improper lane use and passenger distraction as causes.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed at 348 E 76th Street in Manhattan. The motorcyclist, a 54-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passenger Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan was parked before impact; the motorcycle was passing. No pedestrians were involved. The report lists no helmet or signal issues. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane use and distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 3 - A van door swung open. The cyclist struck it. He fell. A truck crushed him. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The street stayed busy. The drivers waited. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (May 3, 2025), Georgios Smaragdis, 44, was killed while riding his e-bike west on Broome Street in Soho. The article states, "he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had just flung open," sending him into the path of a red delivery truck that ran him over. Both drivers remained at the scene. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy." Police have not announced charges. The crash highlights the persistent danger of dooring and the lethal consequences for cyclists when drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors. The incident underscores ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in Manhattan’s dense traffic.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Dooring in Soho, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 1 - E-bike struck a woman crossing at Chambers and Church. She fell, hit her head, bled badly. The rider failed to yield. The street stayed loud and bright.

A 58-year-old woman was hit by an e-bike at the intersection of Chambers Street and Church Street in Manhattan. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious. According to the police report, the e-bike operator failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the main contributing factor. No other causes were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814321 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

May 1 - A cyclist died on Broome Street. A box truck and SUV were involved. The impact was fatal. No driver errors listed. The city’s streets claimed another life.

A 44-year-old male cyclist was killed in a crash involving a box truck and an SUV on Broome Street at Centre Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered fatal head and internal injuries after being ejected. The crash involved a box truck traveling west and an SUV that was parked. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The cyclist’s safety equipment was unknown. The deadly impact highlights the vulnerability of those on bikes amid heavy vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 30 - A sedan hit a 64-year-old woman crossing St Nicholas Ave. She suffered deep leg cuts. Alcohol was involved. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed loud. The blood stayed bright.

A 64-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing St Nicholas Ave at W 174 St in Manhattan. She suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was noted as a contributing factor for both the pedestrian and the driver. The driver, a 34-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unspecified' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. No driver errors beyond alcohol involvement were documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 29 - A woman crossed Amsterdam Avenue. An ambulance turned left. Metal struck flesh. Bones broke. Blood spilled. She died in the hospital. The driver stayed, but charges followed. The street remains wide, busy, and dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 29, 2025, that Juan Santana, an ambulance driver, was arrested months after fatally striking Miriam Reinharth, 69, in Manhattan. Police said Santana failed to yield as Reinharth crossed Amsterdam Avenue at West 96th Street. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad found Santana turned left into her path. He was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Reinharth died from severe injuries, including a broken leg and pelvis fractures. The article notes, 'The police officer said the accident was not Miriam's fault at all.' The crash occurred on a double-wide, truck route artery, highlighting ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy intersections.

• Ambulance Driver Charged After Fatal Turn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-29

Apr 28 - A taxi turned left on 1st Avenue. A woman crossed with the signal. Metal hit flesh. She fell, torn and bleeding. The driver stayed put. Blood marked the street.

A taxi struck a 31-year-old woman as she crossed 1st Avenue at East 22nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the woman was crossing with the signal when the taxi, making a left turn, hit her. She suffered severe lacerations and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The driver remained at the scene. The crash left the pedestrian injured across her entire body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808952 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 24 - 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 2025-09-17

Apr 24 - A 74-year-old man rides east on West 70th. Illness seizes him. His bike hits a parked bus. He suffers chest trauma. He dies in the street. The helmet could not save him.

A 74-year-old cyclist traveling east on West 70th Street struck a parked bus and died from chest injuries. According to the police report, 'Illness takes him. The bus is parked. The bike strikes metal. Chest injury. The man dies there, in the afternoon light.' The only listed contributing factor is illness. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No driver errors or moving vehicles are cited. The bus was stationary at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 23 - A Ford SUV hit a 57-year-old man crossing West 86th at Broadway. The street was quiet. The man died beneath the wheels. No driver errors listed. The driver wore her belt.

A 57-year-old man was killed when a Ford SUV struck him as he crossed West 86th Street at Broadway. According to the police report, the SUV moved east and hit the man, who was crossing against the signal. The impact crushed his body. The street was quiet. The driver, a 41-year-old woman, wore her seatbelt. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807749 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 20 - Pickup turned left at Avenue C. Bumper hit 87-year-old woman crossing. She fell. Blood pooled on the street. Head injury. No driver belt. City street, hard impact.

An 87-year-old woman was struck by a pickup truck turning left at the corner of East 6th Street and Avenue C in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck's bumper hit the woman as she crossed the intersection. She suffered a head injury, with blood pooling on the pavement. The driver, a 65-year-old man, wore no seat belt. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the data does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash left the woman with severe lacerations to her head.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806893 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Apr 19 - 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 2025-09-17