Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Aug 6 - A cyclist and a scooter rider crashed head-on on the Brooklyn Bridge. Both were ejected. The woman suffered a fracture and dislocation. The man bled from the face. Police cited rider error and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle.

A 62-year-old woman riding a bike and a 22-year-old man on a standing scooter collided head-on on the Brooklyn Bridge while moving in opposite directions. Both were ejected. The woman suffered a fracture and dislocation. The man had minor facial bleeding. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' contributed to the crash. Police recorded straight-line travel before impact and front-end damage on both. No motor vehicles were involved. The crash occurred at 4:14 p.m. on August 6.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833314 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - The driver of an SUV hit a 49-year-old woman riding a bike at Centre and Chambers. She suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

The driver of a 2022 Ford SUV struck a 49-year-old woman riding a bicycle on Centre Street at Chambers. The bicyclist suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. The cyclist complained of pain and nausea. The SUV was traveling west going straight ahead; the bike was traveling south. The SUV's point of impact was center front end; the bicycle's point of impact was left side doors. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A southbound SUV and westbound sedan met at Canal and Varick. One driver suffered leg injuries and was in shock. Police cited failure to yield. Glass and metal littered the road.

Two drivers met at Canal Street and Varick Street. The driver of a sedan was traveling west. The driver of an SUV was traveling south. One occupant was injured: a 33-year-old male driver with knee‑lower‑leg‑foot injuries and listed in shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The crash damaged the right front areas of both vehicles. The injured driver was recorded as using a lap belt and harness; no pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - Two cyclists collided at Chambers and West. A 57‑year‑old rider was ejected and struck his head. He suffered a concussion and was conscious at the scene. Police cited 'Traffic Control Disregarded.'

Two cyclists collided at Chambers Street and West Street in Manhattan. A 57‑year‑old bicyclist was ejected, struck his head and sustained a concussion; he was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Traffic Control Disregarded" was listed as the contributing factor for both cyclists. Police recorded traffic control disregarded by the drivers. Both vehicles were bicycles traveling straight ahead from east and south directions. No vehicle damage was reported. The report lists the injured rider’s head injury and concussion and does not list other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833400 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 29 - A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 28 - Two sedans collided on West Street at Joseph P Ward Street. A 34-year-old woman driver suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries. Another occupant was hurt. Police cited unsafe lane changing.

Two sedans collided on West Street at Joseph P Ward Street in Manhattan. The driver of a 2021 Audi and the driver of a Hyundai were both traveling south when their vehicles made contact at right and left front bumpers. A 34-year-old woman driver suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and reported whiplash; another occupant was also injured. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Unsafe Lane Changing." Both vehicles were listed as going straight ahead before the crash and no pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831377 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 27 - A taxi's right front struck a sedan's right rear at Reade St and W Broadway. Two passengers — a 36-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl — were hurt. Police recorded 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.'

A taxi and a sedan collided at Reade Street and West Broadway in Manhattan. The taxi's right front bumper struck the sedan's right rear quarter panel while both vehicles were going straight. Two passengers in the sedan were injured: a 36-year-old front passenger with elbow and lower-arm injuries and a 12-year-old right-rear passenger with a head injury. Both complained of whiplash and were conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor in the crash. The report lists no other contributing factors and notes damage to the sedan's right rear quarter and the taxi's right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, struck a cyclist and a woman on the sidewalk. Both died. The car hit an NYPD van. Two drivers tried to flee but were caught. No officers hurt. No charges yet.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu exiting the Manhattan Bridge at Canal Street and Bowery struck and killed a cyclist and a pedestrian at 7:30 a.m. Police say two women in their 20s drove the car and 'initially tried to leave on foot,' but were taken into custody. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. No officers were injured. As of Saturday afternoon, 'the NYPD said it had not filed charges.' The deaths follow a city report of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting ongoing risks for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist, Pedestrian Killed Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A driver backed an SUV on Ryders Aly and struck a 28-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk. She suffered a contusion to her elbow/lower arm. Police recorded backing unsafely and failure to yield by the driver.

A 28-year-old woman crossing Ryders Aly in a marked crosswalk was hit by a driver who was backing an SUV. She suffered a contusion to her elbow/lower arm/hand. According to the police report, the contributing factors were listed as "Backing Unsafely" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The vehicle is recorded as a 2011 CHEV SUV, traveling north, with point of impact at the center back end. No other injured persons are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830475 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 17 - Mayor Adams stalled Third Avenue’s redesign. He once called it urgent. Now, cyclists and walkers face the same deadly street. Cars dominate. Promises break. Blood stains linger.

On July 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams delayed Brooklyn’s Third Avenue safety redesign. The project, once 'at the top of our list,' now sits idle. Streetsblog NYC reported the mayor’s reversal. No council vote or committee action is recorded. Adams’s move keeps pedestrians and cyclists exposed to known hazards. A safety analyst notes: Delaying redesign postpones critical improvements, keeps dangers in place, and discourages walking and biking. The city’s inaction leaves Third Avenue deadly for all outside a car.

• Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 17 - A van crashed in Midtown. Inside: dozens of propane tanks. The street held its breath. Danger rode in silence, hidden until metal met metal.

CBS New York reported on July 17, 2025, that 'dozens of propane tanks were found in a van in Midtown Manhattan after a car crash Tuesday night.' The article does not detail injuries or the cause of the crash. The presence of hazardous cargo in a crash raises questions about vehicle safety checks and enforcement. Storing large amounts of propane in a van on city streets exposes bystanders and road users to hidden risks. The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of hazardous material transport in dense urban areas.

• Propane Tanks Discovered After Midtown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-17