Harlem’s kill zones: nine dead, hundreds hurt, and a city that still won’t slow down

Apr 1 - A moped and SUV collided on West 155 Street in Manhattan. The moped driver was ejected and suffered a neck injury and concussion. Police cited improper passing and following too closely as causes. Both vehicles were changing lanes at impact.

According to the police report, a moped and an SUV collided while both were changing lanes on West 155 Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 41-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a neck injury and concussion. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors. The SUV struck the moped on its left rear quarter panel, while the moped impacted with its center front end. The moped driver was wearing a helmet at the time. The crash highlights dangerous lane changes and close following distances as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516413 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - A 25-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with a slowing SUV. The impact struck the bike’s left front and the SUV’s center back end. The rider suffered head injuries and minor bleeding, left shocked and unprotected.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike southbound on Convent Avenue was struck from behind by a southbound SUV that was slowing or stopping. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained head injuries with minor bleeding. The SUV’s point of impact was its center back end, while the bike was hit on the left front bumper. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV had three occupants and a licensed male driver. The crash left the bicyclist in shock with injury severity rated at 3.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - A 44-year-old man was struck by a sedan on West 145 Street near Amsterdam Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle hit him on the right front bumper. He suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a Honda sedan traveling west on West 145 Street. The collision occurred at the intersection near Amsterdam Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, which is listed as a contributing factor under "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion." The vehicle's right front bumper made impact, causing a fracture and dislocation to the pedestrian's elbow and lower arm. The driver was going straight ahead and no driver errors were noted in the report. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash and no mention of safety equipment was recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4520198 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - A 39-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after a northbound SUV changed lanes unsafely on Amsterdam Avenue. The collision struck the cyclist’s face, causing minor bleeding and shock. The SUV’s left front bumper was damaged in the crash.

According to the police report, a 2017 SUV traveling north on Amsterdam Avenue changed lanes unsafely and struck a northbound e-bike rider. The bicyclist, a 39-year-old man, was ejected and suffered facial injuries with minor bleeding. The report lists "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors. The SUV’s left front bumper and the e-bike’s front end were damaged. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver of the SUV was licensed and male. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of improper lane changes involving vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 16 - A 61-year-old woman was struck at an intersection on West 145 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a southbound sedan made a left turn and hit her. She suffered a head injury and was semiconscious.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 145 Street and Broadway in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when an unlicensed female driver in a 2003 Audi sedan made a left turn and struck her with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was semiconscious but was not ejected. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle showed no damage. No safety equipment was noted for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 6 - A sedan hit a woman on Henry Hudson Parkway near midnight. The car’s front end struck her full. Her body tore open. She went into shock. The road was dark. The driver and passengers were unhurt. The air held its breath.

A 29-year-old woman walking with traffic on Henry Hudson Parkway was struck by a southbound sedan just after midnight. According to the police report, 'The front hit her full. Her body tore open. She went into shock.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her entire body and was listed in shock at the scene. The driver, a 21-year-old man, and his passengers were not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as speeding, distraction, or failure to yield were cited in the data. The crash left the pedestrian grievously hurt, while the vehicle’s occupants remained unharmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516834 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 5 - A 29-year-old man was hit while crossing West 141st Street with the signal. The driver, traveling west, showed inattention and inexperience. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing West 141st Street at an intersection with the signal. The driver was traveling straight westbound and caused the collision due to inattention and inexperience. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage from the impact. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing lawfully with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4508253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 2 - A 38-year-old male driver was injured when his SUV overturned on Riverside Drive. The crash involved multiple vehicles, including parked cars. The driver suffered contusions and bruises but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Riverside Drive involving a 2018 Jeep SUV and other vehicles. The SUV driver, a 38-year-old man, was injured with contusions and bruises to his entire body. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The SUV overturned after colliding with other vehicles, including parked cars. The driver was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506856 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - A 44-year-old woman walking along Riverside Drive was struck by a southbound sedan. She suffered bruises and an injury to her lower arm. The driver showed no damage to the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old female pedestrian was injured while walking along Riverside Drive in Manhattan. She sustained a contusion and injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The vehicle involved was a 2020 Honda sedan traveling southbound with one licensed male driver. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The vehicle showed no damage, and the point of impact was recorded as 'No Damage.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506827 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - A 42-year-old woman was hit by an SUV on West 145 Street. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was going straight westbound. The pedestrian was off intersection, cause unknown. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2011 Jeep SUV traveling west on West 145 Street. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian was located off an intersection at the time of the crash and suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in complaints of pain and nausea. The driver was licensed and proceeding straight ahead. No vehicle damage was recorded. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, and the pedestrian's actions remain unknown. The pedestrian was not wearing any noted safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4510695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - A sedan traveling west struck a parked SUV on Amsterdam Avenue near West 123rd Street. The impact hit the sedan’s right front quarter panel and the SUV’s left front quarter panel. Both driver and front passenger suffered whiplash and full-body injuries.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Amsterdam Avenue collided with a parked SUV after the SUV turned improperly. The sedan’s right front quarter panel struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel. The sedan carried two occupants: a 20-year-old male driver and a 19-year-old female front passenger. Both were conscious but injured, suffering whiplash and injuries to their entire bodies. The report lists the contributing factor as "Turning Improperly," indicating driver error by the SUV operator. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The parked SUV had no occupants at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4505131 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A taxi struck the back of a stopped SUV on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Two men inside the SUV suffered neck and back injuries, both conscious and wearing lap belts. The taxi driver followed too closely, causing the crash and whiplash injuries.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on Amsterdam Avenue rear-ended a stopped SUV also heading north. The SUV had two male occupants: a 44-year-old driver and a 50-year-old front passenger. Both were injured, suffering whiplash and back or neck injuries, and remained conscious. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The SUV driver was stopped in traffic when struck. Both occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected. The taxi's front left bumper hit the center back end of the SUV. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 29 - Two SUVs collided northbound on Henry Hudson Parkway. One struck the left rear bumper of the other. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash was caused by following too closely. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling north on Henry Hudson Parkway collided when one vehicle struck the left rear bumper of the other. The driver of the struck vehicle, a 30-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4501667 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A Ford SUV turned left on Amsterdam Avenue. The driver hit a 65-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her arm was torn open. Blood stained the crosswalk. The driver did not stop. The car was unmarked.

A Ford SUV, traveling southbound on Amsterdam Avenue at West 131st Street, struck a 65-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV turned left, southbound. A woman, 65, crossed with the light. Metal met flesh. Her arm torn open. Blood on the crosswalk. The driver kept going. The car was unmarked.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her arm. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver did not remain at the scene. The woman was crossing legally at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497577 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 20 - A taxi struck a sedan from behind on Broadway near West 143rd Street. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inexperience and following too closely as causes. Both vehicles damaged on right front and left rear panels.

According to the police report, a taxi entering a parked position on Broadway collided with a sedan traveling north. The sedan's driver, a 49-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The report lists driver inexperience and following too closely as contributing factors. The taxi impacted the left rear quarter panel of the sedan, damaging both vehicles. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights driver errors in close following and maneuvering near parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - A junked Mercedes sat outside Assembly Member Al Taylor’s Harlem office for weeks. After Streetsblog’s story, Sanitation hauled it away. Resident Wendy Frank had reported the car. She waits for action on more abandoned vehicles nearby. Danger lingers. Action came late.

On January 18, 2022, the Department of Sanitation removed a derelict car from outside Assembly Member Al Taylor’s Harlem office. The car had been abandoned for over two weeks. Streetsblog’s headline reads: "Streetsblog Gets Action: That Derelict Car in Harlem Has Finally Been Removed." Harlem resident Wendy Frank reported the car to the 32nd Precinct in late December. She continues to press city agencies to clear other derelict and abandoned vehicles nearby. The Sanitation Department handles derelict cars, while NYPD deals with abandoned ones. Frank’s persistence forced action, but the city’s slow response leaves more hazards on Harlem streets. No council bill or formal vote was involved in this enforcement action.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: That Derelict Car in Harlem Has Finally Been Removed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-18

Jan 17 - A burnt, gutted Mercedes sat for weeks in a Harlem crosswalk. Residents reported it. The city stalled. Only after media pressure did police tag it for removal. The car blocked space meant for people. The system failed to protect vulnerable road users.

On January 17, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported an abandoned, vandalized Mercedes-Benz left for three weeks on Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 147th and 148th streets. The car sat in a cross-hatched no-parking zone, blocking pedestrian space. Resident Wendy Frank filed complaints with the 32nd Precinct and 311, and alerted Assembly Member Al Taylor’s office. Taylor did not respond. The Department of Sanitation, after media inquiry, updated the complaint and police finally tagged the car for removal. The matter highlights civic dysfunction: 'This has become a problem for area residents and it is frustrating that the issue is not being addressed by the city and our elected representatives,' Frank said. The city’s slow response left vulnerable road users exposed to danger, showing systemic neglect.

• Check Out This Abandoned Car in Harlem!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-17

Jan 15 - A sedan traveling south struck a parked sedan on Henry Hudson Parkway. The driver of the moving vehicle suffered a head abrasion. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained damage at impact points.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male driver in a 2017 sedan was injured when his vehicle collided with a parked 2016 sedan on Henry Hudson Parkway. The moving sedan struck the parked car’s right rear bumper with its left front bumper. The driver suffered a head abrasion but was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The parked vehicle was stationary at the time of impact. No other injuries or victims were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4495394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19