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

Dec 19 - Two sedans collided on West 127th Street in Manhattan during a police pursuit. The driver of one vehicle suffered back injuries and bruising. Police cite aggressive driving and driver distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:35 on West 127th Street in Manhattan involving two sedans. One driver, a 26-year-old male occupant, was injured with back contusions and bruises but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies aggressive driving and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. One vehicle was involved in a police pursuit traveling south, colliding with another sedan. The impact was centered on the back end of one vehicle and the front end of the other. The driver of the pursuing vehicle was unlicensed, further compounding the risk. The crash highlights the dangers of aggressive driving and police pursuits in dense urban areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 19 - A 37-year-old man suffered serious leg injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at a Manhattan intersection when the vehicle struck him with its left front bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:01 AM on West 151st Street near Convent Avenue in Manhattan. A Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn traveling south when it struck a 37-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the driver did not yield to the pedestrian legally crossing. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact to its left front bumper. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - SUV struck a 65-year-old woman crossing West 145 Street. She suffered hip and leg bruises. Impact was center front. No vehicle damage. Driver went straight. Police cite unspecified factors. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old woman was crossing West 145 Street outside an intersection when a westbound SUV hit her with its center front end. She suffered a contusion and bruising to her hip and upper leg. The driver, a licensed woman from New York, was going straight at the time. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name any specific driver errors. The SUV was undamaged. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No pedestrian actions were cited as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779980 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 10 - A 44-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg bruises after emerging from near a parked SUV on West 145th Street in Manhattan. The SUV, traveling west, struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian remained conscious despite injuries.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male pedestrian was injured while emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle at an intersection on West 145th Street and Convent Avenue in Manhattan. The vehicle involved was a 2020 Lincoln SUV traveling westbound, which struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No damage was reported to the vehicle, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The report focuses on the collision impact and injuries without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778205 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 9 - A 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected after a taxi struck him during a right turn on W 152 St. The crash caused chest injuries and shock. Police cite the taxi driver’s failure to yield and the cyclist’s improper turning as factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:51 on W 152 St near St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan. A taxi, traveling southwest and starting in traffic, struck a bicyclist traveling east who was making a right turn. The point of impact was the taxi’s right front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist, a 65-year-old male, was ejected and suffered chest injuries and shock, with a severity rating of 3. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors for the bicyclist, and 'Starting in Traffic' for the taxi. The taxi driver was licensed in New York. The police report highlights the bicyclist’s improper turning and the taxi driver’s failure to yield as key driver errors leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778168 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 7 - A sedan and bicyclist collided on Broadway in Manhattan during simultaneous unsafe lane changes. The 25-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions but remained conscious. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:57 near 3533 Broadway in Manhattan. Both the sedan and the bicyclist were changing lanes unsafely when the collision happened. The sedan, a 2021 BMW registered in New Jersey, struck the bicyclist with its left front bumper, causing damage to the vehicle. The 25-year-old male bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor for both parties, highlighting driver errors as central to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s behavior were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777021 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 4 - A southbound bus struck its own driver and a passenger on W 132 St in Manhattan. Both suffered abrasions and head or face injuries. The driver was not ejected; the passenger was partially ejected. Police cite unspecified contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 2014 Vanh bus traveling south on W 132 St in Manhattan struck its own occupants at 10:45 AM. The bus driver, a 63-year-old man, sustained head injuries and abrasions but was not ejected, secured by a lap belt and harness. A 38-year-old female passenger suffered facial abrasions and was partially ejected despite wearing a lap belt. The point of impact was the bus's left front bumper, with damage to the same area. The report lists unspecified contributing factors without identifying driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both occupants were injured and in shock or unknown emotional status. The data focuses on the vehicle occupants; no pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 29 - Two sedans collided on West 148th Street in Manhattan. A 60-year-old female driver suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front quarter panel damage in the eastbound lanes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:43 AM near West 148th Street in Manhattan. Two sedans traveling eastbound were involved. One driver, a 60-year-old woman, was injured with neck trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from her vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. The first vehicle, a 2022 Ford sedan driven by a licensed male driver, was going straight ahead and sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The second vehicle, a 2018 Toyota sedan, was parked before the crash and received damage to its left front quarter panel. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 26 - A taxi struck the rear of an SUV stopped in traffic on W 143 St. The SUV driver was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The crash unfolded in northbound lanes near Amsterdam Ave.

According to the police report, at 8:49 p.m. on W 143 St near Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan, a taxi traveling north rear-ended a northbound SUV stopped in traffic. The taxi's point of impact was its center back end, colliding with the SUV's center front end. The SUV driver, a 40-year-old female passenger, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction in congested urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 25 - A taxi driver backing unsafely struck a convertible driver on West 125th Street in Manhattan. The convertible driver suffered neck injuries but remained conscious. The crash exposed the dangers of improper vehicle maneuvers in busy city streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:23 on West 125th Street in Manhattan. The taxi driver, traveling east and going straight ahead, was struck in the center front end by a convertible that was backing unsafely. The convertible driver, a 35-year-old man, was injured with neck trauma and remained conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating driver error by the convertible operator. The taxi was damaged at the center front end, and the convertible at the center back end. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the risks posed by unsafe backing maneuvers in dense urban traffic, resulting in serious injury to a vulnerable vehicle occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 21 - A 30-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and suffered severe leg fractures after an SUV made a left turn and struck him head-on. The crash occurred on West 125th Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan during early evening hours.

According to the police report, the collision happened at 18:15 on West 125th Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV, traveling south, was making a left turn when it struck the e-bike rider traveling north. The point of impact was the SUV's left front bumper and the e-bike's center front end. The 30-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Pavement Slippery" as contributing factors but does not list any driver license issues. The SUV driver was licensed and operating a 2003 Hyundai SUV. The collision highlights the dangers of left turns against oncoming bicycle traffic and the severe injuries that can result from such impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 16 - A 19-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck at an intersection while crossing with the signal. The vehicle, traveling north, impacted the pedestrian with its front center, causing contusions but no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of W 147 St and St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan at 9:50 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck by a vehicle traveling north, which was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No driver details or vehicle type were provided. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but no further details on driver fault or violations are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 14 - A northbound bicyclist was ejected and injured when a sedan making a left turn struck him on Manhattan’s W 145 St near Amsterdam Ave. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver failure to yield right-of-way.

According to the police report, at 2:45 AM on W 145 St near Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan, a sedan traveling east made a left turn and collided with a northbound bicyclist. The impact occurred at the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's left front bumper. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver did not yield to the bicyclist traveling straight. There is no indication of any contributing factors from the bicyclist. The sedan driver was licensed and operating a 2017 BMW. The collision caused center front-end damage to the sedan, while the bike showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771299 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 13 - A sedan making a U-turn hit a northbound bicyclist on West 140th Street in Manhattan. The 78-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered full-body injuries with minor bleeding. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on West 140th Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan at 5:07 p.m. A sedan traveling north was making a U-turn when it struck a northbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 78-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his entire body, including minor bleeding and shock. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, specifically attributed to the driver of the sedan. The sedan's point of impact was its center front end, while the bicyclist was hit on his left side doors. The driver error of failing to yield during the U-turn created a hazardous situation that led to the cyclist's severe injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 13 - Four occupants suffered hip and neck injuries in a crash involving a sedan and a taxi on Henry Hudson Parkway. Both vehicles were traveling south when they collided, causing shock and minor bleeding among the injured. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:45 on Henry Hudson Parkway involving a sedan and a taxi, both traveling south. The sedan impacted the taxi's right rear bumper with its left front bumper, while the taxi sustained damage to its center back end. Four occupants were injured: a 44-year-old female passenger and three male drivers aged 25, 38, and 43. Injuries included hip and upper leg trauma and neck injury, with one occupant experiencing minor bleeding. All occupants were not ejected and were in shock. The drivers of the sedan and taxi were all wearing lap belts except the passenger who had no safety equipment. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The crash highlights systemic danger on this roadway segment without clear driver fault identified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 2 - An SUV slammed head-on into an e-bike on W 155th Street. The rider flew from his bike, struck the pavement, and died from head trauma. Police cite driver distraction. The crash left a man lifeless on Manhattan asphalt.

According to the police report, an SUV collided head-on with an e-bike at W 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV struck the e-bike directly, throwing the male rider from his bike. The report states the victim suffered fatal head trauma and was found with no pulse. The narrative specifies, 'The driver was distracted.' The only contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The e-bike rider was ejected and killed on impact. The police report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is not cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, with the SUV's actions directly leading to the cyclist's death.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 31 - A sedan struck a cyclist on Broadway. The rider took a blow to the upper arm but stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. The street turned dangerous in a flash.

According to the police report, a 2017 Ford sedan traveling southwest struck a 25-year-old male bicyclist heading south on Broadway near 3445 in Manhattan at 12:20 PM. The sedan hit the cyclist with its left front bumper. The cyclist suffered a contusion to his upper arm but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed in New Jersey. No mention of helmet use or other cyclist actions appears in the report. The crash left the sedan's left front bumper damaged. Even without listed driver fault, the collision shows the risk cyclists face from cars on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 28 - A sedan making a right turn collided with an e-scooter traveling straight south on W 151 St. The e-scooter driver suffered a head contusion. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:40 on W 151 St near St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan. A sedan was making a right turn when it struck an e-scooter traveling straight ahead southbound. The e-scooter driver, a 37-year-old male, sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, specifically linked to the e-scooter driver. The sedan sustained damage to its right rear quarter panel and right side doors. The e-scooter showed no visible damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior or safety equipment. The collision highlights the dangers posed by unsafe speed in mixed-vehicle traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18