Seven Dead in Silence: Manhattan Streets Are Killing Fields

Apr 24 - A Ford SUV hit a man crossing with the signal at 1st Ave and E 106th. The pedestrian suffered arm abrasions. The SUV’s left front bumper took the impact. Police list driver error as unspecified.

A Ford SUV made a left turn at 1st Ave and E 106th in Manhattan and struck a 34-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions to his arm and remained conscious. The SUV’s left front bumper was damaged. Police list the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No injuries were reported for the driver or passengers. The report does not specify further details on driver actions or other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 20 - A cyclist hit a 13-year-old boy at Lexington Avenue. Both were hurt. The crash left the child bruised and the rider bleeding. Failure to yield marked the moment. Impact was sudden. Danger was real.

A cyclist traveling south struck a 13-year-old pedestrian at the intersection near 1844 Lexington Avenue. Both were injured. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The child suffered a head contusion and the cyclist had minor bleeding from the arm. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. The report highlights driver error as a key factor in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - A sedan turned improperly on E 116 St, striking a motorcycle. The rider suffered bruises. Both vehicles damaged. Streets stay dangerous for those outside steel shells.

A motorcycle and a sedan collided at E 116 St and 2 Ave in Manhattan. The crash left the motorcycle driver with bruises to his entire body. According to the police report, the sedan was making a U-turn and turned improperly. The motorcycle was going straight. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained front and side damage. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the risk faced by riders when drivers make unsafe maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 15 - Steel met steel at dawn. The box truck flipped. Three people hurt—two in the ambulance, one in the truck. Sirens wailed. All went to Jacobi. The cause is still a question. The Bronx street stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 15, 2025, that an ambulance and a box truck collided at Pelham Parkway South and Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx just after 6:30 a.m. The article states, "The box truck overturned in the crash. Three people were hurt: the box truck driver and two ambulance workers." All were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause remains under investigation. The crash highlights risks at busy intersections and the potential for severe outcomes when large vehicles collide. No driver actions have been detailed yet. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns for workers and drivers on city streets.

• Ambulance, Truck Crash Injures Three Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-04-15

Apr 13 - E-bike shot north on 1st Avenue. Two young riders thrown hard. Blood pooled. One unconscious, head split. The other awake, arm broken. No helmets. No license. Night swallowed the scene.

An e-bike sped north near East 103rd Street and 1st Avenue. It crashed. Two riders, a 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were ejected. The man lay unconscious with severe head wounds. The woman clutched her injured arm, awake but in pain. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The e-bike operator was unlicensed. No helmets were worn. The night ended with blood on the street and two lives changed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 13 - Acura hit hard on Harlem River Drive ramp. Blood on the driver’s face. Both men, 33, hurt. Crash sparked by reaction to another car. Metal and flesh caught in chaos.

A 2012 Acura sedan crashed on the Harlem River Drive ramp. Two men, both 33, were injured. The driver stayed conscious, bleeding from the face, with internal pain. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' Both occupants suffered injuries in the impact. No other contributing factors were listed. The report highlights the sudden, violent nature of the collision, with both men caught in a moment chasing a ghost car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Apr 11 - Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 8 - Box truck changed lanes unsafely on Triborough Bridge. Elderly SUV driver hurt. Metal and glass. No escape. System failed to protect.

A box truck and an SUV collided on the Triborough Bridge. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' A 76-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered injuries to her entire body. The truck driver, a 45-year-old man, was not reported injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor. No other errors or helmet or signal issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809487 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 7 - A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

Apr 6 - A bus struck a Ford SUV at 3rd Avenue and East 111th. Metal tore. The bus driver was crushed. Passengers clutched injured arms and necks. Unsafe speed fueled pain and fear in the morning air.

A bus hit the front of a Ford SUV at 3rd Avenue and East 111th Street. According to the police report, the bus driver suffered crush injuries and shock. Several passengers in both vehicles reported pain to their necks and arms. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians were involved. A parked USPS truck was struck but no one inside. The crash left bodies hurt and the street shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 6 - Inza Fofana left work, crossed E. 149th Street. A van hit him midblock. Two more cars struck as he lay in the road. Medics rushed him back to Lincoln Hospital. He died. His family mourns. The intersection stays dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 6, 2025, that Inza Fofana, a 52-year-old hospital cleaner and immigrant, was fatally struck after his shift at Lincoln Hospital. The crash occurred midblock at E. 149th St. and Morris Ave. Police said a 2019 Ford Transit van, turning left, hit Fofana as he crossed. The article quotes his sister-in-law: "He was going to buy socks. That's why he crossed the street." Police told the family that after the initial impact, two more vehicles struck Fofana. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. Family members called for more safety measures at the busy intersection, noting, "There has to be a cross guard over there for the pedestrian to cross the street safely." The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians at wide, high-traffic Bronx crossings.

• Bronx Hospital Worker Killed Crossing Street, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-06

Apr 3 - A stolen SUV crashed and burned in Inwood. Two NYPD officers chased it, then left the wreck. The driver died in the flames. The officers returned to their Bronx precinct. They did not report the crash. Both are now suspended.

According to the NY Daily News (April 3, 2025), two NYPD officers pursued a stolen Honda CR-V from the Bronx into Manhattan. The chase ended when the SUV crashed into a building near Dyckman St and burst into flames. The officers 'fled the scene,' leaving the driver, who died in the fire. Surveillance footage showed their patrol car leaving. The officers did not report the incident and finished their shift. Both were suspended as the NYPD Force Investigation Division launched a probe. This crash comes after the NYPD tightened pursuit policies, now allowing chases only for felonies or violent misdemeanors. The department aims to avoid pursuits that 'lead to crashes and injure other motorists and pedestrians.' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police would instead use 'advanced tools of modern-day policing' to track suspects.

• Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 30 - A sedan struck a 23-year-old woman on East 99th Street. She suffered hip and leg injuries. No driver errors listed. The crash exposes the constant threat cars pose to people on Manhattan streets.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old female pedestrian was hit by a 2021 Toyota sedan on East 99th Street in Manhattan at 1:50 a.m. She sustained contusions and injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan showed no damage. The absence of cited driver mistakes highlights the ongoing danger pedestrians face from vehicles in New York City, pointing to systemic risks in the street environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807386 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - An SUV struck a stopped taxi on East 120th Street, injuring a passenger with neck trauma. The crash unfolded in slow-moving traffic, with driver distraction cited. The impact left the taxi damaged and a passenger suffering whiplash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:14 on East 120th Street in Manhattan. A 2013 BMW SUV traveling east struck the center back end of a stopped taxi, also heading east. The taxi was stopped in traffic when the SUV, going straight ahead, collided into it. The contributing factor listed was 'Eating or Drinking,' indicating driver distraction. The collision caused center back end damage to the taxi and center front end damage to the SUV. A 29-year-old female passenger in the taxi sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report notes no ejection and does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger. The crash highlights driver inattention behind the wheel as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - A sedan struck an 18-year-old crossing East 126th Street outside the crosswalk. The teen suffered a facial injury and concussion. The car showed no damage. The street became a danger zone for the young pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 2009 Nissan sedan traveling west on East 126th Street in Manhattan struck an 18-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a facial injury and a concussion but remained conscious. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, yet the sedan showed no damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The report does not attribute fault to the pedestrian or note any contributing victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 25 - Two sedans crashed on E 130 St. A left turn ended in a violent hit. A 19-year-old passenger took the blow. She left with shoulder and arm injuries. Metal twisted at the front ends. Manhattan streets stayed hard.

According to the police report, a 2007 Ford sedan making a left turn struck a 2022 Toyota sedan traveling straight on E 130 St in Manhattan at 13:49. The crash drove metal into metal at the left front bumper of the Ford and the right front quarter panel of the Toyota. A 19-year-old woman riding in the right rear seat of the Toyota was injured. She suffered internal complaints and shoulder and upper arm injuries. She was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed women. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness. Damage centered on the front ends of both cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 25 - A 64-year-old male bicyclist suffered head injuries and abrasions after a collision with a southbound SUV on 2nd Avenue. The bicyclist was partially ejected and injured, with driver inexperience and traffic control disregard cited as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 12:51 on 2nd Avenue near East 112th Street in Manhattan involving a southbound SUV and an eastbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 64-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained head injuries and abrasions. The SUV, driven by a male with a learner's permit, struck the bicyclist with its center front end, causing damage to the vehicle's front. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors to the crash. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The report does not attribute fault to the bicyclist but highlights the driver's errors as central to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19