Seven Dead in Silence: Manhattan Streets Are Killing Fields

Dec 9 - Two vehicles collided on 1st Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan merging northbound struck an SUV going straight. Two rear passengers in the sedan suffered head and shoulder injuries. Police cited unsafe lane changing and improper turning as contributing factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 1st Avenue near East 116th Street in Manhattan at 8:40 PM. A northbound sedan was merging when it impacted the right front bumper of a northbound SUV traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the SUV's right front bumper. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Turning Improperly' as driver errors contributing to the collision. Two female rear passengers in the sedan, both wearing lap belts, sustained injuries: one suffered a head injury with whiplash, and the other a shoulder and upper arm injury with whiplash. Both were conscious and not ejected. No contributing factors related to victim behavior were noted. The collision highlights driver errors in lane changing and turning maneuvers as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - Two bicyclists collided on 1 Avenue near East 97th Street in Manhattan. A 29-year-old woman was ejected and suffered a fractured elbow. Both riders were confused, contributing to the crash. The impact caused injuries and damage to both bikes.

According to the police report, the crash involved two bicyclists traveling in opposite directions on 1 Avenue near East 97th Street in Manhattan at 18:15. The female bicyclist, 29, was ejected during the collision and sustained a fracture and dislocation to her elbow, classified as injury severity level 3. Both bicyclists were cited with contributing factors of "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion," indicating confusion on the part of both riders led to the crash. The male bicyclist was traveling south, and the female bicyclist was traveling north, going straight ahead. The collision caused damage to both bikes, with the female rider's bike showing impact damage. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted, but the confusion between the bicyclists was the primary factor. The report does not list any victim behaviors such as helmet use as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779401 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 MTA bus struck the rear of a taxi on East 103rd Street in Manhattan. The taxi driver suffered full-body injuries and was semiconscious at the scene. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, at 10:51 PM on East 103rd Street, a southbound MTA bus collided with the rear end of a southbound taxi. The taxi driver, a 59-year-old man, was injured with full-body trauma and was semiconscious upon arrival. He was restrained by a lap belt and complained of pain and nausea. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, specifically pointing to the bus driver. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the bus struck the taxi's center back end with its center front end. The taxi driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle. This incident highlights the dangers of driver distraction in urban traffic, especially involving large vehicles like buses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776361 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - Two sedans traveling southbound on E 125 St collided head-to-back late at night. Both drivers suffered moderate injuries including neck and back abrasions. The crash caused center front and back end damage to the vehicles, with no ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sedans were traveling southbound on E 125 St near Park Ave in Manhattan around 11:10 p.m. when they collided. The point of impact was the center back end of the lead vehicle and the center front end of the trailing vehicle. Both drivers, a 39-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man, were injured with abrasions to the neck and back respectively, and both were wearing lap belts. Neither driver was ejected from their vehicles. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver error was identified. The crash resulted in moderate injury severity (level 3) for both drivers and damage localized to the center front and back ends of the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777291 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - A 26-year-old woman suffered back injuries and shock after being struck by a vehicle at an intersection on E 101 St. She was crossing with the signal when the vehicle's left front bumper hit her. The driver’s errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of E 101 St and 2 Ave in Manhattan at 17:50. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a vehicle impacting with its left front bumper. She sustained back injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The vehicle had damage to its left front bumper. The report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision occurred while the pedestrian was legally crossing. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775069 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - A sedan collided with a bicyclist traveling east on Park Ave in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause, highlighting systemic dangers at this intersection.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2023 Kia sedan on Park Ave near E 104 St in Manhattan at 1:21 PM. The bicyclist, traveling east, was struck on the left front bumper of the sedan, which was traveling north. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the bicyclist, but the primary driver error was the sedan driver's failure to yield. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to the knee and lower leg but was not ejected and remained conscious. The sedan sustained damage to its left front quarter panel. The report underscores the dangers posed by drivers not yielding to vulnerable road users in this area.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775657 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 28 - A 47-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and shock after a collision between a 2017 SUV and a tanker truck on East 112th Street in Manhattan. The crash involved driver distraction, causing impact to the SUV’s front quarter panel.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:45 PM on East 112th Street near 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. A 2017 Chrysler SUV traveling east collided with a tanker truck traveling north. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the left front quarter panel of the tanker. The SUV driver, a 47-year-old male, was injured with neck trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The tanker truck had six occupants and was going straight ahead. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776739 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A collision between an SUV and a sedan on East 126th Street left the SUV driver injured with bruises and arm injuries. The crash involved aggressive driving and disregard for traffic controls, causing significant impact to both vehicles’ front ends.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:20 AM on East 126th Street in Manhattan involving a 2023 Toyota SUV traveling south and a sedan traveling west. The SUV driver, a 47-year-old male occupant, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors, indicating driver error on the SUV operator's part. Both vehicles collided front-to-front, with the SUV sustaining damage to its left front bumper. The SUV driver was conscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness, and not ejected. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of aggressive driving and ignoring traffic controls in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - A 46-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after being struck by an SUV making a left turn on E 102 St. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the crash.

According to the police report, at 9:07 AM on E 102 St near Madison Ave in Manhattan, a 46-year-old female pedestrian was injured when struck by a station wagon/SUV making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the collision happened. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock, with abrasions noted. The impact point was the left front bumper of the turning SUV. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were listed. The report highlights the systemic danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 24 - A distracted SUV driver rear-ended a stopped sedan on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan shortly after midnight. The sedan’s driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed dangers of inattention and tailgating in dense city traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:15 a.m. on Lexington Avenue near East 111th Street in Manhattan. A 53-year-old male sedan driver was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors for the SUV driver. The SUV, a 2020 Jeep traveling southbound, struck the sedan’s center back end while the sedan was stopped in traffic. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. This crash highlights the critical role of driver distraction and unsafe following distances in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A sedan making a left turn struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at an intersection in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, highlighting dangers at busy urban crossings.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection on E 116 St and 1 Ave in Manhattan. The collision occurred at 18:15 when a 2022 BMW sedan, traveling east and making a left turn, struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. This incident underscores the lethal risk posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to lawful pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773308 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A 33-year-old woman suffered upper arm injuries and shock after an SUV failed to yield while making a right turn on East 116th Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on East 116th Street near Park Avenue in Manhattan at 5:30 PM. A 2015 Mazda SUV was making a right turn southbound when it failed to yield right-of-way to a 33-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report cites driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver failures to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773316 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - A sedan changing lanes hit a 17-year-old bicyclist on Manhattan’s 2nd Avenue. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and improper lane usage as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:35 on 2nd Avenue near East 109th Street in Manhattan. A 2023 Volvo sedan, traveling south, was changing lanes when its left front quarter panel struck the center front end of a southbound bicycle. The bicyclist, a 17-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factors, highlighting the sedan driver's failure to maintain proper lane control. The cyclist was conscious and not ejected from the bike. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision exposed systemic dangers related to driver errors during lane changes in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772629 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - Box truck turned left, hit northbound cyclist on East 101st. Cyclist suffered head injury, shock, pain, and nausea. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as cause.

According to the police report, a box truck making a left turn on East 101st Street near 1st Avenue in Manhattan struck a northbound bicyclist at 7:30 AM. The truck's left front bumper hit the bike's center front end. The 27-year-old male cyclist suffered a head injury, was in shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors. No cyclist errors were cited. The cyclist was not ejected from the bike. This crash underscores the risk posed by driver inattention during turning movements on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773268 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - A 64-year-old woman driving a station wagon suffered knee and leg injuries after an SUV struck her vehicle’s right front quarter panel on Madison Avenue. The driver experienced whiplash and shock, highlighting the violent impact of the crash.

According to the police report, at 18:22 on Madison Avenue near East 124 Street in Manhattan, a 2013 Chrysler SUV traveling east collided with a station wagon driven by a 64-year-old woman. The SUV impacted the station wagon’s right front quarter panel, causing damage to the SUV’s right side doors. The station wagon driver, who was wearing a lap belt and not ejected, sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and complained of whiplash and shock. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behavior. The crash’s severity is underscored by the driver’s bodily injuries and emotional distress, emphasizing the dangers posed by vehicle collisions even without explicit driver error noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - A 74-year-old man was injured crossing with the signal at an intersection in Manhattan. The SUV, making a left turn, struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:18 on East 103rd Street near 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. A 2016 Acura SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck a 74-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified and does not identify any driver errors explicitly. However, the collision happened during the SUV's left turn, a maneuver often associated with driver responsibility to yield to crossing pedestrians. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 9 - A 37-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a collision on E 97 St. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield right-of-way and was traveling at unsafe speed. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash on E 97 St near 2 Ave in Manhattan at 22:15. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity classified as moderate. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The bicyclist was traveling southbound on his bike and was the sole occupant. The collision involved an unspecified vehicle traveling westbound, which struck the bicyclist at the center front end. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the bike. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's center front end, while the other vehicle showed no damage. The report highlights driver errors as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - A sedan cut left on 2nd Avenue. Metal struck a 56-year-old e-scooter rider’s head. Blood spilled. Speech faltered. The man lay broken in the street while traffic rolled past. Unsafe lane change left a body and silence behind.

According to the police report, a sedan veered left near 2034 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, striking a 56-year-old man riding an e-scooter. The crash occurred as the sedan was 'entering parked position' and the e-scooter was 'going straight ahead.' The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The impact gashed the rider’s head, leaving him incoherent and severely injured. The police narrative states, 'Steel kissed skull. A 56-year-old man dropped hard, head gashed, speech broken. No helmet. Blood pooled. The street hushed.' The report notes the victim was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after citing the driver’s errors. The collision underscores the danger posed by improper lane changes and driver inattention to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769895 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19