No More Names on the List: Act Now to Stop the Street Toll

Mar 22 - A black Mercedes slammed into a Ford on the Major Deegan. Both cars spun out. The Mercedes driver ran. The Ford driver died at St. Barnabas. Police closed the highway for hours. No arrests. The city’s roads stay deadly.

NY Daily News reported on March 22, 2025, that a 39-year-old driver was killed after a black Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his Ford Crown Victoria on the Major Deegan Expressway. The article states, “The hit-and-run driver responsible escaped on foot, police said.” Both vehicles lost control and crashed. Emergency services transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The Mercedes driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made. Police closed the southbound lanes for several hours during the investigation. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of rear-end collisions and the persistent risk posed by hit-and-run drivers on New York City highways.

• Bronx Highway Hit-And-Run Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-22

Feb 26 - A city bus turned onto Brook Avenue. The driver struck a cyclist. The man died at the scene. Police stayed. No charges filed. Another crash in Queens left one dead, one charged. The city’s streets remain hostile to the unprotected.

Gothamist reported on February 26, 2025, that an MTA bus driver fatally struck a 57-year-old cyclist while turning from East 149th Street onto Brook Avenue in the Bronx. The crash happened around 10:45 p.m. The bus, running as a subway replacement shuttle, was empty. The driver stayed at the scene and was not charged. NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article also details a separate fatal crash in Queens involving a suspected drunk driver. As Gothamist notes, 'Police are investigating two fatal crashes in the Bronx and Queens.' The Bronx crash highlights the persistent risks at intersections where turning vehicles endanger cyclists. No policy changes were announced.

• MTA Bus Turns, Cyclist Killed Bronx, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 25 - A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 2 - A sedan crashed head-on at unsafe speed on Bruckner Expressway. The driver suffered an eye abrasion. Police cited speeding and alcohol. No others were hurt. The road bore the brunt of reckless force.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old man driving a 2024 Hyundai sedan crashed on Bruckner Expressway at 3:15 AM. The driver was injured, suffering an eye abrasion. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The car struck head-on, damaging the center front end. No passengers, pedestrians, or other vehicles were involved. The driver was licensed in New York and not ejected. This crash highlights the danger when speed and alcohol mix behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - A Toyota pickup tore into the night on Hutchinson River Parkway. Metal crumpled. The driver, alone, stayed conscious, blood streaming from his head. Distraction ruled the cab. Airbag burst. The road kept moving. He did not.

A single-vehicle crash occurred on Hutchinson River Parkway, southbound, involving a 2023 Toyota pickup truck. According to the police report, the driver, a 49-year-old man, was alone in the vehicle and suffered severe head lacerations. The report states the driver was 'conscious' at the scene, with the airbag deployed and seatbelt fastened. The narrative describes the truck slamming 'head-on into the dark,' with the front end caved in and the right front bumper damaged. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No mention is made of any pedestrian or cyclist involvement, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver distraction on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - A city bus teetered over a Bronx overpass after swerving to dodge a double-parked car. Steel scraped concrete. Debris rained down. No one was hurt. The wall broke. The rules broke first.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus nearly plunged from the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass after the driver swerved to avoid an illegally double-parked car. The bus crashed into the wall, leaving it hanging over the edge. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." No injuries were reported, but the crash caused structural damage and scattered debris below. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz noted, "It speaks to the importance of enforcing our parking rules because it was going around a double-parked car." The incident highlights the danger posed by lax parking enforcement and infrastructure vulnerable to impact.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 5 - Businesses in Manhattan’s toll zone pass new $9 congestion fee to customers. Councilman Holden calls it a scam tax. Residents pay even if they don’t drive. Gridlock grows near the border. Critics warn of rising costs and slower emergency response.

On January 5, 2025, New York City began enforcing congestion pricing below 60th Street, charging drivers $9 during peak hours. The measure, discussed in the article 'NYC residents slapped with congestion pricing ‘surcharge’ by fed-up companies paying new toll: ‘Hochul inflation’,' has sparked backlash. Queens Councilman Robert F. Holden, representing District 30, condemned the move, stating, 'It’s no surprise that businesses will pass the Congestion Scam Tax on to consumers.' Companies like CompuVoip and Dream Events & Decor now add surcharges for customers in the zone. Holden’s criticism joins that of Bronx Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato and others, who warn of higher costs and increased gridlock. Emergency unions claim response times will suffer. The bill’s impact on vulnerable road users was not assessed.

• NYC residents slapped with congestion pricing ‘surcharge’ by fed-up companies paying new toll: ‘Hochul inflation’, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-05

Jan 3 - Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

Jan 3 - As congestion pricing begins, unions and politicians rage. They claim tolls hurt workers and raise costs. Facts show most commuters use transit. Fewer cars mean faster emergency response. The toll funds transit upgrades. The drama masks real safety gains for all.

On January 3, 2025, public debate erupted as New York City prepared to activate congestion pricing in Manhattan. The measure, set to fund $15 billion in subway and rail improvements, drew fierce opposition from unions and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who called it a 'cash grab' that would 'increase all costs in our daily lives.' The union for FDNY EMTs argued the toll would burden low-wage workers, but data shows 90% of commuters already use public transit. City officials, including mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia, insisted emergency response would not suffer. The measure's summary notes that reducing car traffic will speed up emergency vehicles and protect passengers. The uproar highlights the tension between entrenched driving privileges and the urgent need to make streets safer for vulnerable road users.

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-03

Dec 28 - SUV and sedan slammed front ends on Shore Road. Two people hurt. Police cite blocked views and unsafe lane changes. Impact left both front-seat occupants injured. Steel and glass failed to protect.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV and a southbound sedan collided head-on at 870 Shore Road in the Bronx at 18:36. The SUV’s 74-year-old driver suffered a fractured shoulder. The front passenger, a 51-year-old man, sustained bruises and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both were conscious and not ejected. The police report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The sedan, carrying three people, took heavy front-end damage. Driver errors—limited visibility and unsafe lane changes—are cited as causes. No contributing factors are attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783111 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 21 - Ten vehicles slid uncontrollably north on Hutchinson River Parkway, metal screaming in collision. A 45-year-old woman riding front right died at the scene, her body broken. Slippery pavement caused the crash, listed repeatedly as the sole factor.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction crash occurred early morning on Hutchinson River Parkway when ten cars slid northbound on black ice. The report states, "Ten cars slid north on black ice. Metal screamed." The sole contributing factor cited for every vehicle involved is "Pavement Slippery." All vehicles were traveling straight ahead before losing control. A 45-year-old woman, a front right passenger, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The report notes her death repeatedly, once for each vehicle involved. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed, only the hazardous road condition. Another occupant, a 14-year-old rear passenger, was injured with back injuries and whiplash, also linked to slippery pavement. The victim’s safety equipment use is unknown. This crash highlights the systemic danger of multiple vehicles losing traction simultaneously on icy roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - A southbound sedan merging unsafely collided with an SUV going straight on Bruckner Expressway. The sedan overturned, injuring all four occupants with contusions and whiplash. Unsafe lane changing and speed contributed to the violent impact and injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bruckner Expressway at 2:29 a.m. involving a 2020 Chevrolet SUV traveling south and a 2005 Nissan sedan merging southbound. The sedan was merging when it collided with the SUV, causing the sedan to overturn. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. Four occupants were injured: the sedan driver, a 29-year-old male, suffered contusions to his elbow and lower arm and was trapped in the vehicle. Three female passengers, ages 41, 43, and 41, sustained whiplash and head injuries. All occupants were conscious but injured. The SUV sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, and the sedan overturned. The driver errors of unsafe lane changing and unsafe speed led to a violent collision and multiple injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771809 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 8 - A tractor truck struck the left rear bumper of a southbound taxi on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. The taxi carried three occupants. One passenger, a 36-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The collision caused visible vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a tractor truck and a taxi were both traveling southbound on Westchester Avenue near Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx. The tractor truck's right front bumper impacted the taxi's left rear bumper. The taxi carried three occupants, including a 36-year-old male passenger who sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries classified as contusions and bruises. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed, and both vehicles were moving straight ahead prior to the collision. The report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The taxi's damage was limited to the left rear bumper, and the truck's damage was on the right front bumper. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A sedan and tractor truck collided on Bruckner Expressway at 10 p.m. The sedan’s front passenger suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited unsafe lane changing as the cause. Both drivers remained conscious and restrained during the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bruckner Expressway at 22:00 involving a sedan traveling south and a tractor truck merging southbound. The report identifies 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor to the collision. The sedan’s front passenger, a 23-year-old female, was injured with contusions and trauma to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The sedan driver, a 30-year-old female, sustained whiplash and neck injuries, was conscious, and wore a lap belt. The tractor truck driver, a licensed male from Pennsylvania, was the sole occupant of the truck, which showed no damage. The sedan sustained damage to its right front bumper. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unsafe lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763659 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A northbound SUV was struck in the center back end by a tractor truck also traveling north on Bruckner Expressway. The SUV driver, a 36-year-old woman, suffered head injuries and whiplash, left shaken but not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 2011 SUV traveling north on Bruckner Expressway was rear-ended in the center back end by a northbound 2016 tractor truck. The SUV driver, a 36-year-old woman, sustained head injuries and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. She was not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the SUV driver but does not specify any driver errors or contributing factors for the truck driver. The impact point and vehicle damage confirm the truck struck the rear of the SUV. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A sedan plowed into a slowing Mack truck on Bruckner Expressway. Metal shrieked. The driver’s chest crushed, his arm torn. He stayed conscious as silence followed. Police cite inattention and tailgating. The road swallowed another body.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on Bruckner Expressway when a sedan, traveling north, crashed into the back of a slowing Mack tractor truck. According to the police report, the sedan driver suffered severe injuries, including chest trauma and an arm amputation, but remained conscious at the scene. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a slowing Mack truck,' with the impact crushing the driver’s chest and folding the bumper 'like paper.' Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The truck was slowing or stopping when struck. The report makes no mention of any actions by the truck driver contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the sedan driver’s failure to pay attention and maintain a safe distance, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760999 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 27 - Glare and faded lane lines sent a bus and SUV into each other on Bruckner Boulevard. Four people hurt. Whiplash, bruised limbs, shaken nerves. Metal twisted. No warning. Just impact.

According to the police report, a bus and an SUV collided while both made left turns on Bruckner Boulevard at Wilkinson Avenue. Four occupants, aged 47 to 79, suffered whiplash and injuries to the neck, back, shoulder, and leg. All were conscious and restrained. The report lists 'Glare' and 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate' as contributing factors. The bus was struck on its left rear quarter panel; the SUV took damage to its right front. Driver errors tied to glare and poor lane markings impaired safe operation and led to the crash. No victim actions contributed, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759892 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19