Queens CB2’s broken hour: deaths on Queens Boulevard, trucks in the crosswalk

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Jun 1 - A Queens bicyclist was injured after a sedan made an unsafe lane change. The 35-year-old woman was ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The crash happened early morning on 53 Place near Northern Boulevard.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 53 Place made an unsafe lane change that caused a collision with a westbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old woman wearing a helmet, was ejected from her bike and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in minor bleeding and shock. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor to the crash. The sedan was making a left turn at the time and showed no visible damage. The bicyclist was the driver of the bike and was injured in the impact. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted in the report. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as unsafe lane changes in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731016 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

May 26 - An 18-year-old cyclist bled from the head after a head-on crash on Honeywell Street. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver failed to see him. The street kept moving. The cyclist stayed conscious, injured and alone.

An 18-year-old cyclist was struck head-on on Honeywell Street near Skillman Avenue in Queens, sustaining a severe head injury and bleeding heavily, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. The report states, 'The driver did not see him,' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, remained conscious at the scene, but blood pooled on the pavement. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A bicyclist was injured after a sedan struck him on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The collision caused knee and lower leg injuries and ejection from the bike. Driver distraction was cited as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a sedan on Northern Boulevard in Queens at 9:27 AM. The bicyclist, traveling eastbound, was struck on the left side doors of the parked sedan, sustaining knee, lower leg, and foot injuries and was ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor twice, indicating the sedan driver’s failure to maintain focus. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet but was also noted with a contributing factor of 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The sedan was parked prior to impact, and the point of impact was the vehicle's left side doors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2021 Hyundai sedan. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and the vulnerability of bicyclists in such collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - A 19-year-old moped driver slammed into trouble on Roosevelt Avenue. His inattention left him with fractured and dislocated leg bones. The crash tore up the moped’s front end. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male driving a 2023 Taizhou Zhilong moped east on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens crashed at 12:04 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The moped’s center front end was damaged, showing a direct impact. The driver was not ejected but suffered serious injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations. No other people were reported injured. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a factor, focusing solely on the driver's inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727027 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - A southbound SUV collided with an eastbound moped on 11 Street in Queens. The moped driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:36 on 11 Street in Queens involving a 2015 Ford SUV and a 2023 JIAJU moped. The SUV was traveling south, and the moped was traveling east when the collision happened. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end and the moped's left side doors. The moped driver, a 27-year-old male, sustained abrasions and injuries to his shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected from his vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the moped driver and also notes driver inattention for the SUV driver. Both drivers were licensed. The data highlights driver distraction as the critical cause, with no mention of victim fault or other contributing victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - SUV slammed into object on Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Eight-year-old in back seat suffered eye injury and shock. Police cite alcohol and distraction as causes. Metal twisted, childhood scarred.

According to the police report, a 2012 GMC SUV traveling eastbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway near Roosevelt Avenue collided with an object, demolishing the vehicle's center front end. Three people were inside. An 8-year-old boy, riding in the right rear seat with a lap belt and harness, suffered an eye injury and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and headed straight at the time of impact. No fault is attributed to the injured child. The crash underscores the danger of impaired and distracted driving on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - A 12-year-old girl crossing outside a crosswalk was hit by a northbound sedan in Queens. She suffered head abrasions but remained conscious. The sedan’s right front bumper struck her center front, causing moderate injury. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured in Queens when a northbound 2013 Nissan sedan struck her with its center front end. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal, described as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Not at Intersection.' She sustained head abrasions and was conscious at the scene with an injury severity rated as moderate (3). The sedan’s damage was to the right front bumper. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian’s actions are noted as crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but no contributing factors were assigned to her. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report focuses on the collision dynamics without attributing fault to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726486 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - A 36-year-old male motorcycle driver suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm after a crash while making a right turn in Queens. The impact struck the center front end of the motorcycle, causing injury but no ejection from the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured at 19:11 in Queens near 51-25 46 Street. The driver, licensed in New York, was the sole occupant of the 2016 motorcycle traveling north and making a right turn when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of the motorcycle, which sustained damage at the same location. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver errors were identified. No victim behaviors or additional contributing factors were noted in the police data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

May 11 - A 23-year-old driver and 21-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries in a Queens crash. The SUV struck an object or vehicle with its left front bumper while making a left turn. Alcohol and driver distraction played key roles in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Laurel Hill Boulevard in Queens at 4:18 a.m. The involved vehicle was a 2021 Dodge SUV traveling west, making a left turn when it impacted with its left front bumper. The driver, a 23-year-old male, and a 21-year-old male passenger were both trapped inside the vehicle and sustained injuries classified as severity level 3. The driver suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, while the passenger had contusions and bruises over his entire body. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors to the crash. Both occupants were conscious but injured. The driver held a valid New York license. The collision caused damage to the vehicle's left front bumper. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - A distracted SUV driver turned left on 65th Street. A moped slammed into the bumper. The rider crashed, blood streaming from his head onto the pavement. He lay conscious, helmetless, as the SUV’s torn bumper marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 65th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens when a southbound moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV’s right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding from the head, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood pouring from his head onto the pavement. The SUV’s bumper was torn in the crash. The police report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention while turning across traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - Two sedans collided on the Long Island Expressway. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles were traveling westbound at impact.

According to the police report, at 9:52 AM on the Long Island Expressway, two sedans traveling westbound collided. The rear vehicle struck the front vehicle at the center back end, causing damage to both cars' front and rear centers. The driver of the rear sedan, a 37-year-old male, sustained back injuries and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead prior to impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721933 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - Two SUVs collided on 55 Street in Queens. The front passenger in one vehicle suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. Both drivers were distracted, causing the crash. Damage concentrated on the left front quarter panel of one SUV.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on 55 Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens at 2:30 p.m. Both drivers were cited for "Driver Inattention/Distraction," a critical factor in the crash. The impact occurred on the left front quarter panel of one SUV, which sustained visible damage. The other vehicle showed no damage. A 23-year-old male front passenger in the damaged SUV was injured, suffering neck trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists driver distraction as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger. Both drivers were licensed, traveling westbound, and going straight ahead before the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - A station wagon rear-ended a carry all on the Long Island Expressway. The impact struck the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the carry all. A front passenger suffered a head contusion and was injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway at 8:30. A station wagon/SUV traveling west struck the center back end of a carry all also traveling west, impacting its center front end. The contributing factor cited was "Following Too Closely," indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The front passenger in the SUV, a 50-year-old female, sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was injured but not ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The damage was concentrated on the rear of the SUV and front of the carry all, confirming a rear-end collision caused by insufficient following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 25 - A 49-year-old male motorcyclist sustained knee and concussion injuries after a crash in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was following too closely. The rider was helmeted and conscious, but suffered serious lower leg trauma.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on 51 Street in Queens was involved in a crash at 15:22. The 49-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, and suffered a concussion. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. There was no damage reported to the motorcycle at the point of impact. The police data highlights driver error—specifically failure to maintain safe distance—as the cause of the injury. No victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A moped struck a turning sedan on Queens Boulevard. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, silent, as speed and steel tore through the evening air.

At Queens Boulevard and 69th Street, a moped traveling east collided violently with a sedan making a right turn. According to the police report, the primary cause was 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact severely injured the 17-year-old moped driver, resulting in the amputation of part of his lower arm and hand. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a turning sedan. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' Damage was concentrated on the sedan's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban traffic. No victim behavior was listed as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19