Red Lights, Broken Lives: Queens Streets Are Killing Our Kids

An 8-year-old boy suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a Jeep SUV struck him in Queens. The driver, distracted and inexperienced, hit the pedestrian while traveling southbound. The child was left in shock, complaining of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling southbound on Elmhurst Avenue struck an 8-year-old male pedestrian, causing injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the collision. The pedestrian, who was not at fault, suffered a complaint of pain or nausea and was left in shock. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers to vulnerable pedestrians in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791209, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 64-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk in Queens was struck by a motorscooter traveling east. The pedestrian suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the victim injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling east on 96-08 37 Avenue in Queens struck a 64-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to his lower arm and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The motorscooter was going straight ahead at the time of impact, which occurred at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a crosswalk is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable road users in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789629, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 41-year-old woman suffered arm injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn in Queens. The driver’s inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision at an intersection where the pedestrian had the crossing signal.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 108 St and 37 Dr in Queens at 13:01. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2012 Chevrolet sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, made a right turn and struck her with the vehicle's right front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, remaining conscious after the impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. The collision highlights critical driver errors, specifically the failure to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, underscoring systemic dangers at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789322, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Grand Central Parkway. The driver of the struck car suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:53 on Grand Central Parkway involving two sedans traveling east. One sedan was stopped in traffic when the following sedan failed to stop and collided with the center back end of the stopped vehicle. The driver of the struck vehicle, a 36-year-old female occupant, was conscious but injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the collision. The driver of the rear vehicle did not maintain attention, causing the rear-end impact. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789321, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan making a left turn struck a 52-year-old man crossing 23 Ave at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and bruises. Driver inattention caused the collision, highlighting dangers at busy Queens intersections.

According to the police report, a 2018 Mercedes sedan traveling northwest on 23 Ave was making a left turn when it struck a 52-year-old male pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and contusions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication that the pedestrian's actions contributed to the collision. The driver's failure to maintain attention while executing the turn directly led to the pedestrian's injury, underscoring systemic risks posed by distracted driving in Queens intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788070, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 49-year-old woman was injured crossing a marked crosswalk on 78th Street in Queens. The sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and struck her with its front center. She suffered contusions to her hip and upper leg.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:02 on 78th Street near 31st Avenue in Queens. A sedan traveling west was making a left turn when it struck a 49-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end, causing contusions and bruises to her hip and upper leg. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but no helmet or other safety equipment was noted. The driver was licensed and operating a 2012 Honda sedan. The report emphasizes driver error in failing to yield rather than any fault of the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786112, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans collided on Queens' 87th Street, injuring both drivers. The crash involved front and side impacts. Lighting defects contributed to the collision. Both drivers suffered moderate injuries, including head and back trauma, requiring medical attention.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 87th Street in Queens at 15:20. Two sedans were involved in the collision, with one striking the center front end of the other, which was impacted on the right rear quarter panel. The report cites "Other Lighting Defects" as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were injured: a 69-year-old female driver sustained head injuries and was in shock, wearing a lap belt and harness, and a 30-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash, also restrained by a lap belt. Neither driver was ejected. The report highlights vehicle driver errors related to lighting defects but does not list any contributing victim behaviors. The impact points and injuries indicate a significant collision between moving vehicles, emphasizing systemic dangers related to vehicle lighting conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785825, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans collided at Astoria Boulevard. One driver made a left turn, striking the other vehicle’s right rear quarter panel. The front passenger of the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:52 on Astoria Boulevard involving two sedans. One vehicle was traveling east going straight ahead, while the other was making a left turn. The collision point was the center front end of the eastbound sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the turning vehicle. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. The front passenger in the eastbound sedan, a 39-year-old male, sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The drivers were licensed and operating vehicles registered in NY and VA. The data highlights driver failure to yield or disregard of traffic control as the primary cause, with no victim fault noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788869, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 24-year-old woman was hit by a pickup truck while crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way during a left turn. The pedestrian suffered serious abdominal and pelvic injuries and was rendered unconscious.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 35 Ave and 97 St in Queens at 2:53 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a Ford pickup truck, traveling northwest and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and was unconscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the failure to yield right-of-way directly led to the collision. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions or safety equipment were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785034, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 17-year-old girl suffered severe leg fractures after a pick-up truck struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver, unlicensed and distracted, failed to yield while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 100 Street and 35 Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2010 Ford pick-up truck, driven by an unlicensed male driver, made a right turn and struck her with the right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver’s errors in attention and yielding directly contributed to the collision and the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 50-year-old male cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand in a Queens crash. The cyclist was riding northbound, going straight ahead, when the collision occurred. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash in Queens at 8:44 AM. The cyclist was traveling northbound, going straight ahead on a bike when the collision happened. The report identifies the cyclist as the sole vehicle occupant and driver. The injuries included abrasions and trauma to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, with an injury severity level of 3. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, and no other vehicles or driver errors are detailed. The cyclist was not ejected and the safety equipment status is unknown. The lack of clear driver errors or contributing factors in the report leaves the cause undetermined, but the cyclist sustained significant injuries in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782643, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 34-year-old front passenger suffered head injuries and shock after an SUV merged unsafely, striking a sedan on Grand Central Parkway. The collision caused significant vehicle damage and deployed airbags, highlighting driver error in lane changing maneuvers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:26 on Grand Central Parkway involving multiple vehicles traveling east. A 2008 SUV was merging when it caused a collision with a 2018 sedan, impacting the sedan's left rear bumper and the SUV's center front end. The contributing factor cited was 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The injured party was a 34-year-old female front passenger in one of the vehicles, who sustained head injuries and was in shock. She was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed, including airbags and lap belts. The report identifies driver error in the merging maneuver as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the passenger. This incident underscores the dangers posed by unsafe lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780170, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter making a left turn was struck from behind by an SUV traveling east on 31 Ave in Queens. The scooter driver suffered back injuries and bruising. Police cite following too closely as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 31 Ave in Queens at 17:14. A motorscooter, driven by a 54-year-old man wearing a helmet, was making a left turn when it was rear-ended by an SUV traveling in the same direction. The point of impact was the center back end of the scooter and the center front end of the SUV. The SUV driver was going straight ahead, while the scooter was turning left. The report identifies the SUV driver's error as "Following Too Closely," which led to the collision. The scooter driver sustained a back injury and contusions but was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779605, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 70-year-old man suffered a head injury and whiplash after a sedan, making a left turn, hit him while crossing outside a crosswalk in Queens. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east in Queens struck a 70-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk. The collision occurred at 4:00 PM near Leverich Street. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and complained of whiplash but remained conscious. The vehicle was making a left turn at the time of impact. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a signal or crosswalk is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The sedan showed no damage despite the impact to its center front end. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to pedestrians crossing streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781944, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV struck the rear of a Chevrolet sedan traveling eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. The sedan’s female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash, enduring shock. Police cited following too closely as the cause, highlighting driver error in the chain of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:15 on Grand Central Parkway when a 2021 Toyota SUV collided with the rear of a 2018 Chevrolet sedan. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound, with the SUV impacting the left rear bumper of the sedan, which sustained center front end damage. The sedan’s 31-year-old female driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance, causing the rear-end collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777601, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan and an SUV collided on 106 Street in Queens at 2 a.m. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage, highlighting a dangerous intersection.

According to the police report, at 2:00 a.m. on 106 Street in Queens, a 2021 Nissan sedan traveling south collided with a 2011 Chrysler SUV traveling west. The sedan's center front end and the SUV's right front quarter panel sustained damage. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old male occupant, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed, though the SUV driver held a permit. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver, but no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision resulted in moderate injury to the sedan driver, emphasizing the risks posed by multi-vehicle impacts at this location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 43-year-old man crossing Astoria Blvd with the signal was struck by a BMW sedan traveling east. The impact fractured his lower leg and foot. Police cite driver failure to yield and disregard for traffic control as causes of the collision.

According to the police report, at 22:35 on Astoria Blvd in Queens, a BMW sedan traveling east struck a 43-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at an intersection with the signal. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, sustaining serious injuries. The report explicitly identifies the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, indicating the pedestrian was hit directly in the path of the car. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding and obeying traffic controls in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773756, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two men on a bicycle were ejected and suffered head injuries on 73rd Street in Queens. Both wore helmets but sustained serious trauma. The crash involved no other vehicles and no driver errors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:58 AM on 73rd Street near 34th Avenue in Queens. Two bicyclists, both 42-year-old men, were involved. Both were ejected from the bicycle and suffered head injuries classified as injury severity level 3. Both wore helmets, as noted in the report, but still sustained significant trauma. The police report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors, nor does it indicate involvement of other vehicles. The bicycle was traveling west, going straight ahead, with no damage reported to the vehicle. The absence of cited driver errors or other vehicles suggests the crash circumstances remain unclear, but the impact was severe enough to cause ejection and serious injury to both riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773458, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan making a left turn struck a 68-year-old bicyclist on Broadway in Queens. The cyclist suffered fractured and dislocated injuries to the lower leg and foot. Driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 2016 Mazda sedan was making a left turn on Broadway in Queens around 6:30 PM when it collided with a bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 68-year-old man, was injured with fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the sedan's left front quarter panel. The report cites driver errors including inattention and failure to yield the right-of-way as contributing factors. The bicyclist was not ejected and was conscious after the crash. No safety equipment was noted for the bicyclist. The driver was licensed and traveling northwest before the collision. These details highlight the critical role of driver distraction and yielding failures in this serious injury crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771635, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs collided on 31 Ave in Queens. A 22-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and incoherence. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as key factors. Both vehicles struck front and side, causing significant damage and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:27 on 31 Ave in Queens involving two SUVs traveling west and north. The 22-year-old male driver of the northbound SUV was injured, sustaining back pain and incoherence. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the injured driver. The collision impact points were the center front end of the westbound SUV and the right side doors of the northbound SUV. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with these impacts. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report explicitly cites driver errors, including inattention and distraction, as causes, without attributing fault to any victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770828, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15