Queens Bleeds While Leaders Stall: End Street Deaths Now

A former firefighter sped through a red light in Queens. He struck Justin Diaz’s car at 83 mph. Diaz died a block from home. The driver was drunk, high, and unregistered. The court revoked his bail. Diaz’s family mourns.

ABC7 reported on April 17, 2025, that ex-FDNY firefighter Michael Peña faces manslaughter and DWI charges after a deadly crash in Queens. Prosecutors allege Peña was drunk, high, and speeding at 83 mph—three times the limit—when he ran a red light and T-boned 23-year-old Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance and body camera footage show Peña admitting to running the light. Five hours after the crash, tests confirmed intoxication by alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Peña’s record includes prior arrests and 25 school zone speeding tickets. He also drove an unregistered vehicle with an obstructed plate and tinted windshield. The victim, Diaz, was headed to work and had just graduated college. The case highlights repeated driver violations and systemic failures in enforcement.

• Ex-Firefighter Charged In Queens Fatal Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-17

A sedan backed up and struck a woman crossing 110th Street. She suffered pelvic injuries. The car’s unsafe backing left her hurt and shaken.

A sedan struck a 47-year-old woman as she crossed 87-11 110th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the car was 'Backing Unsafely' when it hit her. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. Police list 'Backing Unsafely' as the driver’s error. The woman was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805478 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

SUV hit a cyclist on Woodhaven Boulevard. The rider was ejected, left semiconscious with a head injury. Police cite failure to yield. Metal met flesh. The street stayed silent.

A sport utility vehicle struck a cyclist on Woodhaven Boulevard at Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The 37-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury, left semiconscious with fractures and dislocation. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The SUV's left front bumper hit the cyclist, damaging the bike's right side. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the primary cause listed was driver failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803922 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW and motorcycle collided on Woodhaven Boulevard. Both vehicles burned. The motorcyclist died at the scene. The BMW driver survived. No arrests. Police are investigating. Another life lost on a wide, fast Queens road.

According to NY Daily News (April 5, 2025), a fatal crash occurred at 60th Drive and Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park, Queens. A BMW SUV and a motorcycle, both heading south, collided around 9:22 a.m. Both vehicles caught fire. Police said, 'only the car driver survived the collision.' EMS pronounced the motorcycle rider dead at the scene. The BMW driver was hospitalized in stable condition. No arrests have been made, and police continue to investigate. The crash highlights the persistent dangers on major Queens thoroughfares, where high speeds and heavy traffic put vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motorcyclist Killed In Queens Collision Blaze, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-05

A driver lost control near a Queens school. The car struck two children and a man. A seven-year-old girl’s leg snapped. Sirens wailed. Police arrested the driver. The sidewalk bore the scars. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the New York Post (April 4, 2025), an unlicensed driver reversed into a box truck, then spun onto the sidewalk outside Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria, Queens. The crash injured three: a 7-year-old girl with a broken femur and head injury, a 14-year-old girl with leg injuries, and a 58-year-old man with bruises. The article states, 'Bah was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving without a license.' This incident follows another recent crash involving a suspended license, highlighting recurring risks from unlicensed drivers. The crash underscores the persistent threat cars pose to people on city sidewalks, especially near schools.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits Kids Outside School, New York Post, Published 2025-04-04

Two cars struck Jorman Esparza-Olivares at a busy Rego Park crossing. He suffered head and body trauma. Medics rushed him to Elmhurst. He died six days later. Both drivers stayed. No charges. The intersection remains dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 3, 2025, that Jorman Esparza-Olivares, 23, was killed after being struck by two drivers while riding his e-bike north on 63rd Drive at Queens Blvd. The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on March 19. According to police, 'It wasn't clear if any of the men involved in the crash ran a red light.' Esparza-Olivares suffered severe injuries and died six days later at Elmhurst Medical Center. Both drivers, operating a Ford SUV and a Mercedes Benz, remained at the scene and were not immediately charged. The incident highlights persistent risks for cyclists at major intersections and raises questions about traffic controls and driver awareness on Queens Blvd.

• E-Bike Rider Killed At Queens Intersection, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

A driver reversed on Atlantic Ave, striking a woman in the crosswalk. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe backing. The street remains dangerous for those on foot.

A driver backed up on Atlantic Ave at 112 St in Queens and struck a 50-year-old woman crossing in a marked crosswalk. She was injured in the leg and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely.' Two vehicle occupants were also involved but not seriously hurt. The report lists no other contributing factors. The pedestrian was following the crosswalk, but driver error led to her injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Queens crash on 97 Ave involved a Kia SUV and Nissan sedan. Both drivers started moving in traffic when impact struck. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries from whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and traffic control disregard as causes.

According to the police report, the collision occurred on 97 Ave in Queens at 14:37. A Kia SUV traveling west and a Nissan sedan traveling north both began moving from a stopped position in traffic. The point of impact was the right side doors of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan's male driver, age 25, sustained neck injuries classified as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The report does not list any victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The injuries and damage resulted directly from driver errors and failure to observe traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802606 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford SUV veered sharply on 87th Street as its driver lost consciousness. Two men, aged 31 and 67, were struck mid-block and killed. Parked cars shattered. The street fell silent. The deadly crash exposed the peril of driver incapacitation.

According to the police report, at 10:31 a.m. on 87th Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens, a Ford SUV traveling south veered off course when the driver lost consciousness. The vehicle struck two men, aged 31 and 67, walking mid-block, killing them both with injuries to their entire bodies. The report highlights 'Lost Consciousness' as the primary contributing factor on the part of the SUV driver. Parked cars were also hit and damaged in the crash. No other driver errors or pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident underscores the lethal risk posed by sudden driver incapacitation and the vulnerability of pedestrians outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding Mercedes ran a red in Queens. The driver, high and drunk, struck a young airport worker headed to his job. The worker died. Two passengers survived. The driver, a probationary firefighter, now faces manslaughter charges.

NY Daily News reported on March 28, 2025, that Michael Pena, a probationary FDNY firefighter, was fired after being charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Queens crash. Prosecutors said Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and struck Justin Diaz, 23, who had the right-of-way. Pena's blood-alcohol content was 0.156%, nearly double the legal limit, and he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. The article states, 'Pena was driving nearly 60 mph above the speed limit after a night of drinking at a bar.' Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence. Two passengers in Pena's car were hospitalized. The crash highlights ongoing risks from impaired and reckless driving, even among public servants.

• Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28

A taxi struck the rear of a southbound SUV on Queens’ Van Wyck Expressway. Two passengers suffered neck injuries with whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both victims were conscious and restrained by lap belts.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:19 on Queens’ Van Wyck Expressway near 89 Avenue. A 2025-model taxi traveling south struck the center back end of a southbound 2008 SUV. The taxi driver was licensed and going straight ahead. The collision caused neck injuries and whiplash to two female passengers: a 33-year-old driver occupant and a 62-year-old left rear passenger. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the victims were noted. The impact point and vehicle damage confirm the taxi rear-ended the SUV, underscoring driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a moped on Queens Boulevard. The moped driver was ejected and suffered serious leg injuries. Driver inattention and improper lane use led to the violent crash.

According to the police report, a sedan changing lanes on Queens Boulevard collided with a southbound moped at 15:27. The sedan hit the moped's left side, ejecting the 26-year-old moped driver. He sustained serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the sedan driver. The moped driver was licensed and traveling straight. The crash underscores the risk posed by inattentive driving and improper lane changes in Queens traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council grilled the MTA over a $4 billion ask. Riders braced for another ‘Summer of Hell.’ Lawmakers slammed waste and threats. No strong opposition in the chamber. Outside, anger simmered. Vulnerable riders left in limbo as funding fights drag on.

"Instead of insulting us with baseless threats, the agency that spends $30 million on a staircase should find ways to cut its wasteful spending and bloated payroll before asking for more taxpayer money." -- Joann Ariola

On March 19, 2025, the City Council held a budget hearing on the MTA’s 2025-29 capital plan funding. The MTA demanded $4 billion from the city—a 33% jump from the last plan—warning of major subway disruptions if denied. The matter, titled 'MTA threatens another ‘Summer of Hell’ of subway disruptions if NYC doesn’t cough up billions,' drew sharp words. Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Queens) blasted the agency: 'Instead of insulting us with baseless threats, the agency that spends $30 million on a staircase should find ways to cut its wasteful spending and bloated payroll before asking for more taxpayer money.' Other lawmakers and advocates echoed frustration, questioning MTA management and calling for state responsibility. Despite heated criticism, council members did not strongly oppose the request in session. The hearing left the city’s most vulnerable riders—those who rely on safe, reliable transit—caught between political fights and crumbling infrastructure.

• MTA threatens another ‘Summer of Hell’ of subway disruptions if NYC doesn’t cough up billions — as transit agency touts its ‘great service’, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-19

An SUV struck a bicyclist on 97 Avenue in Queens. The cyclist was ejected, suffering head injuries and abrasions. The crash happened late at night. Police cite the SUV driver’s failure to obey traffic control as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:56 on 97 Avenue in Queens. A 41-year-old male bicyclist was traveling south when a 2006 Toyota SUV, driven by a licensed female driver going east, struck him head-on. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained head injuries and abrasions, resulting in shock. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. The bicyclist was not cited for any contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles, confirming a direct collision. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers ignoring traffic controls, leading to severe injuries for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two passengers suffered neck injuries when SUVs collided on Forest Parkway. One driver disregarded traffic control. Impact slammed right side doors and front bumper. Both victims conscious, restrained, injured.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Forest Parkway in Queens at 8:15 AM. One SUV was heading north, going straight, while the other turned right, heading west. The crash struck the right side doors of the northbound SUV and the left front bumper of the westbound SUV. The report lists driver errors: 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Two passengers, a 59-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. No ejections occurred. The report does not list any contributing victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13

Dozens gathered in Midtown. They demanded e-bike registration and license plates. Priscilla’s Law, named for a pedestrian killed by an e-bike, drove the call. Council Member Holden and Assembly Member Rajkumar led. Advocates want accountability. They say e-bike chaos endangers walkers and cyclists.

On March 12, 2025, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) joined Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and advocates in Midtown to rally for Priscilla’s Law (A339). The bill would require all e-bikes to have license plates and be registered with the DMV or DOT. The rally, held near Governor Hochul’s office, drew support from the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance. The matter title: 'New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC.' Holden supports both city and state versions, stating, 'We need the state DMV to issue license plates for e-bikes.' Rajkumar declared, 'We will usher in a new era free of e-bikes blasting through red lights.' The bill is named for Priscilla Loke, killed by an e-bike in 2023. Advocates say e-bike collisions often end in hit-and-runs. They demand rules and consequences to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC, amny.com, Published 2025-03-12