Queens Streets Bleed—Policy Is the Weapon

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 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 11 - A 20-year-old man was struck at a Queens intersection while crossing with the signal. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:00 PM on 101 Avenue in Queens. A vehicle traveling west was making a left turn when it struck a 20-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, emphasizing the driver's error in not yielding to the pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the abdomen and pelvis, classified as injury severity 3, and was conscious with abrasions upon police arrival. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian error or safety equipment were noted. The impact point was the vehicle's left front bumper, indicating the collision happened during the driver's turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 9 - A 49-year-old woman suffered lower leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield at a marked crosswalk on Hillside Avenue. The driver struck her with the vehicle’s left front bumper, causing shock and minor bleeding. The crash unfolded late at night.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:52 PM on Hillside Avenue in Queens. A 49-year-old female pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal when a sedan traveling eastbound struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, emphasizing the driver’s error in yielding to the pedestrian. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, experienced shock, and had minor bleeding. The sedan, a 2014 Nissan operated by a licensed male driver, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors, focusing solely on the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 8 - A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Feb 5 - A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Jan 27 - A taxi passenger and driver suffered upper arm injuries and whiplash in a Queens crash. The accident involved improper lane usage by the taxi driver. Both occupants were conscious and restrained. The collision caused vehicle damage but no ejections.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 17:05 in Queens near 104-32 94 Avenue involving a taxi. The taxi driver contributed to the crash through 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' a critical driver error cited in the report. The taxi was initially parked before the crash. Two occupants were injured: a 40-year-old male driver and a 34-year-old female passenger. Both suffered upper arm injuries and whiplash, were conscious, and properly restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The driver was seated in the middle front seat, and the passenger was in the left rear seat. The taxi sustained unspecified damage, and no occupants were ejected. The report highlights driver error as the primary cause, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788728 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 25 - SUV hit sedan’s right side on Atlantic Avenue. Rear passenger suffered neck whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Streets in Queens left another vulnerable rider hurt.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling west on Atlantic Avenue in Queens struck the right side of a southbound Nissan sedan at 16:41. The impact injured a 58-year-old woman seated in the sedan’s right rear seat. She suffered a neck injury, described as whiplash, and was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim actions contributed to the crash, according to the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 24 - A 58-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle’s right front bumper struck him, causing contusions and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:01 AM in Queens on 101 Avenue near 102 Street. A female driver operating a 2012 SUV was making a left turn when she failed to yield right-of-way to a 58-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises, and was reported to be in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash, emphasizing driver error. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787936 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 23 - A 62-year-old woman crossing 86th Road in Queens was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The driver’s inattention caused impact to the pedestrian’s lower leg and foot. The victim suffered abrasions but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northwest on 86th Road in Queens struck a 62-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred, with the point of impact on the vehicle’s left front bumper. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including abrasions. She remained conscious after the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating a 2017 Honda sedan with two occupants. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 23 - Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Jan 22 - A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Jan 17 - A moped traveling south on 91 Ave struck another vehicle’s center back end. The unlicensed driver and a 15-year-old passenger suffered whiplash and injuries to face and lower leg. Both remained conscious but were seriously hurt in the collision.

According to the police report, a 2023 ZHEN moped, driven by a 19-year-old unlicensed male, was traveling south on 91 Ave when it collided with the center back end of another vehicle. The moped's left front bumper sustained damage. The driver, wearing a helmet, suffered whiplash and facial injuries, classified as injury severity 3. A 15-year-old female passenger seated on the left rear of the moped also sustained whiplash and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity 3. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing factors from the driver or victim, but the driver’s unlicensed status is a critical factor. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 15 - A 19-year-old motorcyclist collided with a Ford’s front on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue. His arm bled through torn fabric. The bike’s rear folded in. Driver inexperience and following too closely left no time to stop.

A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was injured when he struck the front of a Ford vehicle on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue in Queens at 11:00 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the motorcyclist suffered severe bleeding to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The crash narrative describes the motorcycle’s rear folding in from the impact. Police cite 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The report also notes 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a factor. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, according to the police report. The collision’s point of impact was the motorcycle’s center back end and the Ford’s center front end. The data highlights driver error and systemic danger as central to this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 8 - Two SUVs slammed together on 111 Street. Both drivers blew past traffic controls. A 68-year-old man took neck injuries and whiplash. Metal twisted. Danger rose from driver disregard.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at 20:39 on 111 Street near 95 Avenue in Queens. Both drivers, a 68-year-old man from New York and a woman from Pennsylvania, went straight ahead and disregarded traffic controls. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The male driver suffered neck pain and whiplash but remained conscious at the scene. The impact struck the left front bumper of his SUV and the center front end of the other. Both vehicles sustained damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

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

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

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 7 - A sedan making a left turn collided with an eastbound bicyclist on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg bruises. Police cited driver failure to yield and inattention as key factors in the crash.

At 18:23 on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens, a sedan traveling westbound made a left turn and struck an eastbound bicyclist, according to the police report. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, sustained contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The impact occurred at the center front end of both vehicles, with damage to the sedan’s right front bumper and the bike’s center front end. No contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted in the report. The collision highlights driver errors in yielding and attentiveness during left turns as central causes of injury to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784395 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18