Deadly Streets, Silent Leaders: Demand Action Now

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

Feb 4 - A 28-year-old woman suffered back injuries and whiplash after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. Glare impaired the driver's vision, leading to a collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Rockaway Blvd in Queens was making a left turn at 7:56 AM when it struck a 28-year-old female pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies glare as a contributing factor impairing the driver's ability to see the pedestrian. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, indicating the pedestrian was hit directly by the front of the sedan. The driver was licensed and operating a 2006 Honda sedan with one occupant. The collision underscores the danger posed by environmental conditions like glare affecting driver perception and decision-making during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 31 - Taxi crashed into SUV’s rear in Queens. Taxi driver hurt, neck injury. Police cite driver inattention and tailgating. Both vehicles damaged. No injuries to SUV driver.

According to the police report, a taxi rear-ended an SUV on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens at 16:20. The taxi driver, a 58-year-old man, suffered a neck injury but was conscious and restrained. The SUV driver was not reported injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The taxi struck the SUV’s center back end, damaging both vehicles. No actions by the SUV driver contributed to the crash. The report highlights driver error behind the wheel of the taxi.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a Queens driver failed to yield right-of-way. The impact struck the pedestrian at an intersection on 109 Ave, leaving her bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:20 on 109 Ave in Queens. A 16-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal at an intersection when she was struck by a vehicle traveling east. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor on the driver's part. No damage was noted on the vehicle, and the pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions beyond the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A sedan flipped on 165 Ave after the driver reacted to another vehicle. The driver, alone, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Metal twisted. One man hurt. The street stayed quiet after the crash.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old man drove a 2011 Nissan sedan south on 165 Avenue near Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens. At 6:17 AM, the sedan overturned after the driver reacted to an uninvolved vehicle. The report lists "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle" as the contributing factor. The car struck with its center front end and rolled. The driver, who wore a lap belt and harness, was not ejected. He suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. No other people were involved. The crash shows how driver error in response to traffic can lead to loss of control and serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789205 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 29 - A 23-year-old man crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens was struck by an SUV making a left turn. The impact injured his lower leg and foot. Police cite driver inexperience and failure to yield as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6 p.m. in Queens on 120 Street near Linden Boulevard. A 2018 Mazda SUV was making a left turn when it struck a 23-year-old male pedestrian crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front quarter panel, causing injuries to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian remained conscious but suffered internal complaints. The report explicitly identifies driver errors including 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. There is no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 27 - A northbound SUV collided with a parked vehicle’s right rear quarter panel on 135 St in Queens. The sedan driver suffered a head contusion and bruising. The crash involved multiple vehicles and caused significant damage to the parked SUV’s side doors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on 135 St near 109 Ave in Queens. A 39-year-old female sedan driver, licensed in New York, was injured with a head contusion and bruising. The report identifies the contributing factor as 'Other Vehicular,' indicating driver error related to vehicle movement. The northbound Honda SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, struck the right side doors of a parked Tesla SUV, which was stationary before impact. The Tesla SUV was hit on its right rear quarter panel by the sedan traveling westbound. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt. The collision caused damage to the parked SUV and injured the sedan driver, highlighting risks from vehicle interactions and driver errors in multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A Toyota SUV flipped on 135th Avenue. A 23-year-old woman, thrown from the back seat, lay unconscious and bleeding. A BMW struck head-on. A parked Dodge crumpled. Someone ran the light. Metal twisted. Lives upended in Queens before dawn.

According to the police report, a violent collision unfolded on 135th Avenue near Lefferts Boulevard in Queens at 2:55 a.m. A Toyota SUV, traveling north, overturned after a driver disregarded traffic control. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV flipped. A 23-year-old woman, unbelted in back, was thrown out. She lay bleeding, unconscious.' The SUV collided head-on with a BMW sedan, while a parked Dodge truck was struck and crumpled. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, pointing to a driver running a red light. The 23-year-old woman, a rear passenger in the SUV, suffered severe injuries after being ejected from the vehicle. No actions by the victim are listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers ignore traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - A sedan traveling south struck a parked vehicle's left rear quarter panel on 131st Street in Queens. The driver suffered neck injuries and shock, wearing a lap belt. Slippery pavement contributed to the collision, according to the police report.

According to the police report, at 2:53 AM in Queens, a sedan traveling southbound collided with the left rear quarter panel of a parked vehicle on 131st Street. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, was injured with neck contusions and experienced shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists slippery pavement as a contributing factor to the crash. The collision involved two sedans and a parked SUV, with damage focused on the left rear quarter panels and right front bumper. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited, but road conditions played a role in the impact. The victim was the driver of the moving sedan and was injured in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 22 - A sedan turning right collided head-on with an eastbound SUV on 107 Avenue in Queens. The sedan driver, 68, suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and improper turning as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:50 on 107 Avenue in Queens involving a 2023 Kia sedan and a 2019 Toyota SUV. The sedan was making a right turn while the SUV was traveling straight east. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. Both drivers were licensed in New York and operating their vehicles at the time. The police report does not indicate any victim fault or pedestrian involvement, focusing on driver errors that led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787638 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 20 - A sedan traveling east on Belt Parkway collided with its driver on the left side. The 45-year-old male driver suffered head injuries but remained conscious. Police cite improper lane usage as the contributing factor in this single-vehicle crash.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Belt Parkway at 1:55 AM. The vehicle, a 2017 Honda sedan traveling east, sustained damage to the left side doors, which was also the point of impact. The driver, who was the sole occupant and wearing a lap belt and harness, suffered head injuries and remained conscious after the collision. The report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in lane management. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786956 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - A 39-year-old woman driving an SUV suffered a head contusion after rear-ending a tow truck on S Conduit Ave in Queens. Both vehicles were traveling east when the SUV struck the truck’s left front bumper. The driver remained conscious but injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:50 PM on S Conduit Ave in Queens. A 39-year-old female driver of a 2020 SUV was injured, sustaining a head contusion and a bruise. The SUV collided with the rear of a 2024 tow truck traveling in the same direction. Both vehicles were going straight ahead when the SUV impacted the center front end of the tow truck, damaging the SUV’s center back end and the truck’s left front bumper. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles, indicating driver error related to vehicle operation. The SUV driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786957 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 16 - Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 12 - A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe injuries after his SUV collided with two parked vehicles on 121st Street in Queens. Steering failure and defective brakes caused the crash, striking the right front bumper and damaging both parked cars.

According to the police report, at 21:50 in Queens, a 51-year-old male driver operating a 2021 Chevrolet SUV traveling south on 121st Street experienced a steering failure and defective brakes. These mechanical failures led to the SUV colliding with two parked vehicles, a sedan and another SUV, impacting the right front bumper of the moving vehicle and damaging the left rear quarter panel and center back end of the parked cars. The driver was injured with internal complaints affecting his entire body but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly cites 'Steering Failure' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors, highlighting vehicle control loss as the cause. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - Three sedans crashed on Belt Parkway at night. Unsafe speed sent metal slamming into metal. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat took the worst of it. Neck pain. Whiplash. The road showed no mercy.

According to the police report, three sedans collided on Belt Parkway at 9:28 PM. One driver was changing lanes. Another was struck on the left side doors. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. A 17-year-old female passenger in the left rear seat suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She wore a lap belt. The crash left her hurt. Driver errors—unsafe speed and lane changes—caused the violent impact that injured the teen.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - A 49-year-old man suffered whole-body injuries and shock after a van hit him at a marked crosswalk on Rockaway Boulevard. The impact came from the van’s left front bumper as it traveled southbound. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal.

According to the police report, a van traveling south on Rockaway Boulevard struck a 49-year-old male pedestrian at a marked crosswalk. The point of impact was the van’s left front bumper, causing injuries to the pedestrian’s entire body and leaving him in shock with minor bleeding. The pedestrian was crossing the street without a crossing signal. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors explicitly. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. The collision highlights the dangers pedestrians face even at marked crosswalks when vehicle movements intersect with pedestrian paths.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784614 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - 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