Night on the Cross Island. Another life gone.

Feb 7 - A box truck struck the rear of a slowing sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Three passengers suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. Driver inattention and following too closely caused the crash, leaving occupants conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, at 3:00 PM on the Long Island Expressway, a box truck traveling east rear-ended a sedan also heading east. The sedan was slowing or stopping when the truck impacted its center back end with the truck's center front end. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors to the collision. Three sedan occupants, all wearing lap belts, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash. The injured passengers, aged 20, 22, and 45, were conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and tailgating—as the cause of the crash. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 - Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Feb 3 - Two sedans collided head-on on 210 St in Queens. The 19-year-old male driver suffered a fractured elbow and hand injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:13 on 210 St in Queens involving two sedans traveling east and south. The 19-year-old male driver of one sedan was injured with a fractured elbow and hand dislocation, remaining conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles had front bumper damage, indicating a frontal impact. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behaviors in the report. The crash highlights driver error—specifically inattention and distraction—as the primary cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 2 - Trump’s push to kill congestion pricing would gut MTA funding. John Liu calls it basic maintenance, not luxury. The plan’s billion-dollar revenue keeps subways running and streets safer. Without it, transit crumbles. Riders and vulnerable road users pay the price.

On February 2, 2025, NYC officials responded to reports of a federal move to repeal congestion pricing, just weeks after its January 5 launch. At a press conference, Council Member John Liu warned, “This is not for fancy stuff. This is basic transit maintenance.” Liu said losing congestion pricing would erase a billion dollars in annual MTA revenue, threatening $15 billion in planned upgrades. The money funds new subway cars, buses, station repairs, and safety improvements. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Liu, stressing millions rely on transit daily. Both officials opposed the repeal, highlighting the risk to the city’s transit backbone. The bill is not numbered, but the threat is clear: without congestion pricing, the city’s streets and subways grow more dangerous for everyone outside a car.

• Trump repeal of congestion pricing would devastate NYC transit, city pols warn, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02

Jan 24 - Two SUVs collided head-to-tail on the Long Island Expressway. Driver inattention and tailgating caused the crash. A 32-year-old woman in the back seat suffered neck injuries and shock. Both vehicles moved east when impact struck.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway collided when one rear-ended the other. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The crash struck the center back end of the lead SUV and the center front end of the trailing SUV. A 32-year-old female passenger in the middle rear seat was injured, suffering neck trauma and shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed, one from New Jersey and one from New York. The crash underscores the risk of distraction and tailgating on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 16 - Three sedans collided northbound on Cross Island Parkway. The impact caused head injuries to a 22-year-old male driver, who was restrained. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor in this multi-vehicle collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:10 on Cross Island Parkway involving three sedans traveling north. The report identifies unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The impact points include the left rear bumper and quarter panel of one vehicle, the right front bumper and center front end of another, and the center back end and left rear bumper of the third. A 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining head contusions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash demonstrates the dangers of unsafe speed in multi-vehicle collisions on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 15 - A 13-year-old boy suffered neck injuries and shock when an SUV struck the rear of a bus on Grand Central Parkway. The SUV driver’s inattention and following too closely caused the crash. The boy was restrained with a lap belt and was not ejected.

According to the police report, at 3:30 pm on Grand Central Parkway, a 2019 Jeep SUV traveling west struck the right rear bumper of a 2024 bus also traveling west. The SUV driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely,' which led to the collision. The impact injured a 13-year-old male passenger in the SUV, who suffered neck injuries and was in shock. He was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt at the time. The bus had nine occupants, and the SUV had two. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and tailgating on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786020 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 15 - Two SUVs collided on the Long Island Expressway. The rear vehicle, driven by a distracted man following too closely, struck the front vehicle. A female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:50 on the Long Island Expressway involving two station wagons/SUVs traveling westbound. The rear vehicle, driven by a licensed male driver, impacted the center front end of the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle, driven by a 38-year-old licensed female driver, was struck at the center back end. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the rear driver. The female driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles had damage consistent with a rear-end collision. The crash highlights driver errors related to maintaining safe following distances and attention on a busy expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 14 - Opponents of congestion pricing use subway crime to stir fear and block change. Data shows streets are deadlier than trains. Riders keep riding. Politicians and advocates clash. The real danger: distraction from fixing transit and protecting people on foot and bike.

""They laugh at your concerns because they don't care. Nothing changes because they don't care. And now this moron is going to get billions more dollars on the backs of working people to pad his completely dysfunctional and unaccountable agency -- and openly celebrate it."" -- Vickie Paladino

On January 14, 2025, a public debate erupted over congestion pricing and subway safety in New York City. The matter, titled "Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime," highlights how some council members and political groups use concerns about subway crime to oppose congestion pricing. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino voiced strong opposition, while advocates like Sara Lind and Ben Furnas countered that such arguments ignore real solutions and endanger transit funding. The article notes, 'Data shows the subway is statistically safer than city streets for both pedestrians and drivers.' Despite visible homelessness and high-profile crimes, most riders continue to use the subway. The debate exposes how fear is weaponized to block policies that could reduce traffic violence and improve safety for vulnerable road users. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-14

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Jan 12 - A distracted SUV driver rear-ended a sedan on the Long Island Expressway. The sedan’s front passenger, a 65-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed dangers of inattention and tailgating on high-speed roads.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:28 on the Long Island Expressway. A 2018 SUV traveling west struck the center back end of a 2021 sedan also heading west. The report cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors. The sedan’s front passenger, a 65-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance and distraction led to the rear-end collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The report highlights systemic risks from driver inattention and tailgating on busy expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 3 - A westbound SUV merging on the Long Island Expressway rear-ended a tractor truck. The truck driver suffered a back contusion but was conscious and restrained. The collision caused front-end damage to the truck and rear-end damage to the SUV.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:10 on the Long Island Expressway. A station wagon/SUV was merging westbound when it struck the center back end of a tractor truck traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The truck sustained center front end damage, and the SUV had damage to its center back end. The truck driver, a 33-year-old male occupant, was injured with a back contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists the truck driver's contributing factors as unspecified. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle while merging. This collision highlights the dangers of merging maneuvers on high-speed roadways and the impact on vulnerable vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 2 - A distracted Mazda driver slammed into a 51-year-old man near 212th Street in Queens. The sedan’s front end crumpled. The man bled from the head, conscious but wounded. The street fell silent. Driver inattention left its mark.

According to the police report, a southbound 2004 Mazda sedan struck a 51-year-old man outside the roadway near 212th Street in Queens at 1:45 p.m. The front of the car crumpled on impact. The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding from the head and remained conscious at the scene. The report states the driver was distracted, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors are cited for the pedestrian. The police narrative underscores the stillness after the crash and the immediate, visible injuries. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to pay attention, which directly led to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783354 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04