Queens CB12: Nights of impact, days of grief

Aug 20 - SUV south on 164th. Sedan east on 110th. Metal met at the right doors. Two drivers hurt. Shoulders and neck. Police cite speed and blind views. And failure to yield. Queens street, clear day, still brutal.

Two cars collided at 164 St and 110 Ave in Queens. An eastbound sedan struck the right side of a southbound SUV. Two drivers were injured; others were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were “View Obstructed/Limited” and “Unsafe Speed.” The person records also list “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” These are driver errors that turn a simple crossing into an impact zone. The SUV’s right-side doors took the hit; the sedan’s front end crumpled. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported, but passengers still bore the force. The data points to speed, blocked sightlines, and a failure to yield as the causes named by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - A driver hit a 62-year-old man crossing 157 St at 107 Ave in Queens. He fell hard. Knee and lower-leg injury and abrasions. Police list him conscious and injured. The report gives no driver details.

A driver hit a 62-year-old man at 157 Street and 107 Avenue in Queens. The man suffered knee and lower-leg injury and abrasions and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the pedestrian was "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian at Intersection" and "Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk." Police recorded no driver contributing factors, vehicle details, or driver actions in the report. The report documents the pedestrian's location and injuries but does not list a driver error. The impact and injuries are clearly recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838280 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 19 - The driver of a pickup turned left from 204 Street onto Jamaica Avenue and hit a westbound SUV. Two drivers were injured. Police recorded "Traffic Control Disregarded." Reported complaints included whiplash, neck pain, and shoulder trauma.

A southbound pickup driver made a left turn from 204 Street onto Jamaica Avenue and struck a westbound SUV. The driver of the pickup, a 28-year-old man, reported neck injury and whiplash. The driver of the SUV, a 54-year-old woman, reported shoulder and upper-arm trauma and whiplash. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Traffic Control Disregarded." Police listed that driver error as the recorded contributing factor. The pickup struck with its left front bumper; the SUV took impact to its center front end. Both drivers were not ejected and were recorded as injured in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 18 - The driver of a Ford SUV rear-ended a stopped Infiniti sedan at Merrick Blvd and Jamaica Ave in Queens. The 30-year-old sedan driver suffered a back contusion and was injured. Police cited driver inattention.

The driver of a Ford SUV, traveling south on Merrick Blvd, struck the center back end of a stopped Infiniti sedan at Merrick Blvd and Jamaica Ave. The sedan’s 30-year-old driver was injured and complained of a back contusion. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded driver inattention as the causal factor. The SUV struck the sedan at the center front to center back; each vehicle carried one occupant. The SUV driver held only a permit and was going straight ahead while the sedan was stopped in traffic. No other contributing factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 17 - The striking driver hit a parked 2015 Hyundai on 116 Ave at 157 St in Queens. The parked driver, 67, was injured and complained of whiplash. Police listed contributing factors as "Unspecified."

A northbound driver going straight struck the center back end of a parked 2015 Hyundai on 116 Avenue near 157 Street in Queens. One occupant — the 67-year-old driver of the parked sedan — was injured and complained of whiplash and whole-body injury. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as "Unspecified." The report records the striking vehicle with center front-end damage and the parked Hyundai with center back-end damage. No specific driver errors are recorded beyond the unspecified factors in the police data. No helmet or signal issues are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836020 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 16 - A Mercedes driver hit a southbound 20-year-old bicyclist at Hillside Ave and Parsons Blvd. The rider was ejected and suffered back injuries and shock. Police listed unsafe speed as a contributing factor.

At Hillside Ave and Parsons Blvd in Queens, a Mercedes driver traveling east hit a southbound bicyclist. The 20-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and sustained back injuries and shock. According to the police report, the crash involved a "MERZ -CAR/SUV" traveling east and a bike traveling south, with impact to the bicycle’s "Center Back End." The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. Driver error — unsafe speed — led the sequence that put the rider down. Police recorded the bicyclist’s injuries as internal complaint and back injury, and noted ejection and shock.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 16 - An e-bike rider hit a 7-year-old boy off the roadway near 88-19 170 St in Queens. The child was injured, suffering a knee-lower-leg-foot fracture. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Unsafe Speed.

The e-bike rider was traveling south and went straight near 88-19 170 St in Queens. He struck a 7-year-old boy who was not in the roadway. The child suffered a knee-lower-leg-foot fracture and was listed injured. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Unsafe Speed." Police recorded failure to yield by the rider and unsafe speed as driver errors. The e-bike's point of impact was the center front end. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - The driver of a northbound sedan hit a 25-year-old man riding a bicycle on Rockaway Boulevard at 148th Street. The rider suffered a lower-leg contusion after impact to the bike's rear. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

The driver of a northbound sedan hit a 25-year-old male bicyclist on Rockaway Boulevard at 148 Street. The rider suffered a contusion to the knee/lower leg/foot after impact to the bike's center back end. According to the police report "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded that driver error as the contributing factor. A parked 2018 Toyota showed damage to its left-side doors. One other northbound sedan was listed with no damage. The bicyclist was conscious and recorded as injured; motor-vehicle occupants were not recorded as injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Council moves to hit rogue vans hard. A checklist. Max fines for each breach. TLC, NYPD, DOT must act together. Crack down on illegal operators who imperil riders and people on the street. The bill sits in committee.

Int 1347-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to keep a compliance checklist. When officers stop an unlicensed van, they must check every rule and issue the maximum fine for each breach. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams. Co-sponsors Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, and Chris Banks. Status: Committee. If enacted, it takes effect 120 days later. It targets illegal operators who put riders and bystanders at risk.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council introduces Int 1347-2025 to curb rogue commuter vans. TLC, NYPD, and DOT must keep a safety checklist. Officers who spot an unlicensed van stack every charge and levy max fines. A push to shield riders and people on the street.

Int 1347-2025 is in Committee. It sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction and referral on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title reads, “A Local Law … in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to maintain a checklist of laws on vehicle and driver licensure, service authorization, insurance, and inspections. When an officer stops an unlicensed van, they must review the list and issue the maximum penalty for each violation. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams is joined by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, Chris Banks, and Farah N. Louis. The aim is to protect riders and bystanders from unlicensed operators who skip the rules.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 13 - A teen at the wheel on 150 St struck a standing scooter at Rockaway Blvd. Two teens hurt. One bled from the arm. Police cite distraction and confusion. The street did its usual work: steel against skin.

A crash on 150 St at Rockaway Blvd in Queens injured two teenagers operating a standing scooter. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion” and “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” A 16-year-old male driver was injured with abrasions. A 17-year-old male passenger suffered bleeding to the arm and hand. The report lists the vehicle as a standing scooter struck at the center front while going straight. Driver Inattention/Distraction is a driver error that endangers riders and passengers. The police also cited pedestrian/bicyclist error/confusion, but only after noting driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - A 61-year-old man crossed Sutphin Blvd with the signal. A northbound driver made a U-turn and hit him at the center front. He suffered elbow and lower-arm injuries and remained conscious. Police listed Turning Improperly and Unsafe Speed.

A northbound sedan driver made a U-turn at Sutphin Blvd and 94 Ave and struck a 61-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, the listed factors were "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Speed." The report notes the driver was unlicensed and the point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. Police recorded driver failures—an improper turning maneuver at speed by an unlicensed driver—as the contributing factors to the pedestrian's injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835715 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The car sped off. Medics rushed the victim to the hospital. He died. Police searched for footage. No arrests. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th St. at South Conduit Ave. near JFK Airport around 2:30 a.m. The driver hit the man and fled. Police said, "The driver sped off without stopping. No arrests have been made." Officers searched for surveillance footage to identify the vehicle. The article notes 68 pedestrians have died in city crashes this year. The hit-and-run highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the challenge of holding drivers accountable.

• Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - Mayor Adams moves to veto Intro 1135. Instacart boasts profits from squeezing workers. Delivery riders face low pay and harsh streets. Council backs workers, but veto blocks fair wages.

Intro 1135, a bill to mandate minimum wage for grocery delivery workers, faces a mayoral veto as of August 12, 2025. The City Council passed the bill with a veto-proof majority. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and others support it. Instacart lobbied hard against the bill, bragging to shareholders about boosting profits by cutting worker pay. The bill's matter: 'pay parity for grocery delivery workers.' Olivia Bensimon reported the story. The safety analyst notes this event concerns labor policy, not direct street safety or conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

• As Mayor Adams Preps Veto of Minimum Wage Bill, Instacart Boasts ‘Squeezing’ Its Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.

• Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two, New York Post, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A northbound sedan hit a westbound moped at Sutphin and 94th. Two teens on the moped were hurt. The car’s nose and moped’s right front took the blow. Police cite driver distraction. The street did the rest.

A northbound sedan struck a westbound moped at Sutphin Blvd and 94 Ave in Queens. Two 16-year-olds on the moped were injured; one was the driver, one a front passenger. According to the police report, “Driver Inattention/Distraction” was the contributing factor for both vehicles. The sedan’s center front end and the moped’s right front bumper show impact points, aligning with a crash in the intersection while both were going straight. Driver inattention is the lead error called out. Only after that does the report note the passenger lacked safety equipment. No pedestrians were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - A left-turning driver hit a northbound BMW on Merrick Blvd. The BMW driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered back pain and whiplash. Police cited Driver Inattention/Distraction and Turning Improperly.

A left-turning sedan collided with a northbound BMW near 130-07 Merrick Blvd in Queens. The BMW’s driver, a 31-year-old woman, was injured and complained of back pain and whiplash. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Turning Improperly." Police recorded that one car was making a left turn and struck a vehicle going straight ahead. The Toyota (MA registration) was making the left turn; the BMW (VA registration) was traveling north. The report lists driver inattention and an improper turn as the errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834469 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.

• Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 9 - A Kia going east hit a southbound cyclist at 202 St and 115 Ave in Queens. The car’s front end crushed in. The rider took a chest hit and bled. He stayed conscious. Another man listed, injuries unclear. Impact speaks to the danger.

A Kia sedan traveling east hit a southbound bicyclist at 202 Street and 115 Avenue in Queens. The cyclist, a 62-year-old man, suffered chest injuries and abrasions and remained conscious. An additional male registrant was listed with unspecified injury. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Unspecified.” The sedan’s point of impact was the center front end; the bike showed damage at the right side, indicating a direct strike while both were going straight. The data lists no driver errors by name, but the crash mechanics show driver impact on the cyclist first. The cyclist had no safety equipment listed, noted only after driver actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 8 - The driver of an unlicensed sedan turned left and hit a 19‑year‑old cyclist on 164th Street at Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The cyclist suffered contusions to his knee, lower leg and foot. Police cited driver inattention.

The driver of a sedan made a left turn and struck a 19‑year‑old bicyclist who was traveling south on 164th Street at Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The bicyclist suffered contusions to his knee, lower leg and foot and was recorded as injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Police recorded that the sedan driver was unlicensed. The sedan's left front bumper was listed as the point of impact. The bike was listed with no damage. Two people were occupants of the sedan; no injuries to them were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18