Queens Streets Run Red—Who’s Next?

Aug 17 - Eastbound Jeep on Grand Central Parkway changes lanes and hits. Back end crushed. Driver, 57, hurt. Night on the parkway. Metal, speed, and pain in Queens.

An eastbound 2010 Jeep SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens and struck another vehicle, with impact and damage to the Jeep’s center back end. The 57-year-old male driver was injured with neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the Jeep was “Changing Lanes” before the crash and the point of impact was the “Center Back End.” The data lists no pedestrian or cyclist victims, but a driver was hurt. The report does not list specific contributing factors like Failure to Yield or Unsafe Lane Change, yet the maneuver and rear impact show the danger in this move. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 17 - A police pursuit on Springfield Blvd ended in a three-sedan crash. A 59-year-old driver suffered back injury and whiplash. Police recorded aggressive driving and improper passing.

Two sedans in a police pursuit and a third sedan collided on Springfield Blvd near Carson St in Queens. A 59-year-old male driver was injured. He complained of back pain and whiplash and was conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Aggressive Driving/Road Rage," and one vehicle was in "Police Pursuit." The report lists driver errors as Aggressive Driving/Road Rage and Passing or Lane Usage Improper. One involved driver held only a permit. Vehicles showed left and right front quarter panel damage consistent with front-quarter impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 17 - Two SUVs collided northbound on Cross Island Parkway. The driver of one SUV hit the other's left front. A 71-year-old front passenger and a 72-year-old driver were injured. Police recorded Alcohol Involvement and an unlicensed driver.

The driver of one SUV hit the left front of another while both were traveling north on Cross Island Parkway. A 72-year-old man driving one SUV and a 71-year-old front-seat passenger were injured; reported injuries include back and neck complaints. According to the police report, "Alcohol Involvement" was a contributing factor. The report also lists an "Unlicensed" driver for one vehicle. Police recorded those driver failures. Damage is noted to a right rear bumper and a left front quarter panel. No pedestrians or cyclists are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836153 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - An SUV going south on Springfield Blvd hit a 13-year-old crossing near 111 Ave. The right front took the blow. The boy suffered a head injury. Sirens cut the night. Queens pavement bears the mark.

A southbound SUV on Springfield Boulevard near 111 Avenue struck a 13-year-old pedestrian. The boy sustained a head injury and was listed as injured. The SUV showed damage on the right-front quarter. According to the police report, the listed contributing factor was “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” No driver charges were recorded in the data. The record does not cite common driver failures like Failure to Yield or Driver Inattention/Distraction, and gives no signal information. The system still put a teen in the path of a heavy SUV at speed on a boulevard built for cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835075 - 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 - Two SUVs crashed at Memphis Ave and 254 St. Two women drivers and a 9-year-old boy passenger were injured. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Traffic Control Disregarded."

Two SUVs collided at Memphis Ave and 254 St in Queens. Three people were injured: a 28-year-old female driver with a head contusion, a 55-year-old female driver with whole-body contusions, and a 9-year-old boy passenger with whole-body contusions. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Traffic Control Disregarded." Police recorded those driver errors for the involved vehicles. Vehicle damage reports show impact to left-front and center-front areas and left-side doors. Lap belts for the injured were noted in the report after the recorded driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835043 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - A driver traveling east on S Conduit Avenue struck and killed a 52-year-old man in the roadway near 155th Street. The car's center front hit him. He died at the scene.

A driver traveling east on South Conduit Avenue struck a 52-year-old man who was in the roadway near 155th Street. The pedestrian suffered fatal, whole-body injuries and died at the scene. According to the police report, the vehicle was "Going Straight Ahead" and the "Center Front End" was damaged. The report records no driver citations or contributing factors. The crash data notes the pedestrian as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Not at Intersection" with ped_action listed as "Other Actions in Roadway." No other contributing factors are recorded in the provided data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834786 - 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 - 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 - The driver of a 2024 BMW SUV backed on 224th Street and struck two parked sedans. A 51‑year‑old woman driver suffered neck pain and abrasions. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe backing.

An SUV driver reversed and hit two parked sedans on 224th Street in Queens, injuring herself. A 51‑year‑old woman driver complained of neck pain and abrasions. According to the police report, contributing factors were Driver Inattention/Distraction and Backing Unsafely. The report lists a 2024 BMW SUV backing (damage to left rear bumper), a 2007 Toyota sedan (center back end damaged, parked) and a 2017 Nissan sedan (left front bumper damaged, parked). Police recorded the BMW driver as licensed and noted multiple occupants with unspecified injuries in the crash dossier.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835041 - 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 8 - Eastbound Ford hit a northbound Nissan at 181st and 145th. Doors crushed. Two drivers hurt. Traffic control ignored, police say. Steel met flesh. Sirens followed.

Two vehicles collided at 181 St and 145 Ave in Queens. An eastbound Ford sedan struck the left side of a northbound Nissan SUV. Two female drivers were injured, with shoulder and upper‑arm pain reported. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Traffic Control Disregarded.” That driver error sits at the heart of this crash. Records list one driver on a permit and the other licensed; both were traveling straight. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt. No other contributing factors are specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 8 - Floods drowned Bay Terrace. Streets vanished. Leaders demand signs and real fixes. Pedestrians and cyclists still face danger. Signs warn, but water keeps coming.

"The signs that we’re asking for would warn drivers about flood-prone roads and encourage people not to park or drive in the event of heavy rain at this intersection and on the highway." -- Donovan J. Richards

On August 8, 2025, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Vickie Paladino, joined by State Sen. John Liu and others, called for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation in Bay Terrace. They urged the Department of Transportation to act after flash floods submerged the Cross Island Parkway. The matter, described as a 'call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts,' saw Richards call signage a 'small step' and Paladino stress the need for warnings. The safety analyst notes these efforts may help general conditions but do not address the core safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists or shift burdens away from vulnerable users.

• Queens leaders call for flood signage and infrastructure in Bay Terrace, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - The driver of a BMW SUV was making a left turn on Jamaica Ave when the driver of a Toyota sedan struck the SUV’s left rear bumper. Two drivers were injured. A 59-year-old man had neck pain; a 28-year-old woman had an arm bruise. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

According to the police report, the driver of a BMW SUV was making a left turn at Jamaica Ave and Vanderveer St when the driver of a Toyota sedan, traveling straight, struck the SUV’s left rear bumper. Two drivers were injured: a 59-year-old man complained of neck pain and whiplash; a 28-year-old woman suffered an elbow/arm contusion. Both drivers reported shock. The report lists contributing factors as "Unspecified." No specific driver errors are recorded in the data. The report notes left rear bumper damage to the SUV and center front-end damage to the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 7 - Two drivers in SUVs crashed on 89 Avenue near 248-55. Right-front to right-front. A 73-year-old woman driving east suffered neck pain. Police recorded unsafe speed by a driver.

Two drivers in SUVs crashed on 89 Avenue at 248-55 in Queens. Both right fronts took the hit. A 73-year-old woman driving east was injured with neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious. According to the police report, "Unsafe Speed" was the contributing factor. Police recorded unsafe speed by a driver. One driver was entering a parked position while heading east. The other drove west, going straight. Both vehicles showed right-front damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no other injuries were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 7 - A taxi driver turning right struck a 44-year-old man crossing 212 Street at Jamaica Avenue with the signal. The pedestrian suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries. Police recorded failure to yield and driver inattention.

A taxi driver turning right struck a 44-year-old man at 212 Street and Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The man suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' were listed as contributing factors. Police recorded that the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver made the turn. The taxi showed a center-front point of impact; the driver was licensed and the vehicle carried one occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 6 - Two drivers in sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway in Queens. A 41-year-old male passenger suffered a knee and foot injury. Others had minor or no injuries. Police listed no driver errors.

Two drivers in sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway in Queens while heading south. According to the police report, a 41-year-old male passenger suffered a knee and foot injury with an abrasion and remained conscious. Other occupants, including both drivers, were listed with unspecified or minor injuries. Police recorded no contributing factors or driver errors. Both drivers were reported as going straight ahead before impact. The 2021 Tesla sedan showed right-side damage; the 2013 Toyota sedan showed front-end damage. The file gave no further narrative.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833143 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 5 - A driver in a 2023 SUV, east on 91 Avenue, hit a 60-year-old man at 209 Street. He suffered a bruised arm and stayed conscious. Police recorded no contributing factor.

A driver in a 2023 SUV traveling east on 91 Avenue continued straight and hit a 60-year-old man at 209 Street in Queens. The man suffered a contusion to his lower arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors were recorded as “Unspecified,” and no driver errors were cited. The vehicle showed no recorded damage. The police listed the pedestrian’s location as the intersection. The collision was logged at 8:50 a.m. The crash left the pedestrian injured and alive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 4 - An SUV hit a sedan at 135 Avenue and 232 Street in Queens. A 53-year-old man driving was injured and in shock. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Other Vehicular as contributing factors. Both cars were going straight.

A station wagon/SUV and a sedan collided on 135 Avenue at 232 Street. One driver, a 53-year-old man, was injured and reported in shock. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Other Vehicular" factors contributed to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact. The sedan sustained left-side door damage; the SUV showed center front-end and right-front bumper damage. The injured occupant was the driver, wearing a lap belt and harness and not ejected. Police listed contributing factors as Other Vehicular on the occupant record as well. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18