Queens Streets: 25 Dead, 4,400 Hurt—Who's Next?

Two SUVs slammed together on North Conduit Avenue. A left turn, a missed yield. Two women, 17 and 47, left with abrasions and neck pain. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control ignored.

Two SUVs collided late at night on North Conduit Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, one SUV was making a left turn while the other drove straight. The crash struck both vehicles on their left front sections. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as causes. Two female passengers, ages 17 and 47, were injured. The 17-year-old suffered abrasions over her entire body; the 47-year-old had neck abrasions. Both were conscious and restrained. The report centers on driver errors—failure to yield and ignoring traffic controls—as the main factors behind the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A motorcycle rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV merged unsafely on Cross Island Parkway. The collision struck the motorcycle’s left front bumper, causing abrasions but no ejection. The driver was helmeted and conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Cross Island Parkway involving a 2012 Kawasaki motorcycle and a 2018 Toyota SUV. The SUV driver was merging when the collision happened, striking the motorcycle’s left front bumper with the SUV’s right rear bumper. The motorcycle driver, a 22-year-old male, was wearing a helmet and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors, highlighting the SUV driver’s failure to merge safely. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The motorcycle was traveling straight north, while the SUV was merging northbound, indicating the SUV driver’s error caused the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755487 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A station wagon sport utility vehicle struck a sedan from behind on Grand Central Parkway. The front passenger in the SUV, a 69-year-old man, suffered a shoulder injury and bruising. The crash was caused by following too closely, according to police.

At 12:01 PM on Grand Central Parkway, a collision occurred involving a 2018 SUV and a 2012 sedan, both traveling eastbound. According to the police report, the SUV struck the sedan from behind, impacting the sedan's center front end and damaging the SUV's left rear bumper. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The SUV carried two occupants; the front passenger, a 69-year-old male, was injured with contusions and a shoulder-upper arm injury but was not ejected and was conscious. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 36-year-old man suffered bruises and arm injuries after a sedan struck him at a Queens intersection. The driver was making a right turn when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and 263 Street in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2007 Kia sedan, traveling northwest and making a right turn, struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and remained conscious after the collision. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian, but the driver’s action of making a right turn resulted in the impact. No explicit driver errors such as failure to yield were cited, but the collision during the turn highlights the systemic danger posed by turning vehicles at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A deadly seven-way tangle in the Rockaways will get $25 million in upgrades. Protected bike lanes. Bigger pedestrian islands. Raised crosswalks. City officials promise change after 112 crashes since 2019. Construction starts 2027. No more waiting for blood on the asphalt.

The planned overhaul targets the chaotic intersection of Beach 35th Street, Seagirt Boulevard, Rockaway Freeway, and Beach Channel Drive. Announced September 11, 2024, the $24.8 million project includes protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and safer crossings. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $500,000, saying, "We're not waiting until someone loses their life to take action." Since 2019, 112 crashes have injured 54 people here—five of them pedestrians. The intersection currently favors cars, forcing pedestrians on long detours. The redesign will dead-end Beach 35th Street, add raised bike lanes, and expand pedestrian space. Final design is due next year, with construction set for 2027 and completion by 2029. The project includes a $2.6 million federal grant and is tied to Edgemere sewer upgrades.

• Chaotic Rockaways Intersection to Get Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades in 2027, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-11

A 25-year-old man suffered head injuries after an SUV making a left turn struck him at a marked crosswalk. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a collision that left the pedestrian bruised and conscious at the Queens intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Hook Creek Boulevard in Queens at 8:46 p.m. A 25-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal when he was struck by a Jeep SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, damaging the center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious after the collision. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver errors at intersections, especially failure to yield during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Two sedans collided in Queens. Both drivers suffered neck abrasions. A front passenger was partially ejected. Police cite traffic control disregard as the cause.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens at 5:00 PM. A Nissan sedan going straight struck a Ford sedan making a left turn. Both drivers were injured with neck abrasions. A 55-year-old female passenger in the Nissan was partially ejected and also injured. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, showing driver error in obeying signals or signs. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754961 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

A woman stepped down from a car on 147th Road. An SUV tore into her right leg. Flesh ripped. She stayed conscious. The driver sped off, leaving blood and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was injured on 147th Road near 235th Street in Queens when she exited a vehicle and was struck by a 2023 Toyota SUV. The report states the SUV hit her right leg, causing severe lacerations, but she remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage and continued eastbound, according to the report. The victim was not at an intersection and was getting on or off a vehicle at the time. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, as cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Two sedans collided on Memphis Avenue at 11:20 p.m. A front passenger took a blow to the chest. Both cars hit hard, front bumpers smashed. No driver errors listed. Night, metal, pain.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Memphis Avenue at 23:20. One driver turned right. The other went straight. The cars struck at their front bumpers. A 52-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat suffered chest contusions and bruises. She was conscious, not ejected, and wore a lap belt. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The crash shows the danger when turning and straight-moving vehicles meet at night. Only the passenger was hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 26-year-old man walking along Springfield Boulevard in Queens suffered neck injuries. No driver errors or vehicle details listed. The crash exposes the peril pedestrians face on busy city highways.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male pedestrian was injured while walking along Springfield Boulevard near Hempstead Avenue in Queens. The man was conscious and suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. He was not at an intersection but was walking along the highway with traffic. The report does not specify any driver errors or contributing factors. Vehicle details are also unspecified. The absence of listed driver actions in the report highlights the systemic dangers pedestrians encounter on major roadways outside designated crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756392 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A motorcyclist suffered back abrasions and partial ejection in a Queens crash. The collision involved improper lane usage by the motorbike driver. Both vehicles traveled south on 150 Street when impact occurred at the left front bumper of the motorcycle.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on 150 Street in Queens involving a 2024 motorbike and a 2017 SUV, both traveling south. The motorbike driver, a 26-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained back abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating driver error by the motorcyclist. The motorbike driver was unlicensed and not using any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and had no cited violations. Impact occurred at the left front bumper of the motorbike and the center front end of the SUV. The collision highlights the dangers posed by improper lane usage and unlicensed operation in Queens traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A 16-year-old unlicensed moped driver was ejected and injured after crashing while making a right turn at unsafe speed. The impact struck the left side doors, causing abrasions and lower leg injuries. The driver was conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male moped driver, unlicensed and traveling west on 147 Avenue, was making a right turn when the crash occurred at 2:41 AM. The vehicle impacted the left side doors, resulting in the driver being ejected from the moped. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The driver was conscious at the scene but was not wearing any safety equipment. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of unlicensed operation and excessive speed on mopeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A Honda, moving too fast, crashed into a Jeep’s side at 90th Avenue and 212th Street. The 64-year-old Jeep driver was crushed and died at the scene. Metal twisted, lives ended. Speed left no room for survival.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 90th Avenue and 212th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 2004 Honda sedan, traveling east, struck the left side of a 2014 Jeep SUV heading north. The impact crushed the 64-year-old Jeep driver, who died behind the wheel. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The narrative states, 'A speeding Honda slammed into a Jeep’s side. The 64-year-old driver was crushed in the wreck. He died behind the wheel, his body bearing the full force of the crash.' The data shows the Honda’s center front end hit the Jeep’s left side doors, with severe damage to both vehicles. No other contributing factors are listed for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver speed, with the victim bearing the brunt of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A Chevrolet SUV traveling west struck a stopped Toyota sedan from behind on Hillside Avenue in Queens. Both drivers, women aged 55 and 71, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The impact damaged the center front of the SUV and rear of the sedan.

According to the police report, at 11:21 p.m. on Hillside Avenue in Queens, a 2014 Chevrolet SUV traveling west struck a 2004 Toyota sedan that was stopped in traffic. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, while the sedan sustained damage to its center back end. Both vehicles had two occupants. The sedan driver, a 55-year-old woman, and the front passenger, a 71-year-old woman, were both injured with neck injuries and complaints of whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report lists no specific contributing factors but indicates the sedan was stopped and the SUV was going straight ahead, consistent with a rear-end collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A sedan turned right and struck a pick-up truck heading straight. Three truck occupants suffered neck bruises. No pedestrians or cyclists involved. Police list no driver errors. Danger rides with every turn.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn collided with a pick-up truck traveling straight on Memphis Avenue at 11:20 p.m. The crash injured all three occupants of the truck—a 45-year-old woman driving, and two passengers aged 30 and 38. Each sustained neck contusions and bruises. All were conscious, belted, and not ejected. The sedan and truck drivers both held valid New York licenses. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors noted. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751187 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Two sedans collided on Southern Parkway. Four men suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. Metal twisted. Whiplash complaints. All stayed conscious. The road did not forgive mistakes.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Southern Parkway in Queens at 16:45. Two sedans collided, leaving four men, ages 17 to 80, with neck injuries and whiplash. All were conscious and wore lap belts. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as primary causes. One driver held only a permit. Impact points hit rear and front ends, showing a chain reaction. No one was ejected. The police report underscores how distraction and inexperience behind the wheel led to injury and chaos on the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27