Queens Bleeds While Leaders Stall—How Many More Must Die?

Nov 26 - Two sedans collided at Beach 87 St and Rockaway Beach Blvd. Both drivers injured. Impact crushed metal. Police list only unspecified factors. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 8:40 AM on Beach 87 Street near Rockaway Beach Blvd in Queens. One driver went straight east; the other turned right. Both drivers, a 50-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man, suffered whiplash and injuries to the lower limbs and entire body. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists only unspecified contributing factors. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774289 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 15 - A northbound driver hit a 35-year-old man crossing Beach Channel Drive. The man suffered a head bruise. Police cite driver distraction. The pedestrian was conscious. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old pedestrian was struck by a northbound vehicle while crossing Beach Channel Drive in Queens at 21:05. The man was not at an intersection or crosswalk. He suffered a head contusion but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions are cited as causes. The vehicle hit the pedestrian at the center front end and showed no damage. This crash underscores the risk posed by distracted drivers to people crossing city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 12 - DOT finished the Queens Boulevard redesign. Protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and new signals now line seven miles. Fatalities dropped 68 percent. Injuries fell 35 percent. Julie Won helped fund the next phase. Concrete upgrades will harden safety. Streets remember every life.

On November 12, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced the completion of the final phase of the Queens Boulevard Redesign. The project, part of Vision Zero, was celebrated in Council District 26 with Council Member Julie Won present and helping secure $1.5 million for future upgrades. The redesign stretches from Queens Plaza to Hillside Avenue, creating the city’s longest protected bike lane. The DOT reports a 68% drop in fatalities and a 35% reduction in injuries since 2015. The redesign adds parking-protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and improved signals. The next phase, funded in part by Won, will replace painted lanes with concrete, add raised medians, and increase accessibility. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called it a milestone, saying, 'Queens Boulevard is not the Boulevard of Death anymore, but the Boulevard of Life.'

• A ‘Boulevard of Life’ transformation: DOT announces completion of Queens Boulevard Redesign, amny.com, Published 2024-11-12

Nov 11 - SUV and sedan crashed head-on in Queens. Both drivers suffered head injuries and concussions. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield. Shock and trauma marked the aftermath.

Two vehicles collided at 11:57 PM on Rockaway Freeway at Beach 98 Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 2023 Ford SUV and a 2017 Hyundai sedan struck each other at the front bumpers. Both drivers, a 25-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, suffered head injuries and concussions. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors for both drivers. Both occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected. The report notes both were in shock. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of distraction and failure to yield on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770605 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - A sedan traveling south struck a northbound e-scooter on Beach 22 Street. The e-scooter driver, a 61-year-old woman, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause. The victim was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:25 on Beach 22 Street involving a southbound sedan and a northbound e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 61-year-old female, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain attention. The e-scooter was impacted at its center front end, sustaining damage there. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The focus remains on the sedan driver's distraction as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769734 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - A moped and sedan collided on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. The moped driver, a 24-year-old woman, was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:20 on Rockaway Freeway near Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. A 24-year-old female moped driver was partially ejected during the collision with a sedan traveling north. The moped driver sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, indicating a failure by one or both drivers to obey traffic signals or signs. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. The sedan, carrying three occupants, struck the moped's center front end with its right front bumper, causing damage to both vehicles. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing instead on driver error related to traffic control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - A sedan hit a 12-year-old girl crossing Rockaway Beach Blvd. She suffered hip and leg bruises. The car’s front struck her. No damage to the vehicle. The street left her exposed.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens at 8:33 AM. The girl was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The sedan, driven by a licensed woman, was heading east and struck her with its center front end. The child sustained a contusion and bruising to her hip and upper leg. She was conscious after the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any explicit driver errors. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The incident underscores the risk faced by pedestrians crossing wide, busy streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769265 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 4 - A sedan backing unsafely struck a parked sedan on Beach 91st Street in Queens. The driver of the parked car suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage, highlighting driver error during vehicle maneuvering.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on Beach 91st Street, Queens. A sedan registered in Pennsylvania was backing up and collided with a parked New York-registered sedan. The point of impact was the center back end of the backing vehicle and the center front end of the parked vehicle. The driver of the parked sedan, a 37-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in vehicle maneuvering. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were reported. The collision caused damage to both vehicles, emphasizing the dangers of improper backing maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773421 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - A rear-end crash on Cross Bay Blvd sent a 29-year-old driver and two young passengers in an SUV to shock and neck injuries. The SUV was struck from behind by a sedan traveling southbound, causing whiplash and pain complaints among the occupants.

According to the police report, at 13:23 in Queens on Cross Bay Blvd, a sedan traveling southbound struck the rear of a southbound SUV. The impact was centered on the front end of the sedan and the back end of the SUV. The SUV carried a licensed female driver aged 29 and three occupants, including two children aged 3 and 5. All three SUV occupants suffered neck injuries and were in shock. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' factors and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing causes, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The injured passengers were restrained with child restraints and seat belts. The collision caused whiplash and complaints of pain or nausea but no ejections. The report highlights driver error in maintaining distance as the key factor in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - SUV struck a 33-year-old woman crossing Beach 35 Street. She suffered facial abrasions. The driver kept going straight. No vehicle damage. Police list unspecified factors. No driver errors cited.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old woman was crossing Beach 35 Street in Queens when a westbound Jeep SUV hit her with its front end. The crash happened at 2:25 AM. The woman suffered abrasions to her face and was conscious after impact. The SUV showed no damage. Police list unspecified contributing factors but do not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and traveling straight before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768271 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 31 - Two men suffered whiplash and upper leg injuries in a Queens rear-end crash. A 2023 Nissan struck a stopped 1972 Pontiac on Beach Channel Drive. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely as causes. Both drivers wore seat belts.

According to the police report, at 7:00 AM on Beach Channel Drive in Queens, a 2023 Nissan sedan traveling west slowed or stopped in traffic. A 1972 Pontiac sedan behind it, also traveling west, collided with the Nissan's center back end. The Pontiac driver was stopped in traffic. The Nissan driver, a 19-year-old male with a permit license, was cited for driver inattention/distraction and following too closely. Both drivers were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The 53-year-old Pontiac driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash, while the Nissan driver sustained hip and upper leg injuries and whiplash. Neither occupant was ejected. The crash highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and unsafe following distance—as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - A sedan struck a 12-year-old girl crossing Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Driver inattention caused the crash. The girl suffered arm abrasions but stayed conscious. The impact came mid-block, far from safety.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old girl was injured when a sedan hit her as she crossed Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens at 16:10. The crash happened outside an intersection. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause. The girl suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She remained conscious after the impact. The sedan, a 2019 Nissan, was traveling east and struck her with its center front end. The driver was licensed and going straight. No pedestrian error or helmet use was listed as a factor. The report underscores the risk distracted drivers pose to people crossing city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765275 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 22-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries when an SUV struck her on Beach Channel Drive. The driver’s aggressive driving and road rage caused the collision. The pedestrian was conscious but sustained abrasions and serious injury.

According to the police report, a 2023 Jeep SUV traveling north on Beach Channel Drive struck a 22-year-old female pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, damaging the SUV’s center front end. The pedestrian, who was not in the roadway, sustained hip and upper leg injuries classified as severity level 3 and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly cites aggressive driving and road rage as the contributing factors to the crash, identifying these driver errors as the cause. The pedestrian’s actions or safety equipment were not listed as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by aggressive driving behaviors in Queens, resulting in serious harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764800 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 15 - SUV driver, distracted, crashed into a parked sedan on Beach 45. Both drivers suffered head bruises. Metal hit metal. No one ejected. Both men conscious. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, at 17:45 on Beach 45 Street, a Station Wagon/SUV traveling east struck a parked sedan. The SUV’s center front end hit the sedan’s left rear bumper. Both drivers, men aged 53 and 27, suffered head contusions and bruises. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The sedan was parked at the time of impact. No victim actions contributed. Both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash shows the risk when drivers lose focus, even for a moment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 9 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her lower leg and foot but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Beach 21 Street struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection near Cornaga Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, hit her with its left front bumper. The report cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The driver was licensed and operating a 2020 Toyota sedan. The collision highlights critical driver failures in yielding to pedestrians legally crossing the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 7 - A 59-year-old woman was injured crossing a marked crosswalk on Grassmere Terrace in Queens. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted, striking the pedestrian and causing abrasions to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, at 6:36 AM on Grassmere Terrace near Cornaga Avenue in Queens, a 59-year-old female pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk when she was struck by a northbound SUV. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The SUV, a 2020 Chevrolet SUV operated by a licensed female driver, showed no damage upon impact. The pedestrian's crossing without a signal was noted, but the primary causes were driver errors: failure to yield and distraction. No victim fault was recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761612 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 6 - Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive, glare burning through the windshield. A woman, 47, was pinned and crushed behind the wheel, her body shattered but her mind alert. Metal and sunlight conspired to trap her in agony.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 140th Street in Queens. The crash occurred in blinding sunlight, with 'glare' cited as a contributing factor. One SUV was making a left turn while the other traveled straight ahead. The report describes how a 47-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, was crushed behind the wheel, suffering injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious as she was trapped by the wreckage. The police report states that both drivers were licensed and that the blinding sun played a direct role in the collision. No specific driver error beyond the environmental condition of glare is listed in the official data. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - Sedan veered on Beach Channel Drive. Driver fell asleep. Car struck head-on. Nineteen-year-old woman in front seat suffered broken leg and foot. Impact was brutal. Passenger conscious, trapped by harm.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest on Beach Channel Drive in Queens crashed at 11:24 PM when the driver fell asleep. The front passenger, a 19-year-old woman, suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the sole contributing factor. No other causes or passenger actions are noted. The crash left the vehicle's front end mangled and the passenger seriously hurt. Driver fatigue stands out as the direct cause in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19