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

Jan 12 - Steel buckled on Cross Bay Boulevard. A Chevy SUV, driver inattentive, rammed a stopped Jeep. The Jeep’s driver, thirty-four, strapped in, crushed and stunned, hurt everywhere. The crash left pain and shock in its wake.

A 2010 Chevy SUV struck a stopped Jeep from behind near 125th on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The report states that the Chevy SUV was 'going straight ahead' when it collided with the Jeep, which was 'stopped in traffic.' The impact crumpled steel and left the 34-year-old Jeep driver with crush injuries to his entire body. He was found in shock, still strapped in his seat. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the injured Jeep driver. The collision highlights the risks posed by distracted drivers to everyone on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 9 - A 51-year-old woman suffered facial abrasions after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Beach 90 Street. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without signal. The driver’s failure to yield caused the collision.

According to the police report, at 20:38 a sedan traveling east on Beach 90 Street made a left turn and struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without signal. The pedestrian was conscious and sustained abrasions to her face. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The pedestrian’s crossing without signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 7 - A 50-year-old woman crossing without signal was struck by a sedan backing up with limited visibility. The impact caused upper leg and hip injuries, leaving her in shock and pain. The driver’s obstructed view was a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south in Queens was backing up near Beach 129th Street at 16:21 when it struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and suffered upper leg and hip injuries, resulting in shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report identifies the driver’s failure to see the pedestrian due to a "View Obstructed/Limited" contributing factor. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian’s crossing without signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by limited driver visibility during backing maneuvers in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - A 38-year-old woman driving a sedan on Cross Bay Blvd suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The driver was conscious and restrained, sustaining moderate injury in a front-end collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens was involved in a crash at 18:41. The driver, a 38-year-old female occupant, was injured with back trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained center front-end damage. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver’s actions under the influence represent a critical element in the collision, underscoring the systemic danger posed by impaired driving. The report does not assign fault to any other party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789912 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 31 - Two sedans collided on Beach 47 St in Queens at 7:05 AM. An 87-year-old male driver was injured and shocked. The crash involved a westbound sedan going straight and an eastbound sedan making a left turn. Both vehicles sustained right-side damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:05 AM on Beach 47 St near Rockaway Fwy in Queens. A westbound 2006 Honda sedan was traveling straight ahead when it collided with an eastbound 2013 Honda sedan making a left turn. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the westbound vehicle and the right rear bumper of the eastbound vehicle. The 87-year-old male driver of the eastbound sedan was injured and experienced shock but was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782920 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 30 - A 71-year-old woman, turning east on Rockaway Freeway, crashed her Mazda. Distraction behind the wheel. The right front struck hard. Her leg split open. Blood ran. The airbag burst. She stayed awake in the sudden quiet.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2023 Mazda sedan eastbound on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41st Street in Queens when she crashed while making a right turn. The report states the vehicle struck hard at the right front bumper, causing severe bleeding and a significant leg injury to the driver. The airbag deployed. The driver remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor leading to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The report underscores the consequences of driver distraction, which resulted in serious injury and a violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - Two sedans collided at Beach 116 Street in Queens. A male driver turning left suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 23:07 on Beach 116 Street in Queens. One sedan was traveling east, going straight. The other, heading west, was making a left turn. The impact struck the center front end of the eastbound car and the right front quarter panel of the westbound car. The male driver making the left turn was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite explicit driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 26 - Steel met skull on Beach 116th. A sedan reversed. A 79-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car. He fell, head torn open, blood pooling on cold Queens pavement. The car showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and alone.

A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations when a sedan reversed and struck him near Beach 116th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man 'stepped from behind a parked car.' The report states the sedan was 'backing unsafely,' directly citing this driver action as a contributing factor. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. He fell. Blood spread on the cold street.' Despite the impact, the vehicle showed 'no damage.' The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene, his 'head torn open.' The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe reversing maneuver by the driver. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed when drivers back unsafely, especially in areas with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 21 - A sedan collided head-on with a bicyclist traveling west on Newport Avenue in Queens. The 36-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided at the center front ends on Newport Avenue near Beach 121 Street in Queens at 7:40 p.m. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old male, was riding westbound and was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, classified as injury severity level 3. The cyclist was not ejected but experienced shock and complained of pain or nausea. The report notes the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan sustained other damage to its front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, providing no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights systemic dangers for vulnerable road users where driver errors remain unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A southbound SUV struck the left rear bumper of a stopped sedan on Beach Channel Drive. An 8-year-old girl in the sedan’s right rear seat suffered head injuries and whiplash. Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 14:17 on Beach Channel Drive in Queens, a station wagon/SUV traveling south collided with the left rear bumper of a stopped sedan. The SUV driver, licensed in Illinois, was going straight ahead when the impact occurred. The sedan, carrying five occupants, was stopped in traffic. The collision caused injuries to an 8-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear passenger position of the sedan. She sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, indicating driver impairment played a role. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by impaired driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780386 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 18 - An 18-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck at an intersection on Beach 101 Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a Ford sedan making a right turn hit him, causing shock and serious injury.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Beach 101 Street and Beach Channel Drive in Queens at 8:10 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a Ford sedan making a right turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver, but the collision occurred during the vehicle's right turn maneuver. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or other violations are explicitly cited in the data. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Council bill Intro 103 forces DOT to notify members for every parking change. Critics say it slows life-saving street redesigns. Advocates warn it props up car culture and blocks safer bike lanes. The bill risks more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings.

Intro 103, now before the City Council, would require the Department of Transportation to notify Council members every time a single parking spot is repurposed—for car-share, bike corrals, or Citi Bike docks. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Joann Ariola, claims residents need notice before losing parking. But DOT and street safety advocates slam the measure as a bureaucratic drag on urgent safety fixes. Council Member Lincoln Restler calls it 'additional hoops and hurdles' for street safety. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso says, 'I don’t know why we entertain any effort to stop or slow-roll safe street design.' Open Plans and StreetsPAC argue the bill props up car dominance and blocks safer, more sustainable streets. The bill could make it harder to move bike infrastructure off sidewalks, risking more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings for pedestrians. Similar bills (Intro 606, Intro 104) face the same criticism.

• Council Members Want To Be Notified When City Repurposes ‘Their’ Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 18 - MTA unveiled its final Queens bus overhaul. Seventeen new routes, more frequent service, but cuts on 29 lines. Rush routes aim to speed riders to trains. Public feedback starts January. MTA Board votes in winter. Rollout set for summer 2025.

The MTA announced its final Queens bus network redesign on December 18, 2024. The plan, now entering its last public feedback phase, will be reviewed by the MTA Board in early winter 2025 and implemented by late summer. The proposal includes over $30 million in new funding, 17 new local routes, and increased frequency for 17 lines, but also service reductions on 29 routes. The main highlight is the introduction of 'rush' routes to connect riders to rail faster. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'Every change to a route has an impact on the schedule... and we did it.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards voiced support, stating, 'I'm ready. We're ready.' The process began in 2019 and was shaped by extensive community input. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• The Queens Bus Redesign Is Finished. Probably, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Nov 30 - Two sedans collided on Beach 128 St in Queens under conditions of glare and limited visibility. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved a westbound sedan striking a southbound sedan making a left turn, damaging both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:07 AM on Beach 128 St in Queens. A westbound sedan driven by a 63-year-old man was traveling straight when it collided with a southbound sedan making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the westbound vehicle and the right side doors of the southbound vehicle. The report cites 'Glare' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, indicating driver visibility issues. The male driver of the westbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, was conscious, and was wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by environmental conditions impairing driver sight and decision-making.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 29 - Two sedans collided at unsafe speed in Queens. A 17-year-old front passenger suffered bruises and arm injuries. Impact struck both cars’ front ends. Driver’s speed triggered the crash. Streets turned violent in a blink.

According to the police report, two sedans collided near 29-03 Falcon Ave in Queens at 13:12. The crash left a 17-year-old male front passenger injured, with contusions and trauma to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as the contributing factor, pointing to driver error in controlling the vehicle. Both vehicles sustained center front-end damage. One sedan was parked, the other moved straight ahead before impact. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted. The injured passenger was conscious and not ejected. This crash shows the harm caused when drivers ignore speed limits on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19