Crash Count for Queens CB81
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 960
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 806
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 138
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 8
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 5
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025
Carnage in CB 481
Killed 5
+1
Amputation 1
Shoulder/upper arm 1
Severe Bleeding 3
Head 3
Severe Lacerations 2
Head 1
Lower leg/foot 1
Concussion 1
Head 1
Whiplash 33
Neck 19
+14
Back 7
+2
Head 4
Whole body 4
Shoulder/upper arm 2
Contusion/Bruise 13
Head 4
Shoulder/upper arm 3
Hip/upper leg 2
Lower leg/foot 2
Back 1
Lower arm/hand 1
Neck 1
Abrasion 10
Head 2
Shoulder/upper arm 2
Whole body 2
Back 1
Face 1
Lower arm/hand 1
Neck 1
Pain/Nausea 9
Lower leg/foot 4
Neck 3
Back 2
Head 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Queens CB81?

Afternoon death by the tennis center, and a clock that will not stop

Afternoon death by the tennis center, and a clock that will not stop

Queens CB81: Jan 1, 2022 - Sep 10, 2025

Just after 4 PM on Aug 23, by United Nations Ave S in Flushing Meadows, a driver in a Ford sedan hit a person outside an intersection. Police recorded driver inattention. The pedestrian died (NYC Open Data).

They were one of 4 people killed in Queens CB81 since Jan 1, 2022, in a total of 946 crashes that hurt 799 people and left 8 seriously injured (NYC Open Data).

This Week

  • Aug 23: a driver killed a pedestrian near United Nations Ave S; police cited inattention (NYC Open Data).
  • Aug 9: two sedans collided on Shea Road, per city data (NYC Open Data).
  • Aug 1: a pickup rear‑ended a sedan on the parkway, per city data (NYC Open Data).

Deadly patterns, same places

  • Police logged two deaths at “14 United Nations Ave S,” the same stretch where last month’s fatal crash occurred (NYC Open Data). Roosevelt Avenue shows 13 injuries and two serious injuries. Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck, and the Long Island Expressway rack up the bulk of injuries, mostly to vehicle occupants, but people walking and biking are not spared here.
  • In this area, pedestrians account for 3 of the deaths and 20 injuries since 2022. Cyclists were recorded in 10 crashes with 2 serious injuries (NYC Open Data).
  • Police cite failure to yield and driver inattention in this district’s injury crashes. In the Aug 23 death, they recorded driver inattention by the person behind the wheel (NYC Open Data).
  • The clock is not kind. Deaths appear around midnight, late morning, and late afternoon in the dataset’s hourly log (NYC Open Data).

No safe hour on the parkways

  • A 41‑year‑old man died on the Van Wyck Expressway on Dec 3, 2024. He was a pedestrian, recorded as outside an intersection (NYC Open Data).
  • A right‑turning sedan driver injured a 24‑year‑old man crossing at Seaver Way and Northern Blvd on Jul 20, 2025. Police recorded failure to yield and inattention (NYC Open Data).
  • A cyclist was hurt on the Van Wyck on Jul 4, 2024. Police noted driver inattention in that crash as well (NYC Open Data).

What leaders have done — and what they have not

  • State Sen. John Liu co‑sponsored and voted yes on the state’s speed‑limiter bill S 4045 in June 2025, aimed at repeat speeders (Open States).
  • Council Member James F. Gennaro and Assembly Member Sam Berger represent this area. The city can lower speeds on local streets; New Yorkers are already pushing for a 20 MPH default and tools to stop repeat speeders. The steps are laid out here.

Make the fixes where people get hit

  • Daylight corners on Roosevelt Avenue. Give pedestrians a head start and harden the turns.
  • On Seaver Way at Northern Blvd, protect the crossing and slow the turning lane.
  • Around United Nations Ave S and inside the park, mark slow zones, post daylighting, and enforce yielding to people on foot.

A driver looked away, and a person died on a bright afternoon. The names change. The corners don’t. The next step is simple: slow the city and stop the worst repeat speeders. Start here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What area does this story cover?
Queens Community Board 81, which includes Flushing Meadows‑Corona Park and overlaps Council Districts 21 and 24, Assembly Districts 27 and 35, and State Senate Districts 11, 13, 14, and 16.
How many people have been killed or injured here since 2022?
From Jan 1, 2022 through Sep 10, 2025, crashes recorded in CB81 killed 4 people and injured 799, with 8 serious injuries. Pedestrians account for 3 deaths and 20 injuries. Source: NYC Open Data motor vehicle collision datasets.
Where are the hotspots?
Roosevelt Avenue shows high injuries, including two serious injuries. The dataset also logs two deaths near “14 United Nations Ave S.” Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck, and the LIE carry many crashes as well. Source: NYC Open Data.
What is CrashCount?
We’re a tool for helping hold local politicians and other actors accountable for their failure to protect you when you’re walking or cycling in NYC. We update our site constantly to provide you with up to date information on what’s happening in your neighborhood.
How were these numbers calculated?
We analyzed NYC Open Data’s Motor Vehicle Collisions datasets (Crashes, Persons, Vehicles) for Jan 1, 2022–Sep 10, 2025, filtered to Queens Community Board 81. We counted people killed, injured, and seriously injured across all modes, and noted pedestrian and cyclist subsets and location clusters. Data last accessed Sep 10, 2025. You can explore the datasets starting here.

Citations

Citations
  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – Crashes - Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-10
  • File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Other Representatives

Assembly Member Sam Berger

District 27

Twitter: @SamBergerNY

Council Member James F. Gennaro

District 24

State Senator John Liu

District 16

Other Geographies

Queens CB81 Queens Community Board 81 sits in Queens, Precinct 110, District 24, AD 27, SD 16.

It contains Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Queens Community Board 81

8
Motorcyclist Killed on Southbound Van Wyck Expressway

Sep 8 - A 40-year-old motorcyclist crashed on the southbound Van Wyck. He was ejected and died of crush injuries. Police recorded no contributing factor. No other vehicles listed.

A 40-year-old man driving a 2024 BMW motorcycle crashed on the southbound Van Wyck Expressway. He was ejected and killed from crush injuries. "According to the police report …" the crash happened at 3:44 p.m. on the expressway. Police documented center back-end damage to the motorcycle and a left-rear point of impact. No other vehicles were listed in the report. Contributing factors were recorded as "Unspecified" for the driver and vehicle. The report offers no driver errors to explain the impact, only the fatal outcome and the damaged rear of the bike.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
7
Alcohol-linked turn injures motorized rider on 111 St

Sep 7 - On 111 St at 46 Ave, a sedan driver turned left as an other‑motorized rider made a U‑turn. They collided. The rider, 21, suffered a leg injury and appeared incoherent. Police recorded alcohol involvement for both drivers.

At 10:36 p.m. on 111 St at 46 Ave in Queens, a driver in a Nissan sedan turned left while a man on an other motorized device attempted a U-turn. The two vehicles collided. The rider, 21, suffered a knee and lower-leg injury and was listed as incoherent at the scene. The sedan’s right rear bumper was damaged; the other device showed front-end damage. According to the police report, “Alcohol Involvement” was recorded as a contributing factor for both drivers. The report lists both maneuvers — a left turn and a U-turn — immediately before impact.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
7
Driver Rear-Ends Mercedes on Van Wyck; Child Hurt

Sep 7 - On the Van Wyck, a driver hit a Mercedes from behind. The car was going straight. A 7-year-old passenger suffered a hip and leg injury. The 37-year-old woman driving was injured. Another occupant was listed with an unspecified injury.

A rear-end crash on the Van Wyck Expressway injured a child and a driver. The driver of a Mercedes sedan was going straight southwest when another driver hit the car’s center back end, damaging the right rear bumper. A 7-year-old boy in the car suffered a hip and upper leg injury. The 37-year-old woman driving reported internal injuries. Another 37-year-old female occupant was listed with an unspecified injury. According to the police report, no contributing factor was recorded. Police did not record failure to yield, distraction, or speeding by any driver.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
7
Distracted Driver Crashes Sedan on Van Wyck

Sep 7 - A southbound driver crashed a sedan on the Van Wyck Expressway. A 22-year-old passenger was unconscious. The 22-year-old driver reported back pain. Police recorded driver inattention. Other passengers were listed with unspecified injuries.

A southbound driver crashed a sedan on the Van Wyck Expressway in New York City. The car was recorded as going straight ahead before impact. The point of impact and damage were at the left front quarter panel. A 22-year-old male passenger was injured and listed as unconscious. The 22-year-old male driver was injured and reported back pain. Two other passengers, ages 21 and 22, were listed with unspecified injury status. The vehicle record lists five occupants. According to the police report, police recorded driver inattention/distraction as a contributing factor. That factor was also logged for the driver and passengers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in this crash.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
23
Distracted driver kills pedestrian in Queens

Aug 23 - A westbound Ford sedan struck a man outside the crosswalk on United Nations Ave S. The left front bumper hit. The impact killed him. Police cited driver inattention. The street took the blow. The walker paid the price.

A westbound 2015 Ford sedan going straight struck a male pedestrian outside an intersection on United Nations Ave S in Queens, causing fatal injuries. According to the police report, the primary factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” The vehicle’s left front bumper was the point of impact, and damage matched that area. Listed driver errors include Driver Inattention/Distraction by the motorist. No pedestrian errors are cited as contributing factors. No helmet or signal issues are reported. The crash left one pedestrian dead; two vehicle occupants reported unspecified injuries. The driver was licensed and traveling west. The data do not indicate any other contributing factors or maneuvers.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
13
Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK

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.


12
Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two

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.


11
Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock

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.


9
Two Sedans Collide on Shea Road

Aug 9 - Two sedans collided on Shea Road at Meridian Road. Six people were injured, including two 13-year-old boys and a 57-year-old woman. Police recorded 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Front ends collided. Air bags deployed; passengers reported pain and bruises.

A driver in a NJ-registered sedan was traveling east on Shea Road and a driver in a NY-registered sedan was making a left turn. The drivers collided head-on at the intersection. Six people were injured, including two 13-year-old boys with chest injuries and a 57-year-old woman with leg trauma; a 33-year-old male driver suffered a shoulder/upper-arm contusion. According to the police report, the crash involved "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and lists driver inattention/distraction among contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage and air bags deployed. Police recorded the driver errors as the primary contributing factors.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834163 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
8
Liu Faults Trump Administration Urges Safety‑Boosting Flood Fixes

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.

"Just as Queens was about to get hundreds of millions of dollars in the federal infrastructure plan to address some of the severe flooding issues right here in Queens, the Trump administration yanked it, revoked that funding, and this is what we’re going to have to be faced with even more." -- John Liu

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.


3
Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes

Aug 3 - A driver struck an e-bike rider in Queens. A scooter rider crashed in Brooklyn. Both died. Streets claimed them. Police investigate. Lives ended fast. Metal and speed left no room for error.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports two fatal e-vehicle crashes. On July 31, a 62-year-old Nissan Rogue driver hit Zhao Feng Zhen, 55, on Hollis Court Blvd in Queens. The driver remained at the scene; police continue to investigate. On July 12, Eusebio Quinones, 60, lost control of his electric scooter on Union Ave in Brooklyn and died from his injuries days later. The article notes, 'police are still investigating the crash.' These deaths highlight ongoing risks for vulnerable road users on city streets.


1
Pickup Driver Rear-Ends Sedan on Parkway

Aug 1 - The driver of a pickup truck rear-ended a sedan on Grand Central Parkway near Jewel Avenue. A 28-year-old front passenger suffered internal abdomen and pelvis injuries. Police recorded driver inattention as a contributing factor.

The driver of a Ford pickup truck struck the right rear bumper of an eastbound Nissan sedan with the pickup's left front bumper on Grand Central Parkway near Jewel Avenue. A 28-year-old female front passenger suffered internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Both drivers and other occupants were listed as uninjured. Police noted both vehicles were traveling straight at the time of impact. The sedan sustained center back end damage; the truck sustained center front end damage.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
1
Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.


29
John Liu Mentions Safety-Boosting 14th Street Redesign Study

Jul 29 - City and business leaders back a $3 million study to overhaul 14th Street. The plan aims to carve out space for walkers, bikers, and buses. Cars lose ground. Streets grow safer. The city bets on change.

On July 29, 2025, Christopher Bonanos reported a sweeping proposal to remake 14th Street. No council bill number or committee is listed. The Adams administration, local BIDs, and the NYC Economic Development Corporation pledged $3 million for a 24-month study. The plan, described as 'transformative' and 'generational,' aims to create a 'complete street' for pedestrians, cyclists, delivery workers, and transit. Mayor Eric Adams and city officials support the move. According to safety analysts, such overhauls, especially when led by city and business groups, often yield safer, more equitable streets for vulnerable users.


20
Driver Turns Right, Hits Pedestrian on Northern Blvd

Jul 20 - A driver turning right on Northern Blvd struck a 24-year-old man at the Seaver Way intersection. He suffered contusions to his knee, lower leg and foot. Police recorded failure to yield and driver inattention.

A sedan making a right turn on Northern Blvd struck a 24-year-old male pedestrian at the Seaver Way intersection. He was conscious and treated for contusions to his knee, lower leg and foot. "According to the police report, the driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive." The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan's left front bumper was the point of impact. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound at the time of the crash. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
18
SUV Driver Changes Lanes, Hits Motorcycle

Jul 18 - A driver in an SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway and struck a motorcycle rider. The 33-year-old rider suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe lane changing.

A driver in an SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway and struck a motorcycle traveling straight west. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' contributed to the collision. Police recorded the SUV's pre-crash action as 'Changing Lanes' and the motorcycle's as 'Going Straight Ahead.' The SUV's right rear bumper impacted the motorcycle's center front end. No pedestrians were involved; the report lists the rider's injury as crush injuries to the entire body.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
9
E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.


7
BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.


4
Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car
1
Rear-End Crash Injures Three on Van Wyck Exit

Jul 1 - A sedan slammed into another car’s rear on Van Wyck Expressway. Three passengers, including a baby, suffered injuries. Police cite following too closely as the cause.

A sedan rear-ended another vehicle on the Van Wyck Expressway northbound exit 10, near Jackie Robinson Parkway. Three passengers were injured: a 71-year-old woman, a baby boy, and a 34-year-old woman driving. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The impact struck the center back end of the lead car. All injured persons were in shock, and one suffered a neck injury. The report lists no other contributing factors. The data shows the danger of tailgating on city expressways.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18