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 2025-11-02

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The driver fled. The man died at Jamaica Hospital. Police search for answers. Seventeen killed in Queens South this year. The toll climbs.

Gothamist (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th Street and South Conduit Avenue near JFK Airport at 2:30 a.m. The driver fled. Police said, "the driver hit the 52-year-old man as he crossed" and left the scene. No vehicle description was released. NYPD data shows 17 traffic deaths in Queens South this year, up from 13 last year. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers in the area.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - A speeding car tore through Astoria. The driver struck two men at a coffee cart. All three died. Parked cars blocked sightlines. The street was narrow. Danger came fast and left devastation.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-12) reports an 84-year-old driver sped onto 42nd Street in Astoria, hitting two pedestrians and a coffee cart. The crash killed the driver and both men. Streetsblog notes, 'The block has several auto repair shops that leave cars parked all over the sidewalk, limiting visibility.' The article highlights the city's power to lower speed limits to 20 mph, granted by the state legislature, but points out that local officials did not mention this in their initial responses. The crash underscores the risks of speeding and poor street design.

• Speeding Driver Kills Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

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 2025-11-02

Aug 8 - Flash floods swamped Cross Island Parkway. Leaders demanded flood signage and storm fixes. Signs may warn drivers but do little for pedestrians and cyclists. Only real infrastructure will cut the risks they face.

"called for city, state, and federal agencies to act and criticized the Trump administration for cutting federal funding for flood protection." -- John Liu

Action: infrastructure request (no bill number). Status: public call on August 8, 2025; not advanced to committee or vote. The matter was described as a "call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts." Queens Borough President Donovan J. Richards called signage a "small step" and "low-hanging fruit." Council Member Vickie Paladino urged signs to warn drivers unfamiliar with the area. State Sen. John Liu pressed city, state and federal agencies and criticized federal funding cuts. Safety analyst note: "Flood warning signage may help alert motorists but does little to address the underlying risks to pedestrians and cyclists... only comprehensive infrastructure improvements would yield significant safety benefits for vulnerable road users."

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

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 2025-11-02

Aug 1 - A teen drove a BMW at 100 mph without a license. He lost control. The car hit a truck. Fourteen-year-old Fortune Williams was ejected and killed. The driver now faces prison. Parents faced charges too.

Gothamist (2025-08-01) reports an 18-year-old Queens resident was sentenced to up to four years for a 2023 crash that killed 14-year-old Fortune Williams. The teen, unlicensed and speeding at over 100 mph in a 30-mph zone, lost control and struck a parked UPS truck. Prosecutors said he only had a learner's permit and had been previously ticketed for unlicensed driving. His parents, who gave him the BMW, were convicted of child endangerment. DA Melinda Katz called it 'a landmark case where both an unlicensed teenage driver and his parents were held responsible.' The case highlights failures in supervision and enforcement.

• Unlicensed Teen Driver Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-01

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.

• Everyone Wants to Fix 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

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 2025-11-02

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 2025-11-02

Jul 7 - Carlos Oliver, 15, fell from a train at Queensboro Plaza. Paramedics found him on the tracks. He died at Bellevue Hospital. Another teen fell last month. The rails remain deadly for the young.

NY Daily News reported on July 7, 2025, that Carlos Oliver, 15, died after falling from the top of a subway train at Queensboro Plaza in Queens. Police said it was unclear if he fell while climbing or lost balance as the train entered the station. The article notes, 'He was shy and quiet but at the end of the day he started hanging out with the wrong crowd.' Last month, another teen was critically injured in a similar incident. The report highlights ongoing risks for youth on city transit, but does not cite driver error. The incident underscores the dangers present in the subway system for young riders.

• Teen Dies Subway Surfing In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - BMW lost control, flew divider, struck two cars. Fire trapped five. Two critical. Belt Parkway shut. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-05), a 24-year-old BMW driver lost control near Cross Bay Blvd on the Belt Parkway. The car hit a divider, went airborne, and crashed into a Honda and a Hyundai. The article states, "their out-of-control luxury car vaulted into oncoming traffic... slamming into two unsuspecting motorists in a fiery crash." Two BMW occupants were critically injured; three others had minor injuries. Both drivers of the struck vehicles were hospitalized. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad closed the westbound lanes to probe the cause. The crash highlights the dangers of high-speed loss of control and the risk posed to all road users.

• BMW Vaults Divider, Slams Oncoming Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - A 15-year-old fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He lay on the tracks, lifeless. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Subway surfing kills. The city counts the bodies. The system endures.

NY Daily News (2025-07-04) reports a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. Police found him unconscious on the tracks at 2:45 a.m. and said he was 'either riding the top of a No. 7 train entering the station or attempting to get onto the top.' The article notes six people, mostly teens, died subway surfing last year. This year, three have died. The MTA and NYPD have launched campaigns and drone patrols to deter such incidents, but the deaths continue. No driver error is cited; the focus is on systemic risk and enforcement.

• Teen Dies Falling From Subway Train, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-04

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 2025-11-02

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 25 - Taxi and sedan slammed front to front on the Long Island Expressway. One driver suffered neck injury. Passengers shaken. Police list no clear cause.

A taxi and a sedan crashed head-on at the center front ends on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, a 45-year-old male driver suffered a neck injury, described as whiplash. A 35-year-old female passenger and two other occupants were listed with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling east. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17