Staten Island Streets Bleed—Leaders Stall, Kids Die

A 26-year-old man walking off the roadway suffered knee and lower leg injuries when a vehicle struck him head-on. The crash happened at night. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. The pedestrian was left bleeding and in shock.

According to the police report, at 8:05 p.m., a vehicle traveling west struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian who was not in the roadway and not at an intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with minor bleeding and was in shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. No other vehicle or pedestrian errors were noted. The vehicle had no occupants other than the driver, and no further details on the vehicle type or driver were provided. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving even when pedestrians are outside the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An e-scooter driver on Richmond Terrace suffered facial injuries after a collision caused by improper passing or lane usage. The 61-year-old man was ejected and sustained bruises. The crash highlights dangerous driver errors on Staten Island streets.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash on Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, at 6:33 a.m. The report states the driver was ejected and suffered contusions and bruises to the face. The primary contributing factor cited is "Passing or Lane Usage Improper," indicating a driver error involving unsafe maneuvering or lane violation. The vehicle, an e-scooter traveling east and going straight ahead, sustained damage to the center front end. The driver was licensed in New Jersey and was the sole occupant. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash underscores the systemic dangers posed by improper lane usage and passing maneuvers involving vulnerable road users like e-scooter riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck Chaosheng Wu, 80, as he crossed Hylan Boulevard. He died at the hospital. The driver stayed. Police probe speed and signals. Dongan Hills mourns its first traffic death of the year. The street remains dangerous.

Gothamist reported on March 10, 2025, that an 80-year-old man, Chaosheng Wu, was killed crossing Hylan Boulevard at Benton Avenue in Staten Island. The crash happened at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Police said a 65-year-old woman driving a 2008 Ford Edge hit Wu as he crossed from the east. Wu was pronounced dead at Staten Island University North Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. Police are 'still investigating how fast the woman was driving and what the traffic signals at the intersection were displaying at the time.' Wu's death marks the first traffic fatality this year in the 122nd Precinct. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians on busy city streets.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed on Hylan Boulevard, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-10

Two sedans collided on Staten Island Expressway. Rear car struck the lead. A 51-year-old woman suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite following too closely. One driver hurt. Metal and pain on the highway.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on the Staten Island Expressway at 15:18. The rear sedan hit the right rear bumper of the lead car. A 51-year-old female driver was injured with neck pain and whiplash but stayed conscious. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the main cause. Both drivers were licensed and headed west. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim actions appear in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep turned left on Victory Blvd as a moped passed west. Metal screamed. A 12-year-old boy clung outside, helmetless. He struck pavement hard, his leg split open. He lay semiconscious beside the crushed moped.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV was making a left turn near 2084 Victory Blvd while a moped traveled west, attempting to pass. The crash's contributing factor is listed as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The report states: 'A Jeep turned left. A moped passed west. Metal screamed.' A 12-year-old boy, riding outside the moped without a helmet, was thrown to the pavement, suffering a severe leg laceration and lying semiconscious at the scene. The moped was described as 'crushed.' The report highlights driver errors—improper lane usage during passing and the Jeep's left turn—as the cause. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision's violence and injuries underscore the dangers posed by driver mistakes and systemic traffic risks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A female SUV driver rear-ended a sedan while passing on Vanderbilt Avenue. The collision caused upper arm injuries and shock. Police cite driver inexperience and following too closely as key factors in the crash’s impact and injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:34 AM on Vanderbilt Avenue in Staten Island. A 45-year-old female driver of a 2021 Jeep SUV was passing westbound when she struck a 2006 Toyota sedan making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front quarter panel and the sedan’s right front bumper. The SUV driver suffered an upper arm injury and was in shock, restrained by a lap belt. Police identified 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' but does not attribute fault to any pedestrian or cyclist. The SUV driver’s errors in judgment and close following led directly to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796591 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 42-year-old man suffered neck injuries and shock after a sedan struck him at an intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Victory Blvd and Bay St at 10:53. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2015 Honda sedan, driven by an unlicensed female driver traveling east and making a left turn, struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained neck injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The driver’s unlicensed status and failure to yield created the conditions for this collision. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause serious injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796295 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight truck crossings on the BQE by 60%. Councilmember Lincoln Restler backs the tech and calls for state lawmakers to extend the program. The city wants expansion before the enabling law expires. DOT hails the results.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) urged state lawmakers to extend the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, overweight truck crossings on the Queens-bound BQE dropped from 7,920 daily to about 3,041 per month—a 60% reduction. The sensors are set to expand to the Staten Island-bound side this year. Restler said, "Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE." The Department of Transportation and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised the program's impact and called it a potential national model. With the authorizing law set to expire, city officials are pressing Albany to extend and expand the program.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-04

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight trucks on the BQE by 60%. City officials want Albany to extend the program. Councilmember Restler and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez call for more enforcement. The tech fines violators, cuts danger, and protects crumbling roads.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez urged state lawmakers to extend and expand the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, 'Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE.' Restler said he hopes for similar results on the Staten Island-bound lanes. The bill authorizing the program is set to expire, prompting calls for urgent legislative action. Rodriguez called the technology a 'national model.' Lawmakers want to expand the system to other sites, including the Washington Bridge. The crackdown aims to reduce illegal truck loads, which threaten road safety and infrastructure.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, amny.com, Published 2025-03-04

Two sedans collided head-on on Delafield Avenue, Staten Island. A 21-year-old woman suffered a deep head wound but remained conscious. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Metal folded inward, showing the violent impact of the crash.

According to the police report, at 10:30 a.m. near Delafield Avenue and Raymond Place in Staten Island, two sedans collided head-on. The impact caused severe front-end damage to both vehicles. A 21-year-old female driver was injured with a deep head laceration but remained conscious and was wearing a seatbelt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The narrative states, 'She had looked away. The street did not.' This highlights the critical role of driver distraction in causing the violent collision. No other contributing factors were noted for the victim. The crash left metal folded inward and a young driver injured, underscoring the dangers of inattention behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 26-year-old man making a left turn on Wilcox St collided with a parked sedan. The impact caused head injuries and whiplash. Driver inattention and distraction were cited as the primary contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, at 3:52 AM on Wilcox St near Bruckner Ave, a 26-year-old male driver, restrained by a lap belt, was making a left turn when his sedan struck the left front bumper of a parked sedan. The driver sustained head injuries and whiplash, resulting in shock. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the driver’s failure to maintain focus led to the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The parked vehicle was damaged on its left front quarter panel. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during maneuvers like left turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Vanderbilt Avenue’s open street shrinks. Organizers slash car-free days to Saturdays only, May through September. City funding falls short. Community leaders call the cuts a blow to safety, commerce, and public space. Cars reclaim ground. Pedestrians and cyclists lose out.

On February 28, 2025, organizers announced another reduction to the Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street program. The change, reported by Streetsblog NYC, limits car-free hours to Saturdays only from May to September—a 50 percent cut from last year’s already reduced schedule. The program, once a weekend staple from spring to fall, now faces its smallest footprint yet. Alex Morano, a volunteer organizer, called the rollback 'really unfortunate,' stressing the street’s value to the neighborhood. Saskia Haegens, Chair of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Corporation, urged full city funding, saying the program is 'transformative.' Organizers blame insufficient city support, with less than half the cost covered this year. The Department of Transportation claims $10 million in annual support and promises a permanent redesign, but for now, cars win back space. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, families—lose a vital refuge.

• Vanderbilt Ave. Open Street Trims Hours For Second Straight Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-28

The U.S. DOT erased its Complete Streets page days after Trump took office. The page held decades of safety guides for bike lanes and sidewalks. Its loss leaves local officials stranded. Advocates say the purge makes streets deadlier for those on foot or bike.

On February 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation removed the Complete Streets webpage, a federal resource for safer street design. The action followed President Trump’s inauguration. The page, described as 'not political but focused on safety and access for all road users,' offered technical guides for bike lanes and sidewalks. Its deletion, reported by Streetsblog NYC, is seen as part of a broader purge of diversity and environmental initiatives. Heidi Simon, a leading advocate, said, 'It's disheartening to know that there are people in the trenches at the local and state level who relied on these resources to get their jobs done, and their jobs just got made harder.' The loss scatters vital research, making it harder for cities—especially smaller ones—to build safer streets. No federal official commented on the removal.

• ‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Falls Prey To Trump Purge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-24

Sedan struck pick-up truck on Van Duzer Street. Alcohol played a role. Female truck driver suffered neck injury and whiplash. Both vehicles headed south. Impact hit truck’s rear, sedan’s front.

According to the police report, a sedan and a pick-up truck collided on Van Duzer Street, Staten Island, at 20:53. Both vehicles were traveling south. The female driver of the pick-up truck, age 29, suffered neck pain and whiplash. She remained conscious. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the truck’s center back end. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. No victim actions are listed as contributing factors. The police report focuses on alcohol involvement as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-on on South Ave. One vehicle was making a left turn while the other traveled straight north. A front passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash, left in shock. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:10 on South Ave involving two sedans. One sedan was traveling north going straight ahead, while the other was making a left turn. Both vehicles impacted at their center front ends, causing significant damage. A 45-year-old male front passenger in the sedan making the left turn was injured, sustaining head injuries and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. The passenger was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The focus remains on the collision between the two vehicles and the resulting passenger injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 61-year-old woman driving a sedan on Daniel Low Terrace suffered an elbow injury after a front-end collision. According to the police report, driver inattention caused the crash. The driver was incoherent but not ejected, wearing a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old female driver traveling northbound on Daniel Low Terrace in Staten Island was involved in a collision at 17:22. The vehicle, a 2022 Honda sedan, sustained center front-end damage. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt. She suffered an injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3, and was incoherent at the scene. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, explicitly pointing to driver error. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver was not ejected from the vehicle and did not report visible complaints. This crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to self-injury in single-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Eight people hurt in an SUV on Victory Blvd. Driver distracted. Whiplash, bruises, pain. Center front end smashed. All conscious. System failed them. Inattention behind the wheel did the damage.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old woman driving a 2020 Chevrolet SUV made a right turn on Victory Blvd in Staten Island at 9:36 AM. The SUV struck with its center front end. Eight occupants, ages 20 to 75, were injured. Injuries included whiplash, contusions, and upper arm trauma. All were conscious and restrained. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. No errors are attributed to passengers. The crash shows how a moment of driver distraction can harm many at once.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a bicyclist traveling north, causing the rider to be partially ejected and suffer a shoulder contusion. The crash occurred at Post Avenue, with driver inattention cited as the primary cause. The bicyclist remained conscious despite injuries.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided near 910 Post Avenue. The bicyclist, a 47-year-old male, was partially ejected from his bike and sustained an upper arm and shoulder contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, was initially parked before the crash and sustained damage to its left side doors at the point of impact. The bicycle's front center end was damaged. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash, highlighting the sedan driver's failure to maintain attention. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene, but no safety equipment was reported. This collision underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794515 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Gov. Hochul faces pressure to let New York City charge for residential street parking. The plan targets illegal registrations, raises MTA funds, and could cut traffic. Critics say current rules reward fraud and endanger cyclists. Reform means fewer cars, safer streets.

On February 20, 2025, an editorial published by Streetsblog NYC called for Governor Hochul and state leaders to grant New York City the authority to create citywide, resident-only parking zones. The piece, titled 'Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform,' argues, 'With permission from the state, New York City could enact a citywide, resident-only parking system. Non-residents needn’t be banned from parking here, just charged for it, with the money going to the MTA.' The editorial highlights rampant illegal vehicle registrations and the dangers they pose, including uninsured cars and increased risk for cyclists. The proposal urges charging both residents and visitors for parking, with higher rates in dense, wealthy areas. The plan aims to reduce congestion, generate MTA revenue, and reclaim curb space for safer uses. No council member is directly named, as this is an opinion piece, but the call is clear: state action is needed to protect vulnerable road users and restore trust in public space management.

• Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-20

Two sedans collided on Brighton Avenue in Staten Island. The rear passenger in the struck vehicle suffered a back injury. The crash resulted from driver inattention, causing impact to the center back end of one sedan and the center front end of the other.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:40 on Brighton Avenue in Staten Island involving two sedans traveling eastbound. The collision was a rear-end impact, with the striking vehicle hitting the center back end of the leading sedan. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. A 34-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear passenger position of the struck vehicle sustained a back injury classified as severity level 3. She was conscious, not ejected, and restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles straight ahead at the time of impact. The evidence points to driver error in maintaining attention, leading to the collision and injury to the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04