Staten Island Streets Bleed—Leaders Stall, Kids Die

SUV driver lost consciousness on Forest Ave. Crashed into a parked SUV. Driver suffered head injury. Prescription medication listed as cause. Streets stayed dangerous. No one else hurt.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man driving a 2019 Buick SUV east on Forest Ave lost consciousness, then struck a parked 2012 Dodge SUV. The crash happened at 11:40 in Staten Island. The driver was restrained and suffered a head contusion. The report lists 'Prescription Medication' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. No other injuries or driver errors were reported. No mention of helmet or signal use. Only the driver was hurt. The parked vehicle was unoccupied.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779428 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Gov. Hochul hid her public schedule for months when she killed congestion pricing. Repeated records requests hit a wall. Advocates and legal experts say the secrecy blocks vital scrutiny. New Yorkers are left in the dark as drivers keep clogging city streets.

On December 16, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office refused to release her daily schedule for April, May, and June—the months when she halted congestion pricing. Streetsblog filed two Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests (R001199-062024 and R001389-102924), both denied or delayed without reason. The matter centers on the governor's decision to 'pause congestion pricing,' a move that impacts every New Yorker who walks, bikes, or rides transit. Heather Murray of Cornell Law School called the delay 'unconscionable,' saying, 'Delaying release of these records for six months is tantamount to denial of the request and violates the Freedom of Information Law.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance urged Hochul to 'level with New Yorkers.' The governor's secrecy shields her from accountability as city streets remain dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Gov. Hochul Won’t Reveal Public Schedule For Period When She Flopped on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-16

A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

A van veered into three parked sedans on Hatfield Place. Metal screamed. A 6-year-old girl in the front seat took the blow. Blood ran from her head. She stayed conscious. The driver was distracted. The street fell silent.

According to the police report, a Ford van traveling straight ahead near 170 Hatfield Place veered into three parked sedans. The report states, 'A van veered into three parked sedans. A 6-year-old girl in the front seat took the hit. The airbag burst. Her head bled. She stayed awake. The driver was distracted.' The crash occurred at 12:59 p.m. The police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The young passenger, seated in the front, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The van's impact struck the parked vehicles, all unoccupied at the time. The report makes clear: driver distraction led to the collision and the child's injuries. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

The Hudson River Greenway uptown reopens next week after months of sinkhole repairs. The fix is temporary. Cyclists and pedestrians face the same dangers. Advocates demand a highway lane for bikes. The city delays. The threat remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On December 13, 2024, officials announced the reopening of the Hudson River Greenway between W. 181st and Dyckman streets after months of repairs. The Parks Department said, 'While durable repairs have been made, efforts are ongoing to address underlying challenges and create a stronger, safer greenway for New Yorkers.' The path, north of the George Washington Bridge, has collapsed twice in two years. Advocates like Allegra LeGrande and Ira Gershenhorn, along with former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz, urge the city to convert a Henry Hudson Parkway lane into a protected bike path. They call this 'low-hanging fruit.' Instead, the city has forced cyclists onto dangerous, unprotected detours. The city’s refusal to provide a safe, direct route exposes vulnerable road users to ongoing harm. No council bill number applies; this is an urgent matter of infrastructure and safety, not legislation.

• Patch Job: Hudson River Greenway Uptown Returns Next Week, For Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-13

A sedan making a left turn struck an 80-year-old pedestrian crossing Jewett Ave outside a crosswalk. The impact caused a hip and upper leg injury, leaving the man bruised but conscious. Driver error in turning led to the collision.

According to the police report, at 19:50 a 2013 Kia sedan traveling north on Jewett Ave was making a left turn when it struck an 80-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver but notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The collision resulted from the vehicle's left turn maneuver intersecting with the pedestrian's path. No driver license issues were reported. The data highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians crossing mid-block.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a parked garbage truck’s rear. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, suffered head injuries. She was semiconscious, in pain, and nauseous. Police cite unspecified driver factors. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 2024 sedan driven by a 27-year-old woman struck the right rear bumper of a parked 2019 garbage truck on Andros Avenue, Staten Island. The sedan’s left front bumper took the impact. The driver was semiconscious with head injuries, pain, and nausea. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The garbage truck was stationary before the crash. The collision underscores the risks when moving vehicles strike parked trucks, especially when driver errors are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans smashed head-on on Forest Ave. A 79-year-old driver took a blow to the head and suffered whiplash. Metal twisted. Airbags burst. The street stayed silent. No pedestrians or cyclists caught in the wreck.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on at 7:09 on Forest Ave near Lake Ave. One sedan, a 2019 Honda, was making a left turn. The other, a 2014 Honda, was heading straight west. The impact crushed the front ends of both cars. A 79-year-old male driver was injured, suffering head trauma and whiplash. Airbags deployed and a lap belt held him in place. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, noting driver errors without detail. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a 17-year-old girl on Gordon Street. She suffered head injuries. The car hit her with its right front bumper. No driver errors listed. The street offered no crosswalk or signal.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Gordon Street in Staten Island struck a 17-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The impact came from the vehicle’s right front bumper, damaging the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The driver, a licensed male, was going straight ahead. The police report lists all contributing factors as unspecified. No driver errors or victim behaviors are cited. The crash happened away from an intersection, underscoring the risks faced by pedestrians where there are no crosswalks or signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV driver failed to yield. Struck a 51-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered hip and leg injuries. Impact was sharp. The street stayed cold and silent after.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old woman was crossing Fingerboard Road with the signal when a 2024 Nissan SUV made a right turn and struck her. The crash happened at 7:38 PM in Staten Island. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her hip and upper leg, along with whiplash and shock. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front bumper. No vehicle damage was recorded. The police report lists only driver errors—failure to yield and distraction—as causes. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777894 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided at Union Ave. The female driver of one SUV suffered a neck injury from the impact. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor. The crash caused damage to the right rear quarter panel and front end of the vehicles.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided on Union Ave at 4:00 PM. One vehicle, traveling south straight ahead, was struck on its right rear quarter panel by another SUV making a right turn eastbound. The female driver of the struck vehicle, aged 41, sustained a neck injury described as whiplash and was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the crash. Vehicle damage included the right rear quarter panel of the first SUV and the center front end of the second SUV. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Paladino’s bid to ban e-bikes from city parks failed at Manhattan Community Board 2. Members called the bill vague, redundant, and unenforceable. Even e-bike skeptics dismissed it. The board demanded real solutions, not empty gestures or propaganda.

Bill number not specified. On December 10, 2024, Manhattan Community Board 2’s transportation and parks committees reviewed Council Member Vickie Paladino’s proposal to ban e-bikes from city parks. The committees voted overwhelmingly against it. The matter, described as an effort to 'make it more harmonious and safer for people in parks,' was criticized as 'not fleshed out.' Paladino, a Queens Republican, failed to provide data or address existing rules. Co-sponsor Gale Brewer admitted she signed on under pressure and doubted enforcement. Committee members Shirley Secunda, Susanna Aaron, Janet Liff, and Jeannine Kiely all voiced strong opposition, calling the bill redundant and inadequate. The Central Park Conservancy declined to endorse a ban, urging more protected bike lanes instead. The board found the proposal did nothing for safety and ignored systemic issues.

• ‘Not Fleshed Out’: Paladino’s E-Bike Ban Falls Flat at Manhattan Civic Panel, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

A distracted driver failed to yield right-of-way, crashing into another vehicle on Van Duzer Street. The sedan driver suffered chest injuries and shock. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in this Staten Island crash during evening hours.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Van Duzer Street in Staten Island at 17:32. The 57-year-old female driver of a 2023 Hyundai sedan was injured, sustaining chest trauma and shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The collision involved a 2011 Nissan SUV traveling north, which struck the sedan's right front quarter panel with its right front bumper. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front areas. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and failure to yield—as the cause, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 75-year-old woman broke both arms tripping over Christmas trees dumped on a sidewalk. Video shows others stumbling too. A jury awarded her $1.1 million. The article slams sidewalk dumping, calls for strict enforcement, and demands clear paths for pedestrians.

On December 9, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media advocacy piece on sidewalk obstruction and pedestrian safety. The article recounts the case of Barbara Hutson, who suffered two broken arms after tripping over Christmas trees left on a Manhattan sidewalk by Regis High School and a neighboring coop. The article states: 'This would not have happened if Regis and the coop had not left the trees to occupy 70 percent of the sidewalk width,' quoting Hutson’s lawyer, Adam White. Hutson sued and won a $1.1 million jury verdict. The piece highlights city code requiring a clear pedestrian passage and criticizes the city’s lax enforcement. The article urges residents and government to keep sidewalks clear, placing discarded trees in the curbside lane, not where people walk. No council bill was involved, but the advocacy centers the danger to pedestrians and the need for systemic change.

• Cycle of Rage: Here’s Why Your Dead Christmas Tree Should Be in the Road, Not on the Sidewalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-09

A 29-year-old man crashed his sedan on the SI Expressway west exit ramp. He suffered a neck bruise. Police cite driver inexperience. No other people were hurt.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male driver crashed a 2017 Infiniti sedan on the SI Expressway west exit ramp at 6:29. He was the only person injured, suffering a neck contusion. The car struck with its center front end. The report lists "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other errors or victim actions are noted. This crash shows the danger when drivers lack experience on fast-moving ramps.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777312 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 25-year-old woman suffered chest contusions after being struck while crossing a marked crosswalk on Tompkins Avenue. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene. Police reports indicate no driver errors or contributing factors were documented.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Belair Road in Staten Island at 3:20 PM. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when she was struck, sustaining chest contusions and classified with injury severity 3. The pedestrian was conscious upon police arrival. The report does not list any contributing factors related to driver behavior such as failure to yield or speeding. No vehicle details or driver errors were specified, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash involved an unspecified vehicle type with no occupants reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 56-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a sedan struck her at an intersection. The driver was making a left turn and failed to pay attention. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Clove Road and W Raleigh Avenue in Staten Island around 6:20 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 Nissan sedan, traveling west and making a left turn, struck her with the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating a clear failure by the driver to maintain focus. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in intersections where pedestrians have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

A sedan backed unsafely on South Ave. Another sedan struck it from behind. The rear driver took a blow to the head and suffered whiplash. Both cars showed heavy front and rear damage.

According to the police report, a sedan was backing on South Ave near Goethals Rd N at 16:25 when it was struck in the center back end by another sedan traveling south. The driver of the reversing sedan, a 27-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as a contributing factor, pointing to driver error by the reversing vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to the front and rear, underscoring the risk of unsafe backing maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 57-year-old woman suffered a neck injury and concussion after being struck by a sedan on Forest Avenue. The unlicensed male driver was traveling north and impacted the pedestrian outside an intersection, causing serious harm without yielding.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old female pedestrian was crossing Forest Avenue outside of an intersection when she was struck by a northbound 2023 Jeep sedan. The vehicle's right front bumper made contact with the pedestrian, causing a neck injury and concussion. The driver was unlicensed, a critical factor in the crash. The report lists no other contributing factors but highlights the driver's lack of a valid license. The pedestrian was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt as a passenger, though this detail is unrelated to the pedestrian injury. The collision occurred at 17:43 in Staten Island's 10310 zip code. The driver's failure to yield and unlicensed status underscore systemic dangers posed by unqualified drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04