Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in District 20?
Seventeen Dead, Thousands Hurt—Council Stalls, Streets Kill
District 20: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 12, 2025
The Toll: Lives Shattered, Streets Unforgiving
In District 20, the numbers do not lie. Seventeen people killed. Fifty-eight left with serious injuries. Over 2,300 hurt since 2022 (NYC Open Data). The dead are not numbers. They are elders crossing Main Street, children on bikes, mothers waiting for the light. The violence is steady, not sudden. It comes in the form of SUVs, sedans, trucks—steel against flesh.
Just last month, a speeding crash on Main Street sent passengers to the hospital. Days before, an SUV rear-ended a taxi on the expressway. A child was hurt when two SUVs collided on College Point Boulevard. Two boys were struck by a driver who failed to yield. The list goes on. The pain does not end.
“I Have a Baby With Me. That Would Be Scary.”
On July 11, an MTA bus in Flushing jumped the curb and smashed into a pole. Eight people were injured. “I have a baby with me. That would be scary. I’ll be more cautious of my surroundings,” said Samantha Hart, a bystander. The bus nearly hit two people waiting at the stop. The driver, just 25, was pulled from service after officials believed he had fallen asleep at the wheel (ABC7).
The violence is not always loud. Sometimes it is a silent swerve, a moment of inattention. But the result is the same. A 78-year-old woman killed crossing Parsons Boulevard. A 63-year-old cyclist struck down by an SUV on Bowne Street.
Leadership: Small Steps, Long Delays
Council Member Sandra Ung has signed on to bills for more lighting, speed humps, and safer street designs. She backed the citywide greenway plan. She co-sponsored a bill to require DOT approval for sidewalk stands, aiming to keep paths clear. But when the Council voted to end jaywalking enforcement—a law that protects pedestrians from being blamed for their own deaths—Ung was absent. When e-scooter share came to Queens, Ung led the charge to ban it, ignoring data showing no serious injuries or deaths and thousands of safe rides.
Ung says she is proud that the Eastern Queens Greenway is funded in her district, but the path remains unfinished. The city moves slow. The danger moves fast.
Call to Action: Demand More Than Words
This is not fate. It is policy. Call Council Member Ung. Demand a citywide 20 mph speed limit. Demand protected bike lanes and sidewalks that put people first. Demand action, not delay. Every day without change is another day someone does not come home.
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ What is the New York City Council and how does it work?
▸ Where does District 20 sit politically?
▸ Which areas are in District 20?
▸ What types of vehicles caused injuries and deaths to pedestrians in District 20?
▸ Are these crashes just 'accidents' or are they preventable?
▸ What can local politicians do to make streets safer?
▸ What is CrashCount?
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702952 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-12
- MTA Bus Slams Curb, Injures Seven, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11
- MTA Bus Slams Curb, Injures Seven, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11
- Bus Jumps Curb, Eight Injured In Flushing, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11
- File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26
- Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17
- Eight Injured As MTA Bus Hits Pole, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11
- Chain-Reaction Crash Kills Two On Belt Parkway, amny, Published 2025-07-10
- BMW Crash Hurls Passengers, Sparks Fire, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09
- Better Buses Will Be Big for Business on Flatbush: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-12
- Parks Dept. Has Money But No Timeline to Finish Eastern Queens Greenway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-19
- Eyes on the Street: How Are De Blasio’s Pandemic Era Busways Doing?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-17
Fix the Problem
District 20
136-21 Latimer Place, 1D, Flushing, NY 11354
718-888-8747
250 Broadway, Suite 1808, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7259
Other Representatives
District 25
159-16 Union Turnpike, Flushing, NY 11366
Room 941, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
District 16
38-50 Bell Blvd. Suite C, Bayside, NY 11361
Room 915, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
▸ Other Geographies
District 20 Council District 20 sits in Queens, Precinct 109, AD 25, SD 16.
It contains Murray Hill-Broadway Flushing, East Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Flushing-Willets Point, Kissena Park, Auburndale, Queens CB7.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 20
SUV Merges, Strikes E-Bike Rider on Northern Boulevard▸A Lexus merged on Northern Boulevard. Its bumper hit a 62-year-old e-bike rider. He fell. Blood pooled from his head. He lay conscious, bleeding in the sun. Unsafe lane change. Passing too close. The street stayed silent.
A crash on Northern Boulevard involved a Lexus SUV merging west and an e-bike traveling straight. The SUV's right front bumper struck the e-bike's side. According to the police report, the e-bike rider, a 62-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The SUV was driven by a 61-year-old woman. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.
SUV Slams Parked Car, Driver Killed▸A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
SUV Turns Left, Strikes Elderly Pedestrian▸A Chevy SUV turned left on Franklin Avenue. The driver failed to yield. The front end hit a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered head and crush injuries. He lay conscious beneath the grill. The light stayed green.
A 67-year-old man was crossing Franklin Avenue with the signal when a Chevy SUV made a left turn and struck him. According to the police report, 'the front end struck his head. He lay crushed and conscious beneath the grill, the light still green.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was licensed and wore a lap belt. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.
Elderly Pedestrian Killed by Sedan on Northern Boulevard▸A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.
An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Ung Pushes Queens Greenway Funding Despite Harmful Delays▸Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
-
This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-17
A Lexus merged on Northern Boulevard. Its bumper hit a 62-year-old e-bike rider. He fell. Blood pooled from his head. He lay conscious, bleeding in the sun. Unsafe lane change. Passing too close. The street stayed silent.
A crash on Northern Boulevard involved a Lexus SUV merging west and an e-bike traveling straight. The SUV's right front bumper struck the e-bike's side. According to the police report, the e-bike rider, a 62-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The SUV was driven by a 61-year-old woman. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.
SUV Slams Parked Car, Driver Killed▸A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
SUV Turns Left, Strikes Elderly Pedestrian▸A Chevy SUV turned left on Franklin Avenue. The driver failed to yield. The front end hit a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered head and crush injuries. He lay conscious beneath the grill. The light stayed green.
A 67-year-old man was crossing Franklin Avenue with the signal when a Chevy SUV made a left turn and struck him. According to the police report, 'the front end struck his head. He lay crushed and conscious beneath the grill, the light still green.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was licensed and wore a lap belt. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.
Elderly Pedestrian Killed by Sedan on Northern Boulevard▸A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.
An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Ung Pushes Queens Greenway Funding Despite Harmful Delays▸Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
-
This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-17
A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
SUV Turns Left, Strikes Elderly Pedestrian▸A Chevy SUV turned left on Franklin Avenue. The driver failed to yield. The front end hit a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered head and crush injuries. He lay conscious beneath the grill. The light stayed green.
A 67-year-old man was crossing Franklin Avenue with the signal when a Chevy SUV made a left turn and struck him. According to the police report, 'the front end struck his head. He lay crushed and conscious beneath the grill, the light still green.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was licensed and wore a lap belt. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.
Elderly Pedestrian Killed by Sedan on Northern Boulevard▸A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.
An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Ung Pushes Queens Greenway Funding Despite Harmful Delays▸Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
-
This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-17
A Chevy SUV turned left on Franklin Avenue. The driver failed to yield. The front end hit a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered head and crush injuries. He lay conscious beneath the grill. The light stayed green.
A 67-year-old man was crossing Franklin Avenue with the signal when a Chevy SUV made a left turn and struck him. According to the police report, 'the front end struck his head. He lay crushed and conscious beneath the grill, the light still green.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was licensed and wore a lap belt. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.
Elderly Pedestrian Killed by Sedan on Northern Boulevard▸A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.
An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Ung Pushes Queens Greenway Funding Despite Harmful Delays▸Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
-
This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-17
A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.
An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Ung Pushes Queens Greenway Funding Despite Harmful Delays▸Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
-
This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-17
Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.
This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.
- This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-17