Astoria: Two Killed at Food Cart — City Must Act

• Nude Queens man indicted for kicking bike riders, attacking 3 NYPD officers, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-18

• Man accused of intentionally killing Queens teen with his car, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-16

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

Sep 6 - Driver on a moped going west hit a 28-year-old man not in the roadway near 11-44 30 RD in Queens. The man bled from the face. He stayed conscious. The front end took the hit.

A driver on a moped, heading west and going straight, hit a 28-year-old man who was not in the roadway near 11-44 30 RD in Queens. The pedestrian suffered severe facial bleeding and was conscious. According to the police report, the moped was “Going Straight Ahead” and the pedestrian was “Not in Roadway.” The front center of the moped took the impact. The report listed no driver errors such as failure to yield or unsafe speed. It did record “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion” as a contributing factor; that is the official account. Two people were on the moped.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• Queens bus network redesign draws mixed reviews from riders, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-02

Sep 1 - Northbound on the Triborough, three drivers crashed. The crash flipped an SUV. A moped was destroyed. Two people were ejected. A woman bled from the head. Four others hurt. Police recorded Unsafe Speed by drivers.

A moped, a Tesla SUV, and a Mercedes sedan crashed while heading north on the Triborough Bridge just after midnight. Six people were injured. Two were ejected: a 27-year-old driver with severe bleeding, and a woman passenger, semiconscious with a head wound. The SUV ended up overturned. The moped was demolished. Four others reported pain: the SUV driver, the sedan driver, and two front-seat passengers. "According to the police report, police recorded Unsafe Speed by drivers." Pre-crash data lists two drivers going straight and the sedan changing lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - Int 1353-2025 forces DOT to move fast near schools. When a traffic study finds a calming or control device is needed, installation must finish within 60 days. The bill was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure committee on Aug. 14, 2025.

Int. No. 1353 (status: Committee) was introduced and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Aug. 14, 2025 (agenda and first vote listed Aug. 14, 2025). The matter is titled: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the time permitted for the installation of a traffic calming device or traffic control device on any street adjacent to a school." It was introduced by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez and cosponsored by Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler and Farah N. Louis. The bill would "complete the installation... by no later than 60 days after the department issues such traffic study determination." It takes effect immediately.

• File Int 1353-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 12 - A northbound sedan struck two men outside the crosswalk on 42 St near 19 Ave. Both pedestrians died. A driver in a left‑turning SUV was involved. The sedan driver, 84, was also killed. Parked cars were damaged at the scene.

Two pedestrians were killed after a northbound sedan struck them on 42 St near 19 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as "Unspecified." The report records the sedan as "Going Straight Ahead" and the SUV as "Making Left Turn." Two men — one age 70 and one listed with unknown age — died of crush injuries. The 84‑year‑old driver of the sedan is also recorded as killed. Parked vehicles sustained damage from secondary impacts. Police data show no pedestrian contributing factors assigned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - A speeding driver killed himself and two pedestrians in Astoria. Politicians demand lower speed limits, protected lanes, and daylighting. Slower speeds save lives. The city holds the power. Action is overdue.

""I also strongly support the 31st Street Safety Plan, Council Member [Julie] Won’s Universal Daylighting legislation, and the full implementation of Sammy’s Law and other traffic calming measures,"" -- Tiffany Cabán

On August 12, 2025, after a deadly Astoria crash, Council Member Tiffany Caban, Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, and Zohran Mamdani called for urgent street safety reforms. Caban demanded a 20 mph limit, protected bike lanes, and universal daylighting. Mamdani backed Sammy’s Law and curbs on car traffic near schools. Transportation Alternatives urged the city to use its new authority to lower speed limits, stating, "Slower speeds are proven to reduce crashes dramatically." Safety analysts confirm: lowering limits cuts crash severity and frequency, protecting pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. No bill was filed, but the call is clear—speed kills, and the city can stop it.

• UPDATE: Speeding Senior Driver Kills Self and Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Pols Call for 20 MPH Limit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 12 - A car slammed into a food truck in Astoria. Three people died. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street became a scene of sudden loss.

CBS New York reported on August 12, 2025, that a car crashed into a food truck at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street in Astoria, Queens, killing three people. The article quotes witnesses, including a man who 'narrowly escaped tragedy.' Details on the driver's actions remain scarce, but the crash highlights the lethal risk vehicles pose to people on city streets. The incident raises questions about street design and the exposure of workers and customers at curbside businesses.

• Car Plows Into Queens Food Truck, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A southbound driver turned left at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue and blew the signal. The westbound cyclist rode straight. Metal met flesh. The rider went down with head wounds and deep cuts. The street failed him. The driver failed the law.

A crash at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue in Queens injured a 31-year-old male bicyclist. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Traffic Control Disregarded.” The southbound turning vehicle was making a left while the cyclist was traveling west, straight ahead. The cyclist suffered head injuries and severe lacerations and was listed as injured and conscious. Driver error led the sequence: Traffic Control Disregarded during a left turn. Only after that does equipment appear: the report notes “None” for the cyclist’s safety equipment. No other factors are cited beyond the listed driver violation and unspecified factors for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - The driver of an SUV ran traffic control and struck a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The 39-year-old moped driver was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. Police cite driver inattention and traffic-control disregard.

A driver in an SUV collided with a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The moped driver, 39, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved a station wagon/SUV and a moped. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The moped’s record shows the rider was unlicensed and was riding east when struck. Police recorded the point of impact on both vehicles as left front quarter panels. The crash ended with the moped driver killed. No pedestrians were reported involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 5 - City aims to carve bike lanes into 31st Street. Merchants fear lost access. Residents cite danger. DOT points to dozens hurt, two killed. The street stays deadly. The fight over space continues.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), the NYC Department of Transportation plans to narrow lanes and add bike paths on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The DOT cites 126 injured vehicle occupants, 33 injured pedestrians, 24 injured cyclists, and two deaths from 2020 to 2024, calling it 'one of the most dangerous streets in Queens.' Business owners warn the changes will block deliveries and threaten livelihoods. Residents worry about access and safety, especially for the elderly and students. The plan highlights the tension between street redesigns and the needs of vulnerable road users.

• City Bike Lane Plan Sparks Queens Clash, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - A boy, 15, fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He landed on the tracks. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The NYPD is investigating. Two other subway incidents happened that morning.

ABC7 reported on July 4, 2025, that a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza station. The article states, "Police say the 15-year-old boy was riding on top of a No. 7 train around 2:45 a.m." and "He fell onto the tracks as it pulled into the Queensboro Plaza station." The NYPD is investigating this and two other incidents: a person struck by a J train and another killed while walking between cars on a No. 2 train. The events highlight ongoing dangers in the subway system and raise questions about platform and train safety.

• Teen Dies Falling From No. 7 Train, ABC7, Published 2025-07-04

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 24 - A pickup tore through Astoria. It struck Amanda Servedio, a cyclist with the right of way. She flew from her bike. The driver fled. Police found the truck later. Servedio died at Elmhurst Hospital. The city lost another rider.

Gothamist reported on June 24, 2025, that Bekim Fiseku was indicted for murder and manslaughter after fatally striking cyclist Amanda Servedio in Astoria. Prosecutors say Fiseku, fleeing police after an attempted burglary, sped through red lights and bike lanes, ultimately hitting Servedio at 37th Street and 34th Avenue. Surveillance captured the chase. The indictment states, 'The defendant allegedly led police on a 10-minute chase through the crowded streets.' Servedio, 36, was returning from a cycling event and had the right of way. Fiseku abandoned his truck and evaded arrest until February. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless drivers and high-speed police pursuits on city streets.

• Cyclist Killed In Astoria Police Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-24

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 20 - DOT pushes ahead. Protected bike lanes coming to 31st Street. Community board erupts. Lawmakers back the plan. Business owners protest. City stands with cyclists and pedestrians. Proven safety gains for vulnerable users. Change rolls forward. Streets shift. Lives may be spared.

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its plan to install protected bike lanes under the elevated tracks on 31st Street in Astoria. The proposal, discussed at a heated community board meeting, remains active and is set for installation after summer repaving. Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas endorsed the plan in a letter, stating it would 'protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers while making our streets safer and less congested.' DOT spokesman Will Livingston said the design improves safety and supports local businesses. Despite opposition from some business owners, the plan moves forward. Safety analysts note: 'Protected bike lanes are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for cyclists and pedestrians, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity by reallocating space from cars to vulnerable users.'

• DOT Stands By Astoria Bike Lane Plan Despite Foes’ ‘Childish’ Outbursts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20