Astoria: Two Killed at Food Cart — City Must Act

Oct 8 - A sedan sped down 23rd Avenue and slammed into a parked car near 91st Street. Metal shrieked. The driver, fifty, bled from the head. Sirens cut the air. The street bore witness to speed and steel.

A crash on 23rd Avenue near 91st Street in Queens left a 50-year-old driver injured. According to the police report, a speeding sedan struck a parked car with force. The driver suffered severe head lacerations and was found conscious, belted, with the airbag deployed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact also rocked a nearby bus. The data shows no errors by other road users. The only listed cause is the sedan's unsafe speed, which led to the violent collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 27 - A 15-year-old boy on a moped slammed hard on 30th Avenue. He flew from the seat. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. The crash left him conscious but cut deep. Outside distraction behind the wheel set the scene.

A 15-year-old boy riding a moped east on 30th Avenue in Queens was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, 'A glance outside the car, a flash of motion, and then the boy flew.' The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped's front end crumpled on impact. The boy was not wearing a helmet, but the primary cause cited is driver distraction outside the vehicle. The crash left the teen conscious but badly hurt, his blood on the street. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666278 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 18 - Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

Aug 28 - A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Ditmars Boulevard. The rider’s legs tore open. Blood spilled on the quiet street. He stayed conscious. No one else was hurt. The crash left flesh and bone exposed in the midnight dark.

A 46-year-old moped rider crashed into a parked sedan near 38-11 Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the collision happened at midnight. The moped struck the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his knees and feet but remained conscious. No other people were injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and undamaged. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the rider with serious injuries, underscoring the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 13 - A moving sedan tore into a parked car on Steinway Street before dawn. Metal screamed. The driver, 31, crushed and broken. His passenger, 41, stunned, leg shattered. The street fell silent. No warning. Only wreckage and pain.

A sedan struck a parked car near 31-17 Steinway Street in Queens at 3:40 a.m. According to the police report, the moving sedan hit the stationary vehicle with force. The 31-year-old driver suffered crush injuries to his entire body. His 41-year-old passenger, seated in front, sustained a shattered leg and was left in shock. Both were injured. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The data does not mention helmet or signal use. The crash left two people hurt and the street quiet, marked by twisted metal and broken bodies.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654699 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A BMW SUV tore down 34th Avenue before dawn. Metal screamed. The front end crumpled. The 24-year-old driver died alone in the wreck. No passengers. No bystanders. Only twisted steel and silence remained.

A 2021 BMW SUV crashed on 34th Avenue at 3:30 a.m. The sole occupant, a 24-year-old male driver, was killed. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was the contributing factor. The SUV’s front end was demolished. No other vehicles or people were involved. The driver was licensed and traveling west. The report lists no other errors or factors. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left only wreckage and one life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A man on a bike struck the roof of a parked sedan. Blood spilled from his head onto Astoria Boulevard. He lay silent in the summer heat. Shock and injury marked the scene. No moving vehicles involved.

A 50-year-old cyclist suffered a severe head injury after colliding with the roof of a parked Acura sedan on Astoria Boulevard near 35th Street. According to the police report, blood spilled from his head onto the pavement as he lay silent, eyes wide, in shock. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or moving vehicle violations are recorded in the data. The cyclist’s use of safety equipment is unknown. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647264 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - A scooter hit an SUV at 28th Avenue and 42nd Street. The rider, unlicensed but helmeted, was thrown and killed. Both drivers lacked licenses. A stop sign was ignored. The street bore the mark of disregard and loss.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 28th Avenue and 42nd Street in Queens. A 50-year-old man riding a scooter collided head-on with an SUV. According to the police report, 'A scooter slammed head-on into an SUV. The rider, 50, unlicensed, helmeted, flew from the seat. His head struck the pavement. He died there. Both drivers unlicensed. A stop sign ignored.' The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Both the scooter rider and the SUV driver were unlicensed. The rider wore a helmet, but the crash proved fatal. The ignored stop sign and lack of licenses marked a system failure that cost a life.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643897 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - A 21-year-old man crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. His back broke. He stayed conscious. The lap belt held him. Amputation followed. The Mazdas and Fords stood still. He moved, then stopped.

A 21-year-old male driver crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, the driver suffered a broken back and an amputation but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The parked Mazdas and Fords did not move; the impact came from the moving sedan. The police report notes the driver wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the driver with severe injuries, underscoring the risks posed by inattention and inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645971 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A Nissan sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist from behind on Northern Boulevard. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, unlicensed and unhelmeted, suffered severe bleeding and lost consciousness. The street stayed silent as the crash left the rider broken.

A 24-year-old man riding a bike east on Northern Boulevard was struck from behind by a 2003 Nissan sedan. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The cyclist suffered severe, entire-body injuries and lost consciousness at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was unlicensed and unhelmeted, but these details appear only after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by distracted driving, especially to vulnerable road users like cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A hit-and-run driver killed Jaydan McLaurin, a teenage cyclist, on 21st Street in Astoria. He is the 11th cyclist killed this year. The street lacks protected bike lanes. Politicians and advocates demand urgent action. City failed to meet legal safety mandates.

On April 11, 2023, a hit-and-run driver killed Jaydan McLaurin, a teenage cyclist, on 21st Street in Astoria, Queens. This corridor is a Vision Zero priority but only has an unprotected bike lane. The crash marks the 11th cyclist death in New York City this year, a record high for this point in the year. Council Member Tiffany Cabán called the loss 'wave after wave of grief and heartbreak' and demanded safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris urged Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez to invest in safe streets and fulfill the NYC Streets Plan’s legal requirements. Advocates noted the Department of Transportation failed to expand bike and bus lanes as required last year. The call is clear: the city must act now to protect vulnerable road users.

• Teen Cyclist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Queens; 11th to Die this Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-11

Apr 10 - A BMW SUV slammed into a 16-year-old on an e-bike at 21st Street and 21st Avenue. The SUV’s front caved. The bike shattered. The teen was thrown, bleeding from the pelvis. He died in the street under the city’s glare.

A 16-year-old riding an e-bike was killed when a BMW SUV struck him at the corner of 21st Street and 21st Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV’s front end crumpled and the bike was demolished. The teen was ejected, suffered severe bleeding from the pelvis, and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. The SUV driver, an 18-year-old man with a permit, was traveling south. The cyclist was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, as noted in the report, but this is stated only after the driver’s failure to yield. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619930 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A Honda SUV backed south on Astoria Boulevard. Steel met flesh. A 29-year-old woman walking was crushed in the leg. She stayed conscious. The driver backed unsafely. The street did not give.

A 29-year-old woman walking near 1-05 Astoria Boulevard in Queens was struck by a Honda SUV reversing southbound. According to the police report, the SUV backed unsafely, crushing her leg. The report states, “Backing Unsafely” was the contributing factor. The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The driver, a licensed 54-year-old man, was uninjured. The data lists no error or action by the pedestrian. This crash shows the danger when drivers reverse into shared space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 11 - An SUV hit an 80-year-old woman crossing 31st Street in Queens. She suffered a head wound. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver was young and distracted. The right side of the SUV crumpled. The woman stayed conscious.

An 80-year-old woman was struck by a northbound SUV on 31st Street near 23rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash happened under midday sun. The woman was crossing the street when the SUV hit her, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The right side of the SUV was damaged in the impact. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian beyond her location and action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - Council members clashed over making outdoor dining permanent or seasonal. Small restaurants warned of layoffs and lost space. Advocates said year-round dining opens streets to people, not cars. The Speaker praised the program’s impact. No safety analysis for vulnerable users was done.

On March 1, 2023, the City Council debated a bill to decide if outdoor dining should remain year-round or become seasonal. The matter, titled 'Workers, City Coffers Will Lose Out if Council Ditches Year-Round Street Dining, Experts Say,' drew strong opinions. Council Member Chi Ossé called for a study, warning that small businesses would suffer if forced to remove and rebuild sheds each year. Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Lincoln Restler, and Tiffany Cabán also supported a 12-month program. Speaker Adrienne Adams praised the program’s transformation of city streets, though she suggested moving dining to sidewalks. Advocates like Majora Carter argued that seasonal limits would make outdoor seating a luxury, not a public good. No formal safety impact for vulnerable road users was provided or analyzed.

• Workers, City Coffers Will Lose Out if Council Ditches Year-Round Street Dining, Experts Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-01

Feb 26 - A driver killed Dolma Naadhun, age 7, at Newtown Road and 45th Street. Her father and Council Member Julie Won want a traffic light. DOT refuses. Officials and advocates demand broader, bolder street redesigns. Paint and signs are not enough. Lives hang in the balance.

""We have to bigger and we have to be bolder. We have to be thinking about traffic-calming measures across all of our intersections ... because quite simply, if it saves lives, it's worth doing."" -- Tiffany Cabán

After the death of 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun at Newtown Road and 45th Street, Council Member Julie Won and Dolma’s father, Tsering Wangdu, called for a traffic light. The Department of Transportation (DOT) declined, offering only daylighting and crosswalk improvements. The matter, highlighted on February 26, 2023, drew support from Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Mike Gianaris, and Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez Rojas. Caban said, “We have to be bigger and we have to be bolder. We have to be thinking about traffic-calming measures across all of our intersections.” Advocates and officials criticized DOT’s reactive approach and urged proactive, community-driven safety changes. They stressed that only street design and physical infrastructure—not piecemeal fixes—can prevent deaths and protect vulnerable road users.

• Dolma’s Grieving Father, Pols Seek Traffic Light at Fatal Corner — But Larger Safety Improvements are Needed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-26

Feb 24 - A driver killed 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun at a Queens intersection. City workers made minor fixes. Council members demanded daylighting and real barriers. DOT resisted, citing flexibility. Advocates want curb extensions. The city’s slow action leaves streets deadly.

On February 24, 2023, Council Members Julie Won, Tiffany Cabán, and Selvena Brooks-Powers sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) after a driver killed Dolma Naadhun. They demanded daylighting, neckdowns, speed bumps, stop signs, and reflective markings at Newtown Road intersections. The lawmakers wrote, “Nothing can bring back Dolma Naadhun, but we can prevent further loss of life so that no family must experience the loss of a loved one.” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez opposed a Council bill mandating 100 daylighted intersections per year, arguing for flexibility and physical infrastructure in daylit spaces. Advocates and experts agree: daylighting without barriers is flawed. They call for curb extensions to slow drivers and protect people. Residents remain frustrated by the city’s slow, limited response after repeated deaths and injuries.

• R.I.P. DOLMA: A Deep Dive on DOT’s Daylighting Dilemma, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-24

Feb 17 - A Ford SUV hit a 7-year-old girl in a Queens crosswalk. She died on the street. The driver had only a permit. Police blamed driver inexperience. The SUV showed no damage. The road fell silent after the crash.

A 7-year-old girl was killed while crossing Newtown Road at 45th Street in Queens. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a Ford SUV, driven by a permit-holder, struck her with the center front end. She died on the pavement. The report states, “A 7-year-old girl in a marked crosswalk was struck and killed by a Ford SUV driven by a permit-holder. She died on the pavement. The SUV’s front was clean.” Police listed 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the vehicle’s occupants. The girl was crossing without a signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the risks faced by children in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 27 - Nineteen council members demand Mayor Adams back state bills for six-minute transit and free buses. They urge Albany to fund the MTA, calling transit a public good. Fast, frequent service means safer, fuller streets. The council stands united. Riders wait.

On January 27, 2023, nineteen New York City Council members, led by Tiffany Cabán, sent a letter urging Mayor Adams to support the Fix the MTA package in Albany. The package, introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Mike Gianaris, includes eight bills: funding for six-minute off-peak subway and bus service, four years of free bus rides, and closing the MTA's fiscal gap. Council Member Amanda Farías introduced a resolution backing six-minute service. The letter states, 'Just as fund libraries and schools, we must fund transit—a public good that creates access to opportunities in life.' Cabán called the push a 'critical public safety initiative,' linking frequent, reliable transit to safer streets. The council's action signals a unified demand for robust, equitable transit funding.

• Council Members Join Push For Six-Minute Transit Service And Free Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 26 - A Dodge sedan, unlicensed and speeding, smashed into a Honda SUV on Astoria Boulevard. Metal shrieked. A 46-year-old man, head bleeding, lay crushed and semiconscious behind the wheel. A 26-year-old man was also hurt. The street fell silent.

A violent crash erupted at Astoria Boulevard and 80th Street in Queens. According to the police report, an unlicensed driver in a Dodge sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, slammed into the side of a Honda SUV at 1:49 a.m. The 46-year-old Honda driver was left semiconscious, bleeding from the head, and suffering crush injuries. A 26-year-old man in the Dodge was also injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The Dodge driver was unlicensed. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash left metal twisted and lives changed in an instant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4601970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19