Crash Count for District 23
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 5,131
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 3,005
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 557
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 15
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 15
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025
Carnage in CD 23
Killed 15
+1
Crush Injuries 6
Lower leg/foot 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Chest 1
Head 1
Neck 1
Severe Bleeding 6
Head 5
Lower leg/foot 1
Severe Lacerations 3
Head 3
Concussion 17
Head 12
+7
Face 2
Chest 1
Neck 1
Whole body 1
Whiplash 118
Neck 57
+52
Back 23
+18
Head 20
+15
Whole body 17
+12
Shoulder/upper arm 6
+1
Lower leg/foot 3
Chest 2
Lower arm/hand 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Face 1
Hip/upper leg 1
Contusion/Bruise 101
Lower leg/foot 28
+23
Head 16
+11
Lower arm/hand 16
+11
Back 15
+10
Neck 10
+5
Shoulder/upper arm 7
+2
Hip/upper leg 6
+1
Face 4
Chest 2
Whole body 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Abrasion 79
Lower arm/hand 21
+16
Lower leg/foot 21
+16
Head 13
+8
Face 6
+1
Whole body 6
+1
Neck 4
Shoulder/upper arm 4
Back 3
Chest 3
Hip/upper leg 3
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Eye 1
Pain/Nausea 39
Back 8
+3
Whole body 8
+3
Neck 7
+2
Head 6
+1
Lower leg/foot 4
Abdomen/pelvis 3
Lower arm/hand 3
Chest 2
Shoulder/upper arm 2
Hip/upper leg 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in District 23?

Preventable Speeding in CD 23 School Zones

(since 2022)

Caught Speeding Recently in CD 23

Vehicles – Caught Speeding in NYC (12 months)
  1. 2021 Me/Be Utility Vehicle (Y33PVC) – 125 times • 3 in last 90d here
  2. 2024 Black Jeep Suburban (LGM9572) – 68 times • 1 in last 90d here
  3. 2019 White Chevrolet Sedan (LNP6871) – 67 times • 5 in last 90d here
  4. 2023 White Chevrolet Pickup (88332NA) – 61 times • 1 in last 90d here
  5. 2022 White Me/Be Sedan (LAA9627) – 57 times • 1 in last 90d here
Union Turnpike takes a life; Clearview keeps killing

Union Turnpike takes a life; Clearview keeps killing

District 23: Jan 1, 2022 - Aug 25, 2025

A man went down on Union Turnpike. He did not get back up.

On August 12, at 189th Street and Union Turnpike, a 61‑year‑old pedestrian was struck and killed. The NYPD crash record says two sedans were involved; one was parked. The man was crossing not at an intersection. He died at the scene. The crash is logged at 8:26 p.m. City data records it plainly.

Clearview: four deaths on one road

Since 2022, District 23 has seen 15 deaths in crashes; 7 were pedestrians. One corridor stands out. The Clearview Expressway has four deaths and 95 injuries, the worst hotspot in the district, per NYC Open Data. On December 24, 2024, a 56‑year‑old man listed as a pedestrian was killed in a multi‑vehicle crash on the Clearview; another driver was injured. The record cites “reaction to uninvolved vehicle” and “pavement slippery” as factors, and lists a Chevy and Mercedes SUVs and a Hyundai sedan among the vehicles, all going northbound (dataset).

A Bayside man also drove the wrong way on the Clearview Expressway in 2023, hitting multiple cars. At sentencing, Queens DA Melinda Katz said, “Joseph Lee terrorized other drivers as he purposefully drove the wrong way on a busy Queens highway and crashed into multiple cars.” She added, “Two motorists were badly hurt and still have not fully recovered.” Lee told police, “I entered the Clearview Expressway in the wrong direction because I wanted to hurt people and I felt ‘liberated’ by what I had done,” and to a victim, “You want to fight?” He was convicted and got eight years, amNY reported.

Nights take people

The hours tell on us. Injuries pile up after dark. From midnight to 3 a.m., there were 223 injuries and four deaths. At 5 a.m., two more deaths. At the evening rush, 5–6 p.m., two more deaths. The fatal strike on Union Turnpike hit at 8:26 p.m., a time band with another recorded death in this district’s hourly distribution.

Trucks do outsized harm to people on foot here. Of pedestrian cases where the striking vehicle is known, sedans and SUVs account for most injuries and deaths, but trucks are tied to 2 pedestrian deaths out of just 10 recorded truck‑pedestrian cases. The open data rollup shows trucks and buses behind a smaller share of crashes, but a heavier share of the body count (NYC Open Data).

Corners that don’t forgive

Hillside Avenue has one death and 77 injuries. Union Turnpike has two deaths and 59 injuries. The Long Island Expressway frontage and ramps show one death and 435 injuries. These are the district’s repeat sites, per top intersections.

On January 31, at Hillside Avenue and 212th Street, a 29‑year‑old man crossing with the signal was killed by a left‑turning box truck. The record lists “driver inattention/distraction” and “oversized vehicle” as contributing factors (crash file).

What this district can do tomorrow

  • Daylight the corners on Hillside and Union Turnpike. Clear the sightlines. Harden left turns where trucks sweep across the crosswalks.
  • Add leading pedestrian intervals at Hillside/212th and other high‑injury signals. Give walkers the head start.
  • Target the night hours. Enforce at the Clearview access points and Union Turnpike from dusk to 3 a.m. The data shows when people die.

What the city must do next

Speed is the common thread. Two citywide steps can cut it now:

  • Lower the default speed limit on residential streets. The city has the power; advocates are already pushing for it. Our own call to action lays out the path and the numbers behind it. Read it and act: Take Action.
  • Stop the worst repeat offenders with intelligent speed assistance. The policy would require limiters for drivers who rack up violations; it targets the small share doing outsized harm. The case is made here: Take Action.

The names are not in the spreadsheets. The loss is. Use the tools we have. Slow the cars. Protect the crosswalk. Go home alive.

Citations

Citations

Fix the Problem

Linda Lee
Council Member Linda Lee
District 23
District Office:
73-03 Bell Boulevard, Oakland Gardens, NY 11364
718-468-0137
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1868, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6984
Twitter: @CMLindaLee

Other Representatives

David Weprin
Assembly Member David Weprin
District 24
District Office:
185-06 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366
Legislative Office:
Room 716, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Twitter: @DavidWeprin
Toby Stavisky
State Senator Toby Stavisky
District 11
District Office:
134-01 20th Avenue 2nd Floor, College Point, NY 11356
Legislative Office:
Room 913, Legislative Office Building 188 State St., Albany, NY 12247
Twitter: @tobystavisky
Other Geographies

District 23 Council District 23 sits in Queens, Precinct 111, AD 24, SD 11.

It contains Fresh Meadows-Utopia, Jamaica Estates-Holliswood, Cunningham Park, Bayside, Douglaston-Little Neck, Oakland Gardens-Hollis Hills, Alley Pond Park, Hollis, Glen Oaks-Floral Park-New Hyde Park, Bellerose, Queens Village, Queens CB13, Queens CB8, Queens CB11.

See also
Boroughs
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 23

17
SUV lane change ends in injury

Aug 17 - Eastbound Jeep on Grand Central Parkway changes lanes and hits. Back end crushed. Driver, 57, hurt. Night on the parkway. Metal, speed, and pain in Queens.

An eastbound 2010 Jeep SUV changed lanes on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens and struck another vehicle, with impact and damage to the Jeep’s center back end. The 57-year-old male driver was injured with neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the Jeep was “Changing Lanes” before the crash and the point of impact was the “Center Back End.” The data lists no pedestrian or cyclist victims, but a driver was hurt. The report does not list specific contributing factors like Failure to Yield or Unsafe Lane Change, yet the maneuver and rear impact show the danger in this move. No other contributing factors are noted.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
13
Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The car sped off. Medics rushed the victim to the hospital. He died. Police searched for footage. No arrests. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th St. at South Conduit Ave. near JFK Airport around 2:30 a.m. The driver hit the man and fled. Police said, "The driver sped off without stopping. No arrests have been made." Officers searched for surveillance footage to identify the vehicle. The article notes 68 pedestrians have died in city crashes this year. The hit-and-run highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the challenge of holding drivers accountable.


12
Driver Strikes 61‑Year‑Old on Union Turnpike

Aug 12 - The driver of a sedan going straight on Union Turnpike hit a 61-year-old man outside 189th Street. The man suffered head trauma, crush injuries and was found unconscious. The sedan then struck a parked Lexus’s left rear.

The driver of a 2023 Mercedes sedan was traveling east on Union Turnpike and, while going straight ahead, struck a 61-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside the intersection at 189th Street. The pedestrian sustained head trauma, crush injuries and was found unconscious. The sedan bore center-front damage and then struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2022 Lexus. "According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as \"Unspecified.\"" The report notes no pedestrian error and records no driver citations. Police recorded the point of impact as the vehicle’s center front end.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
12
Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.


11
Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.


3
Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes

Aug 3 - A driver struck an e-bike rider in Queens. A scooter rider crashed in Brooklyn. Both died. Streets claimed them. Police investigate. Lives ended fast. Metal and speed left no room for error.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports two fatal e-vehicle crashes. On July 31, a 62-year-old Nissan Rogue driver hit Zhao Feng Zhen, 55, on Hollis Court Blvd in Queens. The driver remained at the scene; police continue to investigate. On July 12, Eusebio Quinones, 60, lost control of his electric scooter on Union Ave in Brooklyn and died from his injuries days later. The article notes, 'police are still investigating the crash.' These deaths highlight ongoing risks for vulnerable road users on city streets.


1
Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.


14
Int 1339-2025 Lee co-sponsors ambulette exemption bill, reducing street safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.


14
Int 1339-2025 Lee co-sponsors bill that decreases street safety by exempting ambulettes from bus lane rules.

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and park in bus lanes. Double-parking allowed to help passengers. Streets grow tighter. Danger for walkers and riders rises.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Members Julie Menin and Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' The bill grants ambulettes the right to drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes while helping passengers. Menin and Lee sponsor the measure, which was referred to committee on July 14. No safety analysis was provided. The change would squeeze vulnerable road users, making sidewalks and crossings riskier.


14
Int 1339-2025 Lee co-sponsors bill that reduces street safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.


14
Int 1339-2025 Linda Lee Backs Misguided Ambulette Bus Lane Exemption

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.


14
Int 1339-2025 Linda Lee Backs Misguided Ambulette Double Parking In Bus Lanes

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.


14
Int 1339-2025 Linda Lee Backs Misguided Ambulettes Bus Lane Exemption And Double Parking

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.


9
E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.


7
BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.


4
Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car
30
Int 0857-2024 Lee votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


23
Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed

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.


13
Two Killed In Separate NYC Crashes

Jun 13 - A Chevy Tahoe struck a 74-year-old man crossing Northern Blvd. Hours later, a BMW hit a moped rider turning in Brooklyn. Both victims died. Both drivers stayed. No charges. The Tahoe had a record of violations. The city streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (June 13, 2025) reports two fatal crashes in New York City within 24 hours. Eric Wexler, 74, was hit by a 2017 Chevy Tahoe while crossing Northern Blvd. in Queens. Police said the Tahoe had 'six speeding and one red light violation,' though it was unclear who drove during those incidents. The driver stayed at the scene; no charges were filed. Less than a day later, Rino El-Saieh, 42, was killed when a 17-year-old BMW driver struck his moped during a left turn in Brooklyn. The BMW then crashed into parked cars. The teen also remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. Both crashes highlight persistent dangers for pedestrians and riders, and raise questions about enforcement and vehicle histories.


11
Int 1304-2025 Lee co-sponsors bill requiring micromobility share operators to display safety rules.

Jun 11 - Council bill demands bike and scooter share firms post road rules at stations and in apps. Riders must review rules yearly. No charge for time spent reading. City aims for clarity, not confusion.

Int 1304-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on June 11, 2025. The bill, titled "requiring micromobility share system operators to display rules of the road for safe operation," compels operators to show safety rules on apps and at stations. Users must review these rules at least once a year before unlocking a device. The bill bars operators from charging for this time. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Hanif, Brewer, Restler, Louis, Narcisse, Lee, Marte, Hanks, Ariola, and Morano. The law aims to make safety rules visible and unavoidable for every rider.