Union Turnpike takes a life; Clearview keeps killing

Dec 18 - A flatbed truck rolled west on the Long Island Expressway. Its right front bumper struck a 65-year-old man lying off the roadway. Blood pooled. Death came before dawn. Driver inattention, police say, left the man unseen and unspared.

A 65-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The incident occurred off the roadway, with the pedestrian described as 'not in roadway' and 'not at intersection.' The police report states, 'Two flatbeds passed. One did not see. The right front bumper struck his head.' The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited in the police report is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No driver errors beyond inattention are listed. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the truck driver's failure to notice the man lying off the road, resulting in a fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Aug 30 - A Honda, moving too fast, crashed into a Jeep’s side at 90th Avenue and 212th Street. The 64-year-old Jeep driver was crushed and died at the scene. Metal twisted, lives ended. Speed left no room for survival.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 90th Avenue and 212th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 2004 Honda sedan, traveling east, struck the left side of a 2014 Jeep SUV heading north. The impact crushed the 64-year-old Jeep driver, who died behind the wheel. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The narrative states, 'A speeding Honda slammed into a Jeep’s side. The 64-year-old driver was crushed in the wreck. He died behind the wheel, his body bearing the full force of the crash.' The data shows the Honda’s center front end hit the Jeep’s left side doors, with severe damage to both vehicles. No other contributing factors are listed for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver speed, with the victim bearing the brunt of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Jun 7 - A GMC SUV turned left on 73rd Avenue, striking a woman on her bike. Metal slammed flesh. Her face was crushed. She stayed conscious. The driver, distracted, failed to yield. Systemic danger left blood on the street.

A woman riding her bike eastbound on 73rd Avenue at 193rd Street was struck by a GMC SUV making a left turn, according to the police report. The cyclist, age 34, suffered crush injuries to her face but did not lose consciousness. The report states the SUV driver was 'distracted' and failed to yield right-of-way. Both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' are listed as contributing factors. The police narrative describes the moment: 'Metal met flesh. Her face crushed against steel.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the driver’s errors. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged, indicating the force of the impact. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by inattentive drivers turning across the paths of vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Jan 8 - An SUV turned on 89th Avenue, its front end striking an 85-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the pavement. She died there, in the cold winter sun, her life ended by a driver’s failure to yield.

According to the police report, an 85-year-old woman was crossing 89th Avenue at an intersection, walking with the signal, when a Honda SUV made a left turn and struck her with its center front end. The report states the pedestrian suffered a fatal head injury, with blood pooling on the pavement. She died at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, underscoring the driver's responsibility in the crash. 'Glare' is also listed as a contributing factor. The victim was crossing legally, with the light, when she was hit. The SUV was driven by a licensed driver and was occupied by two people at the time. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians, even when those pedestrians are following the law.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 15 - A sedan hit a 60-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk at 188th Street and 90th Avenue. She lay unconscious, head bleeding. The car’s front end was crushed. The street fell silent. Only the cold and the blood remained.

A sedan struck a 60-year-old woman as she crossed 188th Street at 90th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman was in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. She suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious at the scene. The sedan’s center front end was heavily damaged. No driver errors were listed in the police report. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'She lay unconscious, head bleeding on the cold street. The car’s front was crushed. The morning was quiet again.' The data does not mention any contributing factors related to the driver or the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - A 67-year-old man stood mid-block on 73 Avenue. An SUV driver, distracted, struck him. Metal crushed bone. His legs broke. He died in the street, pinned between machines. The road stayed open. The city moved on.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was killed mid-block on 73 Avenue when a moving SUV struck him. According to the police report, 'Distraction behind the wheel. Metal met flesh. His legs shattered. He died there, between machines.' The crash involved two parked SUVs and one moving SUV. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was performing 'Other Actions in Roadway' when the crash occurred. No helmet or signal use is cited as a factor. The deadly impact highlights the danger of driver distraction and the vulnerability of people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 19 - Two SUVs crashed at 53rd Avenue and 206th Street. One slammed into the other’s side. A woman, 46, sat up front. Her head bled. The airbag burst. She stayed conscious. Inattention behind the wheel drew blood on glass.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at the corner of 53rd Avenue and 206th Street in Queens. According to the police report, one SUV struck the side of the other. A 46-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. She remained conscious after the crash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The airbag deployed in the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 17 - Two sedans collided head-on near midnight on Cross Island Parkway. Steel met steel. A 54-year-old woman in the front seat bled from her face. Distraction behind the wheel. The night stayed silent. The wound did not.

Two sedans crashed head-on on Cross Island Parkway just before midnight. A 54-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger, suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Distraction steered the wheel.' The official contributing factor was 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Both vehicles struck each other at the center front end. The woman wore a lap belt and harness. No other injuries were listed. The report does not mention any errors by the injured passenger. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as noted in the police account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 9 - An 82-year-old man crossed mid-block on 73rd Avenue. A BMW SUV hit him with its right front bumper. He fell, head bleeding, and never woke. The street stayed cold. The man died where he lay. The SUV kept going straight.

An 82-year-old pedestrian was killed on 73rd Avenue when a BMW SUV struck him mid-block. According to the police report, 'an 82-year-old man stepped into the street. A BMW SUV struck him with its right front bumper. He lay unconscious, head bleeding on cold asphalt. He never woke.' The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk, and the SUV was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The impact proved fatal for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 3 - Three cars slammed together on Cross Island Parkway. Metal tore. A 41-year-old man, front seat, bled from the head and did not wake. Two drivers and two more passengers suffered neck and arm wounds. The night stayed silent. Engines cooled.

Three vehicles—an SUV and two sedans—collided southbound on Cross Island Parkway. According to the police report, 'Southbound on Cross Island Parkway, three cars collided in the dark. Metal screamed. A 41-year-old man, front passenger, lay bleeding from the head. His belt held him. He did not wake.' The crash left the 41-year-old male passenger unconscious with severe head bleeding. Two drivers and two other passengers suffered neck and arm injuries. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. No driver was reported as unlicensed. All injured persons wore lap belts and harnesses. The report does not list any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586647 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 2 - A flatbed truck turned left on Francis Lewis Boulevard. Its right bumper hit a 68-year-old man. Head trauma. Internal bleeding. He fell still. The street stayed quiet. The driver failed to yield. Distraction played a part. The man died.

A flatbed truck making a left turn at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Hillside Avenue struck a 68-year-old man. According to the police report, the truck's right front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing head trauma and internal bleeding. The man was conscious at first, then motionless. He died from his injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The truck showed no damage. The data does not indicate any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash. The deadly impact highlights the danger faced by people on foot when drivers fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 1 - A sedan struck a 69-year-old man crossing Hillside Avenue with the signal. His head hit the pavement. Blood pooled. The driver did not see him. The man stayed conscious. The street kept moving. The wound was deep. The danger was clear.

A 69-year-old man was crossing Hillside Avenue at 191st Street in Queens with the signal when a westbound sedan hit him. According to the police report, 'The driver didn’t see.' The man suffered a head injury and severe lacerations but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk, following the signal. The impact was to the center front end of the sedan. No helmet or signaling issues are mentioned. The crash left the man hurt and the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 16 - A Honda sedan veered north on Clearview Expressway. The car ripped open. The 20-year-old driver died, crushed behind the wheel. A 22-year-old passenger was knocked unconscious, head injured. The night was empty. Speed and lane changes left wreckage.

A 2007 Honda sedan crashed while heading north on Clearview Expressway at 2:05 a.m. The left side of the car tore open. According to the police report, the 20-year-old male driver was killed, suffering crush injuries to the head. A 22-year-old male passenger was rendered unconscious with head trauma and internal injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The sedan was changing lanes before impact, striking on the left front bumper and damaging the left side doors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report confirms the road was empty at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 26 - A Ducati struck a Honda’s rear as the car changed lanes on Clearview Expressway. The rider, 43, flew from the bike. He wore a helmet. Internal injuries ended his life on the asphalt. The crash left passengers shaken, but alive.

A deadly crash unfolded on Clearview Expressway when a Ducati motorcycle slammed into the back of a Honda sedan mid-lane change. According to the police report, the motorcycle rider, 43, was ejected and suffered fatal internal injuries to his abdomen and pelvis. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Honda, driven by a 31-year-old man with two passengers, was changing lanes when the impact occurred. The motorcyclist was helmeted, as noted in the report, but the force of the collision proved fatal. No other serious injuries were reported among the sedan’s occupants. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of unsafe speed on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549645 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 17 - Metal split on Clearview Expressway. An SUV crushed its front. A Ford truck lay demolished. One man, fifty, died at the wheel. Another driver, eighteen, hurt his neck. The cause: driver inattention. The toll: one life, many broken bodies.

A deadly crash unfolded on Clearview Expressway. According to the police report, a 50-year-old man died after his SUV struck a Ford truck. The SUV's front end was crushed. The truck was demolished. An 18-year-old driver suffered neck injuries. Several others were listed as injured or with unspecified harm. The police report states: 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling south; the truck was changing lanes when struck. The 50-year-old man was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left metal torn and bodies broken. The report lists no other contributing factors beyond driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 6 - A Toyota sedan crashed into a parked garbage truck on Douglaston Parkway. The driver, 46, was crushed in his seat. He was conscious, hurt across his body. Police cited driver distraction as the cause. Metal and flesh met with brutal force.

A 2006 Toyota sedan struck the rear of a parked garbage truck on Douglaston Parkway near Grand Central Parkway. The 46-year-old driver was crushed in his seat and suffered injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, 'A 2006 Toyota slammed into the back of a parked garbage truck. The driver, 46, was crushed in his seat. He was conscious. Hurt all over. Distraction listed as the cause.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The garbage truck was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The impact left the sedan's front end destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18