No Deaths, No Excuses: Streets Still Bleed in District 25

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A 23-year-old man, riding in the back of a Nissan SUV on Northern Boulevard, was thrown from the car. His head shattered. His body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.

A fatal crash occurred on Northern Boulevard near 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 23-year-old man riding as a rear seat passenger in a 2015 Nissan SUV was ejected from the vehicle. The report states: 'A 23-year-old man, rear seat of a 2015 Nissan SUV, was thrown from the car. Head shattered. Body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained no damage and continued moving after the passenger was ejected. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the ejection and death of a rear seat passenger underscore the lethal risks present for vehicle occupants. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700221 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sixty-year-old woman crossed 37th Avenue. An SUV, speeding, hit her. Steel met flesh. She fell, blood spreading on the cold street. She died before help arrived. The city’s danger revealed in a moment’s impact.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 37th Avenue and 90th Street in Queens when an SUV struck her as she crossed the street. The report states the SUV was traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The narrative describes the vehicle coming fast, with the impact causing fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who died before emergency responders arrived. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the driver. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the driver’s excessive speed is cited. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers operate at unsafe speeds, especially at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 75-year-old man crossed Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike sped west. The man fell hard. His head hit the street. Bones snapped. He faded, silent, as traffic rolled on. The city moved. He did not.

A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed on Roosevelt Avenue near Broadway in Queens. According to the police report, the man stepped into the crosswalk as an e-bike traveled westbound. He fell, struck his head, and suffered severe fractures and dislocations. The report states he was semiconscious before becoming unresponsive. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the data. The e-bike sustained no damage. The victim was crossing at an intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans met mid-turn. Steel tore. A baby boy, strapped in, bled from the head. He sat silent, eyes wide. The world roared. Traffic control was ignored. The crash left wounds and shock behind.

Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard. One sedan went straight. The other turned left. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the crash. A baby boy, an occupant, suffered severe head lacerations and shock. He was strapped in with a lap belt and harness. The report describes the child sitting still, eyes wide, bleeding from the head. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and turn improperly. The impact left lasting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned right on Justice Avenue. Its front end struck a 71-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg broke under steel. Blood pooled. She lay silent, stunned. The driver failed to yield. The street did not forgive.

A 71-year-old woman was struck and severely injured by a sedan while crossing Justice Avenue near 55th in Queens. According to the police report, she crossed with the signal when a 2002 Honda sedan turned right and hit her, crushing her lower leg and causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The impact left the woman in shock, silent beneath the car. The data shows she was in the crosswalk, obeying the signal. The driver’s failure to yield and inattention led to the crash. No helmet or signal use is listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man rode his motorscooter into the dark on 97th Street. He struck head-on. The Honda’s bumper crushed his skull. He died there, helmetless, thrown from the seat. The street stayed quiet. Only the machines remained.

A 36-year-old man riding a ZAIZHOU motorscooter was killed in a head-on crash with a Honda SUV on 97th Street near 50th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He was thrown from his seat and suffered fatal crush injuries to the head beneath the SUV’s left front bumper. The SUV driver held a permit. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The victim’s lack of helmet and license are noted only after the absence of driver errors. The crash left one dead at the scene, marking another fatal collision on Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left on Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike rider went straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider flew, landed hard, ribs broken, pain sharp. He stayed conscious, chest crushed, breath ragged. The street stayed dark. The danger stayed real.

A crash unfolded near Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street in Queens. A sedan, making a left turn, struck a 42-year-old man riding an e-bike straight through the intersection. According to the police report, the collision left the e-bike rider ejected and suffering severe chest injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was not wearing a helmet, but the primary errors cited were on the part of the sedan driver. The impact was direct and violent, leaving the rider conscious but with crushed ribs and sharp pain. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646254 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Yamaha motorcycle smashed into a Ford on 80th Street. The 21-year-old rider died, head split. His 17-year-old passenger was thrown, unconscious, bleeding. Traffic control was ignored. Helmets were not worn.

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into the side of a Ford at 80th Street and 34th Avenue in Queens. The 21-year-old rider was killed, his head split open. His 17-year-old passenger was ejected, left unconscious and bleeding from the head. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. Both victims were thrown from the motorcycle. The report states neither wore helmets, but this is noted only after the driver error. The crash left one dead and one seriously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup struck an e-scooter from behind on Northern Boulevard. The rider flew. His head hit the street. Blood pooled. He did not rise. The truck followed too close. The city kept moving. The street stayed silent.

A pickup truck rear-ended an e-scooter at Northern Boulevard and 84th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, the pickup was 'Following Too Closely' and traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are the driver’s errors. Both vehicles were moving east when the crash happened. The report describes the rider as conscious but bleeding on the asphalt after the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW SUV struck a man on Broadway. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone under the dark April sky. The driver kept going straight. No driver errors listed. The street claimed another life.

A 48-year-old man walking in the roadway on Broadway was struck and killed by a BMW SUV traveling south. According to the police report, 'A BMW SUV going south struck a 48-year-old man in the road. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone on the pavement, under the dark April sky.' The crash happened away from an intersection. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620869 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 12-year-old girl crossed 80th Street. An eastbound SUV struck her hard. Her hip broke. The driver, holding only a permit, kept going straight. The SUV showed no damage. Daylight. The girl stayed conscious. Failure to yield left her broken.

A 12-year-old girl was hit by an eastbound SUV while crossing 80th Street. Her hip shattered from the impact. According to the police report, 'A 12-year-old girl stepped into the road. An eastbound SUV hit her square. Her hip shattered. The driver, a woman with only a permit, kept going straight.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s error. The driver held only a learner’s permit at the time. The SUV showed no visible damage. The girl remained conscious after the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616705 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Lincoln Restler joined advocates at City Hall. They pressed Albany to let New York City set its own speed limits. Families mourned children lost to speeding drivers. The Assembly remains the last barrier. The push is urgent. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 29, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other city officials rallied for Sammy’s Law, a bill allowing New York City to set its own speed limits without state approval. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a speeding driver in 2013, would let the city lower limits to 20 mph. The matter, described as 'Let New York City lower its own speed limits,' has strong support from the mayor, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and advocates like Families for Safe Streets. Restler’s action was public advocacy. The Assembly is the final hurdle; the bill is already in the governor’s and Senate’s budgets. Advocates cite a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit change. Families demand action to prevent more deaths.

• City polls, advocates call on Assembly to let NYC set its own speed limits, amny.com, Published 2023-03-29

A bus and an e-scooter clashed near 25-39 72nd Street. The scooter tried to pass. Metal struck. A 31-year-old woman hit head-first. Blood marked the street. She stayed conscious. Passing went wrong. The city counted another wound.

A bus and an e-scooter collided near 25-39 72nd Street in Queens. The e-scooter, operated by a 31-year-old woman, attempted to pass the bus. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was a contributing factor. The front end of the e-scooter struck, causing the rider to hit head-first and suffer severe head lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The bus carried two occupants, both uninjured. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after citing improper lane usage as the primary factor. The crash left the street marked by blood and silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605600 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped hit a Mercedes on 75th Street and 32nd Avenue. The rider, helmetless, struck headfirst and died on the cold asphalt. Both drivers ignored traffic control. The sedan driver survived. The street stayed silent under Queens’ night sky.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 75th Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a moped slammed into the side of a southbound Mercedes. The 31-year-old moped rider, not wearing a helmet, struck headfirst and died at the scene. The sedan driver was not reported injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor for both drivers. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before the crash. The rider’s lack of helmet is noted, but the primary cause remains the failure to obey traffic controls. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Krishnan pushes a bill to cut parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian greenways like Ocean Parkway wait years for repairs. The bill demands speed and transparency. Parks officials admit the need. The mayor’s task force circles.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan (District 25) introduced a legislative proposal targeting the Parks Department’s long project timelines. The bill, now before the Council, calls for a 25 percent reduction in capital project durations and greater transparency through improved online tracking. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The bill responds to years-long delays on projects like the Ocean Parkway greenway. Parks officials acknowledge the problem and welcome collaboration. The mayor’s task force also seeks capital process reform, including design-build contracts and standardized approvals. The proposal aims to speed up critical repairs for pedestrians and cyclists, demanding accountability from city agencies.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-08

Council Member Krishnan pushes bills to cut Parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian paths rot while repairs stall for years. Lawmakers demand answers. The city’s oldest greenways stay cracked. Cyclists and walkers wait. Danger lingers.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan introduced legislation targeting the Parks Department’s slow capital project timelines. The bills, discussed at an oversight hearing, would force Parks to devise a plan by December 1, 2023, to reduce project durations by 25 percent and improve online transparency about delays and costs. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The legislation responds to years-long delays on vital bike and pedestrian greenways, like Ocean Parkway, where repairs have lagged since 2019. Parks officials blame pandemic pauses and contractor reviews. The bills aim to end the cycle of neglect that leaves vulnerable road users at risk on crumbling paths. Parks spokesperson Meghan Lalor said the agency is open to working with the Council on reforms.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-08

A drunk driver killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The driver stayed at the scene and was arrested. Local officials mourned the loss. The deadly corridor has seen little change despite repeated deaths. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 27, 2022, State Senator Jessica Ramos responded to a fatal crash in Council District 13. The incident occurred when a drunk driver struck and killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor in Queens. The official matter summary reads: 'Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider.' Ramos urged residents, 'Please do your part to keep our neighbors safe,' and condemned drunk driving. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called the death 'senseless.' Despite five pedestrian deaths on this stretch in the past decade, major safety improvements have not been made. Ramos’s statement highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users and the city’s failure to fix deadly streets.

• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider, amny.com, Published 2022-11-27

A motorscooter struck a sedan’s side at 37th Avenue and 82nd Street. The unlicensed rider, without a helmet, was ejected and died on the pavement. Both drivers lacked licenses. Alcohol played a role. The street stayed cold. The loss was final.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 37th Avenue and 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a motorscooter slammed into the side of a sedan. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was ejected and died from head injuries. The sedan’s driver was also unlicensed. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The data highlights systemic failures: unlicensed operation, alcohol, and lack of protective equipment. The police report states, 'He died there, alone, on the cold Queens asphalt.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Councilmember Joann Ariola claimed open streets, bike lanes, and traffic islands slow emergency vehicles. She blamed street safety measures for longer fire response times. FDNY officials disagreed, citing traffic volume. The debate exposes tension between safety for walkers and emergency access.

On November 5, 2022, the NYC Council debated street design and emergency response. The discussion, reported by nypost.com, focused on rising fire deaths and slower FDNY response times. The matter summary reads: 'Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures.' Councilmember Joann Ariola (District 32) argued that open street programs, bike lanes, and traffic islands hinder emergency vehicles, especially when illegal parking blocks access. She called for better enforcement. Other voices, including union leaders, echoed her concerns. However, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan defended new street designs, stating they were built with emergency input. The Department of Transportation said all projects include emergency routes and are monitored. FDNY officials attributed delays to increased post-pandemic traffic, not street safety measures. The debate highlights the ongoing conflict between car-free streets for vulnerable users and emergency vehicle access.

• Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-05