District 27: Deadly roads, silent nights

Feb 28 - Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes demand-based parking in crowded boroughs. DOT must set rates, tweak with notice. Exempt vehicles dodge new fees. Streets may shift. Pedestrians and cyclists watch the curb.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, Farías, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates rising or falling by real-time demand. DOT must set the range before launch and give a week’s notice for changes. Vehicles with special permits stay exempt. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill demands NYPD track every time cops use cars as weapons. No more hiding behind vague stats. Each crash, each injury, must be counted. The city moves closer to truth.

Int 0255-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by Hudson, Won, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Avilés, Abreu, Ossé, Krishnan, Williams, Cabán, Nurse, Sanchez, and at the Brooklyn Borough President's request. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.' It forces the NYPD to report every use of a car to control a subject. No more lumping these acts with other force. The bill aims for hard numbers and real accountability. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—will no longer be invisible in police data.

• File Int 0255-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council targets repair shops and rentals clogging city streets with business vehicles. Fines hit hard. Streets clear for people, not profit. Committee weighs next move.

Bill Int 0227-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its introduction on February 28, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...prohibiting certain commercial establishments from parking vehicles on city streets,' cracks down on auto shops, rental businesses, and gas stations using public streets for business parking. Council Members Nantasha M. Williams (primary sponsor), Vickie Paladino, Erik D. Bottcher, and Robert F. Holden back the bill. Violators face $250–$400 daily fines and possible impoundment. The law aims to reclaim curb space for the public, not private fleets. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0227-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 8 - 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

Feb 3 - A 2008 Honda, southbound on Cross Island Parkway, struck head-on. In the middle front seat, a 73-year-old man did not move again. The crash ended his life in the dark, silent and sudden, as the city pressed on.

A deadly collision occurred on Cross Island Parkway when a 2008 Honda sedan, traveling south, struck head-on, according to the police report. The report states, 'In the middle front seat, a 73-year-old man did not move again. He was not thrown. He simply lay there, still, as the dark pressed in.' The victim, an occupant in the middle front seat, was killed in the impact. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, consistent with a head-on crash. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the fatal consequences of the crash and the systemic dangers present on city roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700406 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 22 - A BMW SUV hit a 68-year-old woman before dawn on Jamaica Avenue. She died on the cold street. The SUV struck her head-on. Darkness lingered. The crash left her lifeless, the city unchanged.

A 68-year-old woman was killed when a westbound BMW SUV struck her head-on as she crossed Jamaica Avenue near 215th Street before sunrise. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The SUV's center front end hit the woman, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. The woman died at the scene. The crash highlights the lethal risk faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially outside marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690316 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 10 - A 66-year-old man crossed Hempstead Avenue. Two cars hit him. Both drivers were distracted. His head struck the pavement. He died in the street. The crash left no room for survival. Metal and speed met flesh. The city claimed another life.

A 66-year-old man was killed while crossing Hempstead Avenue. According to the police report, he was struck first by a Chevy SUV, then by a Toyota sedan. Both vehicles hit him head-on. The report states, “Both drivers were distracted.” The man suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. The pedestrian was not at a crosswalk or signal, but the report does not cite this as a cause. The deadly sequence unfolded in seconds. Systemic danger and driver distraction left a pedestrian dead on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 4 - A Fly Wing moped veered east on Jamaica Avenue. The unlicensed driver lost control. A 62-year-old man in the sidecar was thrown out. His head hit the pavement. He died at the scene. No other vehicle made contact.

A deadly crash unfolded on Jamaica Avenue near 146th Street. According to the police report, a Fly Wing moped swerved east, reacting to an uninvolved vehicle. The moped driver was unlicensed. The sidecar passenger, a 62-year-old man, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report states, 'No helmet. No license. A 62-year-old man flew from the sidecar. His head struck pavement. He died in silence, chasing a vehicle that never touched him.' The contributing factor listed is 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' The data notes the passenger wore no helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. No other vehicles made contact. The crash left one dead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 31 - A Toyota SUV hit an 8-year-old boy on Farmers Boulevard. Blood pooled from his head. Halloween lights flickered. He lay conscious on the asphalt. Sirens cut through the Queens dusk. The boy survived, injured and shaken.

An 8-year-old boy was struck by a Toyota SUV while crossing Farmers Boulevard near Montauk Street in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing without a signal when the SUV hit him, causing severe bleeding from his head. The boy remained conscious at the scene. The crash occurred as Halloween lights flickered and emergency sirens echoed through the evening. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. No driver errors were specified in the data. The boy was not at an intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 15 - A sedan slammed into a motorcyclist on 111th Avenue. The rider, just 28, hit the ground hard. No helmet. No chance. Distraction behind the wheel. He died there, knees shattered, eyes open. Steel and flesh. Another life lost to inattention.

A sedan collided head-on with a motorcycle on 111th Avenue near Merrick Boulevard in Queens. The 28-year-old motorcyclist was killed. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' contributed to the crash. The report states the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the primary factors listed are driver errors. The sedan and motorcycle both suffered front-end damage. The victim died at the scene, with severe injuries to his lower body. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of distraction and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - A northbound SUV slammed into a parked truck on Springfield Boulevard. The SUV flipped. The driver was thrown out, arm torn. Four passengers, including a girl, were hurt. Glass shattered. The street was empty. The crash left blood and silence.

A GMC SUV heading north on Springfield Boulevard struck a parked Ford pickup and overturned. According to the police report, the 25-year-old female driver was partially ejected, left unconscious, and suffered severe arm lacerations. Four passengers, including a 15-year-old girl, were also partially ejected and injured, with pain, abrasions, and shock reported. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are cited in the data. The parked truck was unoccupied. Lap belts were noted for all injured occupants, but the force of the crash broke glass and threw bodies into the street. Five women and girls were left hurt, their injuries ranging from lacerations to trauma.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666362 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 1 - A car door snapped open on Jamaica Avenue. A cyclist slammed steel. His leg split. Blood spilled on the street. He stayed awake. The pain did not. No helmet listed. The street stayed hot. The wound stayed raw.

A 37-year-old man riding a bike on Jamaica Avenue near 211th Street in Queens struck an open car door. According to the police report, 'A car door flung open. A man on a bike struck steel. His leg split. Blood pooled on the hot pavement.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors are cited in the data. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger of sudden door openings on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658791 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 19 - An SUV turned left on 120th Avenue. A moped rider went straight. The SUV struck him head-on. His helmet split. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, scalp torn, silent. The SUV showed no damage. The street held the aftermath.

A crash on 120th Avenue involved an SUV making a left turn and a moped traveling straight. The moped rider, a 49-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'An SUV turned left. A moped came straight. The rider, 49, struck headfirst. Blood pooled on the asphalt. His helmet cracked. He lay conscious, silent, with deep cuts across his scalp. The SUV bore no damage.' The police listed 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The moped rider wore a helmet, which cracked on impact. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. The crash left the moped damaged and the rider bleeding on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - An SUV struck an 82-year-old woman before dawn on Cross Island Parkway. She crossed outside the crosswalk. The Cadillac hit her with its left front. Her body broke on impact. She died there, in the dark, before morning came.

An 82-year-old woman was killed while crossing Cross Island Parkway before sunrise. According to the police report, she was not at an intersection or crosswalk when a northbound Cadillac SUV struck her with its left front quarter panel. The impact caused fatal injuries to her entire body. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as speeding, failure to yield, or distraction are noted in the data. The woman died at the scene. No mention of helmet use or signaling is included in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654111 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 7 - A bus hit an 18-year-old e-scooter rider at 168th Street and 89th Avenue. The teen was ejected and died from head trauma. Blood marked the pavement. The bus showed no damage. Traffic control was ignored. The crash ended a young life.

An 18-year-old riding an e-scooter was killed at the corner of 168th Street and 89th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the northbound bus struck the rider, who was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report states, “The light was not obeyed.” The listed contributing factor is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The bus sustained no damage. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary failure was the disregard for traffic control. The crash claimed the life of a vulnerable road user in a moment of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652465 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 22 - A Toyota SUV tore ahead on Cross Island Parkway. The front end crumpled. The driver, a 76-year-old woman, died alone behind the wheel. No other vehicles. No skid marks. Speed and ignored signals left no room for escape.

A 2008 Toyota SUV crashed on Cross Island Parkway near 112th Avenue in Queens. The sole occupant, a 76-year-old woman driving east, was killed. According to the police report, the SUV 'slammed forward at speed.' The front end was crushed. No other vehicles were involved. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The driver died at the scene. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash highlights the lethal risk when speed and traffic controls are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648067 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 11 - A man on a Kawasaki slammed head-on into a parked Ford pickup. He flew from the bike. His body hit the street. He died there. The truck never moved. The crash left the street scarred and silent.

A 41-year-old unlicensed man riding a Kawasaki motorcycle struck a parked Ford pickup truck on Hollis Avenue. According to the police report, the rider was not wearing a helmet and was ejected from the motorcycle, suffering fatal injuries to his entire body. The Ford pickup was parked and unoccupied. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The motorcyclist's lack of a helmet is noted, but only after the primary driver error. The crash ended with the rider dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18