Six Dead, Thousands Hurt—District 29 Streets Still Bleed

A parked SUV rolled free on Queens Boulevard. It struck a woman, leaving her with deep cuts and leg injuries. Two others were listed as occupants. The crash happened at night. The police called it a driverless, runaway vehicle.

A crash involving a runaway SUV and a sedan occurred at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Queens. One woman, age 56, was riding or hanging on the outside of a vehicle when she was struck and injured. She suffered severe lacerations and injuries to her lower leg and foot. Two other occupants, a 56-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle.' Both vehicles were parked before the incident. The SUV sustained damage to its left side doors, and the sedan to its right rear bumper. No driver errors beyond the runaway vehicle were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816243, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A car mounted the sidewalk at Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. Metal twisted. Glass shattered. Nine people hurt—pedestrians, bus riders, car passengers. The bus stop became a scene of chaos. Sirens wailed. All survived. The street held the scars.

According to ABC7 (published April 4, 2025), a crash at Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens left at least nine people injured. Police said a 79-year-old woman, turning left, 'allegedly veered onto the sidewalk' to avoid a stopped Q10 bus, striking both the bus and its shelter. Four people waiting at the bus stop were hurt, as well as two bus passengers and three people inside the car. The article notes, 'Police stated that none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.' All were taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition. The incident highlights the danger when vehicles enter pedestrian space and the risks at crowded bus stops. The investigation continues.

• Car Jumps Curb, Injures Nine In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-04

A bus swung left on Yellowstone. A sixteen-year-old girl crossed with the signal. The bumper tore her leg. Blood pooled on Burns Street. She stayed conscious. The driver, distracted, never saw her.

According to the police report, a bus making a left turn at the corner of Yellowstone Boulevard and Burns Street struck a sixteen-year-old pedestrian. The girl was crossing with the light when the right front bumper hit her leg, causing severe lacerations and significant bleeding. The report states, 'The driver never saw her.' The contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The pedestrian's actions—crossing with the signal at the intersection—are noted, but the primary cause identified is the bus driver's failure to pay attention while turning. No vehicle damage was reported. The incident underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving, especially when large vehicles turn through crosswalks occupied by people with the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800898, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford pickup hit a 29-year-old man on 133rd Street near Liberty Avenue. Blood spilled onto the asphalt. The man stood, stunned, his leg torn open. The driver never stopped. No brake lights, no pause, just a truck vanishing west.

A Ford pickup truck struck a 29-year-old man on 133rd Street near Liberty Avenue, according to the police report. The man, described as 'playing in the roadway,' suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and stood in shock as blood spilled onto the street. The report states the pickup did not stop after the collision—'No brake lights. Just gone.' The vehicle, registered in New Jersey, showed no reported damage and was traveling west. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The driver’s failure to remain at the scene is a central fact. The victim’s behavior is noted as 'playing in roadway,' but this is only mentioned after the driver’s actions. The collision left the pedestrian injured and abandoned, underscoring the lethal consequences when drivers fail to stop after striking a person.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800723, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council calls for Albany to pass the PAWS Act. The bill adds pets to protected victims in traffic law. It hikes fines for drivers who hit animals and flee. Lawmakers push for real consequences when cars strike dogs, cats, and other companions.

Resolution 0723-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced January 23, 2025, it urges the state to pass A10660/S9915, the Protecting Animals Walking on the Street (PAWS) Act. The resolution states: 'add the term companion animals to the list of possible victim classes should a driver fail to exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians and to increase the fine for striking a pet with a vehicle and leaving the scene without reporting the incident.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Carlina Rivera, and Justin L. Brannan back the measure. The PAWS Act would raise fines for drivers who hit pets and leave, and would recognize companion animals as protected victims under traffic law. The move targets a gap in current law, where penalties for striking animals are minor—on par with an illegal U-turn. The Council’s action signals a push for stronger accountability when vehicles harm the city’s most vulnerable, including its animals.

• File Res 0723-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Council bill Int 1173-2025 would force all city cyclists to wear helmets or face a $50 fine. The measure, now in committee, targets riders not already covered by helmet laws. The city’s car carnage continues. Lawmakers focus on headgear, not street danger.

Int 1173-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on January 23, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear,' would require every cyclist not already mandated by other laws to wear a helmet. Violators face civil penalties up to $50. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The bill does not address the root causes of cyclist injuries: reckless drivers, speeding cars, and deadly streets. Instead, it shifts responsibility onto those most at risk, leaving the city’s dangerous roads unchanged.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

A 19-year-old motorcyclist collided with a Ford’s front on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue. His arm bled through torn fabric. The bike’s rear folded in. Driver inexperience and following too closely left no time to stop.

A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was injured when he struck the front of a Ford vehicle on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue in Queens at 11:00 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the motorcyclist suffered severe bleeding to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The crash narrative describes the motorcycle’s rear folding in from the impact. Police cite 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The report also notes 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a factor. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, according to the police report. The collision’s point of impact was the motorcycle’s center back end and the Ford’s center front end. The data highlights driver error and systemic danger as central to this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan’s front bumper smashed a woman’s leg near Jamaica Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The driver looked away. Metal screamed. A parked Ford shuddered. The woman, conscious, lay torn and bleeding in the gutter.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old woman was struck by a Hyundai sedan near 127-03 Jamaica Avenue in Queens at 1:27 a.m. The report states she was outside the crosswalk when the vehicle hit her, splitting open her leg and causing severe lacerations. The impact was so forceful that a parked Ford SUV was also slammed. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the driver looked away before the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. The woman was conscious at the scene, her injury classified as severe. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772041, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

City Council urges Albany to regulate high-speed motorized scooters. The resolution targets unregulated, seatless scooters topping 20 mph. Sponsors want registration, insurance, and inspections. The bill aims to close loopholes and define these fast machines as a separate class.

Resolution 0602-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced October 10, 2024. The Council calls on the State Legislature and Governor to pass A.9747/S.9209, which would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to regulate motorized scooters. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9747/S.9209, to amend the New York State Vehicle and Traffic law, in relation to the regulation of the operation of motorized scooters.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, and Joann Ariola back the measure. The bills would require registration, insurance, and inspection for scooters, and define them as a new vehicle class. The move targets fast, unregulated scooters now flooding city streets, aiming to bring them under clear legal control.

• File Res 0602-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

Council bill Int 1069-2024 slashes legal parking time for tractor-trailers and similar trucks to 90 minutes. Commercial vehicles clogging curbs will face tighter limits. The measure targets streets where hulking rigs linger, blocking sightlines and endangering walkers and riders.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." It limits parking for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers, and semi-trailers to 90 minutes, down from three hours. Council Member Kevin C. Riley leads as primary sponsor, joined by Nantasha M. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Sandy Nurse, and others. The bill was referred to committee the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the measure aims to keep large trucks from blocking curbs and crosswalks, where they threaten pedestrians and cyclists.

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

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

A motorscooter crashed into a sedan’s rear on Austin Street. The unlicensed rider, helmetless and exposed, suffered a crushed leg. Steel met flesh. The scooter’s front crumpled. He stayed awake, pain burning through the afternoon in Queens.

A violent collision unfolded on Austin Street near 67th Road in Queens, where a motorscooter struck the rear of a sedan, according to the police report. The report states the rider, a 30-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no helmet or protective gear. The impact crushed his leg, leaving him conscious but in severe pain. The police report describes the scene: 'A motorscooter slammed into a sedan’s rear. The rider, unlicensed and unarmored, crushed his leg on impact. No helmet. Just flesh meeting steel.' The scooter’s front end folded from the force. The sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the systemic danger of unlicensed, unprotected operation and the unforgiving violence of car-dominated streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757789, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Council bill targets shared e-scooters in downtown Flushing. Sponsors want them off certain streets. The measure now sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Riders and pedestrians face new rules. The city debates who gets space—and who gets squeezed.

Int 1045-2024, now in committee, aims to ban shared electric scooter systems on select streets in downtown Flushing, Queens. The bill was introduced on September 12, 2024, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of shared electric scooter systems on certain streets in the Borough of Queens.' Council Members Lynn C. Schulman (District 29, primary sponsor) and Sandra Ung (District 20, co-sponsor) back the measure. The bill would stop shared e-scooter organizations from operating in a dense, contested part of Queens. No safety analysis was provided. The legislation draws a hard line on who can move—and how—on city streets.

• File Int 1045-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-12

A 14-year-old boy pedaled west on 103rd Avenue. An eastbound sedan struck him head-on. Crush injuries tore through his body. He was conscious when found. Police cite improper lane usage by the driver. The street swallowed another child.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck head-on by an eastbound Acura sedan at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 130th Street in Queens at 10:46 p.m. The report states the boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious when first responders arrived. The sedan's center front end bore the brunt of the impact. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the vehicle driver for failing to maintain proper lane discipline. The report makes no mention of any cyclist actions contributing to the crash, but notes the boy was not wearing a helmet. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738843, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council grilled delivery apps on June 21. Seven bills target reckless e-bike riding, battery fires, and low pay. Lawmakers want apps to answer for worker traffic violations and vehicle safety. Pedestrians and cyclists face daily danger. Councilmember Schulman called for accountability.

On June 21, 2024, the NYC Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held a hearing on seven bills regulating delivery apps. The bills aim to address 'myriad health and safety concerns' from e-bike crashes, battery fires, and low pay. Councilmember Lynn Schulman, District 29, spoke out: 'Right now, delivery workers are essentially incentivized for speed... This often results in driving recklessly, often putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.' Three bills would make apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash responsible for vehicle safety and compliance, require them to provide safety-compliant e-bikes, and ensure mopeds are registered. Other bills target pay transparency and tip protections. Councilmembers Shaun Abreu and Rafael Salamanca also spoke in support. The measures seek to hold companies accountable for dangers faced by vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• Delivery apps in NYC could be held responsible for workers following traffic laws, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-21

A southbound SUV turned wrong at 109th and 103rd. Its front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed. She lay in shock on the pavement, beneath the afternoon sun. The driver failed to yield.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV at the corner of 109th Street and 103rd Avenue turned improperly and struck a baby girl who was crossing with the signal. The report states, 'A southbound SUV turned wrong. The front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed.' The child suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was left in shock on the pavement. The police report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The victim was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error and failure to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726458, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council wants lights on city step streets. The bill orders the DOT to brighten at least 25 stairways a year. Dark stairs mean danger. Light means fewer falls, fewer hidden threats. The push comes from a broad coalition. The goal is simple: safer steps.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lighting on at least 25 step streets each year. The bill’s matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola leads, joined by Council Members Hanks, Ayala, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Louis, Hudson, Schulman, Ossé, Krishnan, Nurse, Moya, and Marmorato. Step streets are public staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to ensure these stairs are well-lit, reducing risk for walkers. Once all step streets are lit, the mandate ends. The measure targets a clear hazard: darkness on city stairs.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Abandoned cars choke sidewalks and crossings. Int 0857-2024 orders city crews to tow vehicles that block streets or hide their plates. Council pushes for swift removal—seventy-two hours after notice. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced April 18, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to towing vehicles that are an encumbrance on the street.' It requires the Department of Sanitation to remove vehicles blocking the street within 72 hours of notice. The NYPD must tow cars with missing, obscured, or improper plates and stickers. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca, Brannan, Feliz, Ayala, Louis, Brewer, Avilés, Mealy, Ung, Restler, Farías, Hudson, Riley, and Schulman. The bill targets vehicles that endanger pedestrians and cyclists by blocking sightlines and crossings. It aims to clear hazards fast, making streets safer for all vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A motorcycle tore through the intersection at 114th Street and Liberty Avenue. It struck a 52-year-old woman. She died there, blood pooling on the asphalt. The bike’s front end crumpled. The street fell silent. Lives changed in an instant.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on 114th Street struck a 52-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with Liberty Avenue. The impact was severe, causing fatal head injuries; the woman died at the scene, bleeding from the head. The report notes the motorcycle’s center front end took the brunt of the collision and was left crumpled. The narrative describes the aftermath as quiet and grim. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the vehicle and the pedestrian, providing no evidence of victim error. The motorcyclist was 'going straight ahead' at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of the pedestrian’s actions contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of a motorcycle striking a pedestrian in a city intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712116, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14