District 32’s deadly roads: Belt, Woodhaven, Cross Bay

Oct 20 - A dump truck turned right at Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. Its front bumper struck a 63-year-old woman working in the road. She died beneath the truck. The driver’s view was blocked. The truck showed no damage. Her body bore the weight.

A fatal crash took place at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a dump truck made a right turn and struck a 63-year-old woman who was working in the roadway. She was killed, suffering crush injuries to her entire body. The report states, “The view was blocked.” Contributing factors listed include 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Oversized Vehicle.' The truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. The woman was working at the intersection when the truck’s right front bumper hit her. No helmet or signal issues were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 6 - A woman rode her bike north on 149th Avenue. A car came fast, head-on. The driver ignored traffic control. The car struck her from behind. Her body was crushed. She lay conscious, pain everywhere.

A 45-year-old woman riding a bike northbound on 149th Avenue at 94th Street in Queens was struck from behind by a car. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control and was traveling too fast. The impact crushed the cyclist’s entire body, leaving her conscious but severely injured. The report states: “Traffic control ignored. Speed too fast. Her whole body crushed.” The driver’s failure to obey traffic signals and excessive speed are listed as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver’s errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668701 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 20 - A man on an e-bike crossed Pitkin Avenue at 95th Street. He ran the light. A Kia struck him head-on. He flew, landed hard. Blood pooled under the streetlamp. He died there, alone in the dark.

A 58-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed at Pitkin Avenue and 95th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider 'ran the light.' A Kia SUV, traveling south, struck him head-on. The impact ejected the rider, causing fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The man was not wearing a helmet, but the primary error cited is the disregard for traffic control. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the rider dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664178 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - A Hyundai sedan crashed into a parked Volkswagen SUV on Cross Bay Boulevard. The driver, a 31-year-old woman, was crushed in her seat. She stayed conscious. Her whole body hurt. Unsafe speed and improper turning led to pain and chaos.

A Hyundai sedan struck the back of a parked Volkswagen SUV near 160th Avenue on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens. The 31-year-old driver of the Hyundai was crushed in her seat and suffered injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The Volkswagen SUV was parked at the time of the collision. The impact damaged the right front of the Hyundai and the left rear of the SUV. The report does not list any helmet or signal issues. The crash left one person hurt and highlighted driver errors as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 22 - Council members push to end jaywalking penalties. Supporters cite biased enforcement. Critics warn of danger for pedestrians. The bill faces debate as traffic deaths fall but injuries persist. The city weighs safety against fairness in street crossings.

On July 22, 2023, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse introduced a bill to legalize jaywalking in New York City. The measure, supported by Council Members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, aims to 'greenlight pedestrians to freely cross streets outside the crosswalk or without obeying traffic signals.' The bill responds to claims of biased enforcement against Black and Latino New Yorkers. Council Majority Leader Joseph Borelli and Councilwoman Joann Ariola oppose the bill, warning it could endanger pedestrians. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or received a hearing. The NYPD and Mayor's office are reviewing the legislation. The debate highlights the tension between enforcement fairness and the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users. No formal safety analysis has been provided.

• Far-left NYC Council Dems push to legalize jaywalking, nypost.com, Published 2023-07-22

Jun 24 - A sedan veered onto the sidewalk on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The driver had fallen asleep. The car struck a 19-year-old woman head-on. She died at the scene. The street stayed quiet. The danger was sudden and final.

A 2021 Hyundai sedan traveling west on Rockaway Beach Boulevard near Beach 108th Street left the roadway and mounted the sidewalk. According to the police report, the driver 'fell asleep.' The sedan struck a 19-year-old woman who was standing on the sidewalk. She suffered fatal head injuries and died where she stood. The police report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. The victim was not in the roadway and played no role in the crash. The impact came from the center front end of the sedan. No other contributing factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640443 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 18 - A new storm-resistant street opened on Beach 108th in Rockaway. Porous pavement, wider sidewalks, and bike lanes now line the block. The project promises less flooding and safer passage for people on foot and bike. Connections to the ferry and boardwalk improved.

On June 18, 2023, Council Member Joann Ariola (District 32) marked the completion of a major infrastructure project in Rockaway. The work, running from Beach Channel Drive to Shore Front Parkway, added porous pavement, new bike lanes, and wider pedestrian walkways. The city says the 11,000 square feet of new surface can absorb nearly 1.3 million gallons of stormwater each year. Ariola said, 'At long last, we will finally have a safe, steady, and efficient flow of traffic here, and the area is now more resilient than ever before.' The project, part of a $16.6 million investment begun in March 2021, also repaired or replaced 1,100 feet of storm sewer and added new left turn lanes. The changes give cyclists and pedestrians an easier, safer route to the Rockaway ferry terminal and boardwalk.

• New storm-resistant street with ‘porous pavement’ opens in Rockaway, just in time for hurricane season, gothamist.com, Published 2023-06-18

May 22 - Council members fight congestion pricing for 5,200 drivers. Most New Yorkers ride transit. Opponents claim harm to businesses and residents. Advocates say the plan funds transit, cuts traffic, and spares the vulnerable. The city’s future hangs in the balance.

The congestion pricing debate centers on a policy to toll drivers entering Manhattan’s core. The bill faces opposition from Council Members David Weprin, Joann Ariola, and Ari Kagan, who argue it will hurt small businesses and outer-borough residents. On May 22, 2023, Ari Kagan said, 'Congestion Pricing will hurt countless New Yorkers, small businesses, residents of so-called outer-boroughs & will create huge lines of parked cars right outside of Manhattan.' Yet, the MTA’s assessment shows only 5,200 city drivers commute by car from areas far from fast transit—just 1.2% of that population. Advocates like Felicia Park-Rogers counter, 'this policy has the potential to be utterly transformational for our city.' The plan includes exemptions for disabled and low-income drivers. Most New Yorkers stand to gain safer, better-funded transit and less congestion.

• Straw Men: The Fight Over Congestion Pricing Comes Down to Just 5,200 NYC Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-22

May 19 - A man lost control of his Yamaha on North Conduit Avenue. The bike slammed down. He flew from the seat. His helmet stayed on. He struck the pavement and died. No other vehicles or people were involved. The street stayed silent.

A 54-year-old man riding a Yamaha motorcycle westbound on North Conduit Avenue lost control and was ejected from his bike. According to the police report, "A 54-year-old man lost control of his Yamaha. The bike struck hard. He flew. The helmet stayed on. His body hit pavement. No one else was there. He died alone, under the noon sun." The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash. The man died at the scene from injuries to his entire body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 14 - A sedan hit a 73-year-old man on North Conduit Avenue. The driver was distracted. The man died on the street. Metal crushed flesh. The city moved on. The car kept west. Another life lost to inattention.

A 73-year-old man was killed while crossing North Conduit Avenue near Cohancy Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A 73-year-old man stepped into the road without a signal. A westbound Honda struck him head-on. He died on the pavement. The driver was distracted.' The contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The sedan hit the pedestrian with its center front end. No injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The crash shows the fatal risk that distracted driving poses to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 12 - A man on an e-scooter fell hard on 101st Avenue. His head struck the street. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious as morning traffic rolled past. No car hit him. Confusion ruled the quiet road. The city kept moving.

A 45-year-old man riding an e-scooter on 101st Avenue near 93rd Street in Queens was thrown from his vehicle. According to the police report, 'A 45-year-old man thrown from his e-scooter. No helmet. Head struck pavement. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Semiconscious.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the contributing factor. No other vehicles were involved. The rider suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Helmet use was noted as absent, but only after confusion was cited as the primary cause. The street stayed quiet. The man remained on the ground, injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620090 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 30 - A man walked with traffic on Cross Bay Boulevard. A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. He died there, head shattered, alone by the water. The driver stayed. The night swallowed the sound.

A man was killed while walking along North Channel Bridge on Cross Bay Boulevard. According to the police report, 'A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. He died there on the road, head shattered, alone by the water, unnamed.' The pedestrian was walking with traffic when the collision happened. The driver, operating a 2018 Honda SUV, was traveling straight ahead. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the report. There was no mention of helmet use or signaling. The crash left one man dead, the road unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 13 - A Toyota sedan turned right at Cross Bay Boulevard. The driver failed to yield. The car hit a 24-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood marked her face. She stayed conscious. The sedan showed no damage. The street bore the wound.

A 24-year-old woman was struck by a Toyota sedan while crossing with the signal at the corner of Cross Bay Boulevard and 137th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan was making a right turn when it hit the pedestrian in the face, causing severe lacerations. The woman remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The sedan, registered in New York, showed no visible damage. The victim was lawfully crossing at the intersection. No other contributing factors were cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612510 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 11 - A Mercedes sped west on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The road was slick. The car slammed, crumpled, and threw its driver. He died on the pavement, head crushed. Unsafe speed and slippery asphalt left no room for mercy.

A single-car crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway killed a 28-year-old man. According to the police report, a 2011 Mercedes sedan was traveling west at unsafe speed on slick pavement. The car was demolished. The driver, unbelted, was ejected and died from head injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash left the driver alone on the road, the car destroyed. The police report states: 'The car crumpled. The unbelted driver, 28, was thrown from the wreck. He died alone on the road, head shattered, speed his final word.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 29 - A Nissan SUV hit a 63-year-old woman on 84th Street at dawn. She died from head and internal injuries. The street had no crosswalk. The SUV struck her with its right front bumper. The morning was silent. The loss was total.

A 63-year-old woman was killed when a northbound Nissan SUV struck her with its right front bumper on 84th Street, just past dawn. According to the police report, the woman stepped into the roadway where there was no crosswalk. She suffered fatal head and internal injuries. The SUV was traveling straight ahead. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The data shows the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The police report does not mention any helmet or signal use. The street offered no protection. The impact was deadly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 28 - Council members push the MTA to study reviving the Rockaway Beach rail line. The move aims to connect southeast Queens, cut car trips, and open new routes. The bill signals urgency but lacks binding power. Debate continues over transit versus parkland.

On November 28, 2022, Council Members Joann Ariola and Selvena Brooks-Powers introduced a City Council resolution urging the MTA to conduct an environmental impact study for the QueensLink rail reactivation. The bill, non-binding and currently under committee review, seeks to revive 3.5 miles of the former Rockaway Beach Branch, extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways. The matter title calls for 'a deeper study of the QueensLink proposal to reactivate an old rail line.' Ariola and Brooks-Powers, both representing southeastern Queens, argue the project would benefit communities with poor subway access and reduce car dependency. Ariola stated, 'I think it’s necessary and I think that it would really benefit the communities.' Brooks-Powers emphasized the resolution as a priority for the Transportation Committee. The push comes as Mayor Adams advances the QueensWay park plan, raising concerns among transit advocates. The MTA says a new study is unnecessary, but supporters insist a thorough review is needed before converting the corridor to parkland.

• Queens Pols Revive Push for MTA to Study QueensLink, As QueensWay Linear Park Surges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-28

Nov 14 - Council pushes bills to curb deadly lithium-ion battery fires. FDNY supports bans on unsafe batteries and calls for more safety info. Advocates warn bans hit low-income delivery workers. Debate rages as fires, injuries, and deaths mount. City eyes safer charging.

On November 14, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on a package of bills addressing lithium-ion battery fires. The FDNY supported four out of five bills, including bans on second-use and non-certified batteries, a public safety campaign, and safety information for delivery workers. The FDNY expressed concern about resource demands for detailed annual fire reporting. The matter summary states the bills aim to address the rise of deadly fires from faulty batteries, often used by delivery workers. Council Member Joann Ariola urged the FDNY to consider international solutions and invest in safe charging infrastructure. Hildalyn Colón Hernández of Los Deliveristas Unidos opposed the bans, arguing they punish low-income workers and miss root causes. The city recently abandoned a proposal to ban e-bikes on NYCHA property and is working on new charging stations. The debate highlights the struggle to protect vulnerable workers while preventing more deaths and injuries.

• FDNY Backing Council Bills to Address Deadly Fires from Lithium Ion Batteries, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-14

Nov 5 - 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

Oct 17 - A 27-year-old man died on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. A westbound sedan struck him with its right front bumper. Rage behind the wheel. The man fell far from any crosswalk. He died in the street. The car did not stop.

A 27-year-old pedestrian was killed on Rockaway Beach Boulevard near Beach 87th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a westbound sedan struck the man with its right front bumper. The impact crushed his body. He died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor for the driver. No other errors or factors are cited. The data shows the driver was traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The violence of the street claimed another life.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574123 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 22 - A driverless Ford SUV rolled down 82nd Street. It struck a 49-year-old man. His leg broke. He lay in the street, pain sharp and sudden. The SUV showed no damage. No one sat behind the wheel. Metal moved. Flesh broke.

A 1998 Ford SUV, left without a driver, rolled south near 91-29 82nd Street in Queens. The vehicle struck a 49-year-old man, breaking his leg. According to the police report, 'a driverless 1998 Ford SUV rolled south. It struck a 49-year-old man in the leg. Bone broke.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when hit. The report lists 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle' as the main contributing factor. No one was inside the SUV at the time of the crash. The vehicle showed no damage. The man suffered a serious leg injury and was left hurt in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566634 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18