Staten Island Bleeds: Carr Votes, Neighbors Die

Sanitation crews crushed hundreds of mopeds and e-bikes on Staten Island. Smoke rose as batteries burned. Officials called it a crackdown on unregistered vehicles. A Citi Bike was smashed too. The mayor watched. No word on why it was there.

Gothamist reported on June 12, 2025, that New York City officials destroyed around 200 unregistered mopeds and e-bikes at a Staten Island sanitation facility. Mayor Eric Adams said over 100,000 'ghost vehicles' have been seized since 2022, including cars with fake or missing plates. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated, 'This morning is not just about crushing mopeds. It is about crushing the criminal activity and quality of life activities that come with them.' The crackdown targets vehicles often used by delivery workers but also linked by officials to traffic violations and other offenses. A Citi Bike was destroyed among the pile, though officials did not explain why. The event highlighted ongoing enforcement actions and raised questions about policy impacts on vulnerable road users.

• City Destroys Mopeds, E-Bikes En Masse, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-12

Cameras will watch for speeding on city bridges and tunnels. Fines start at $50. Lawmakers push the plan to protect workers and travelers. The program runs to 2031. Enforcement aims to slow drivers and cut risk on vital routes.

Patch reported on May 8, 2025, that New York lawmakers approved an expansion of a speed camera pilot program for MTA bridges and tunnels. The plan allows cameras on seven bridges and two tunnels, ticketing drivers who exceed speed limits. Fines start at $50 for a first offense, rising to $75 and $100 for repeat violations within 18 months. Governor Hochul's office called the program 'one more way the governor is working to improve safety on our roads and bridges for workers and travelers alike.' MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan said, 'We want to make sure that our maintenance workers and contractors are safe.' The program, part of the $254 billion state budget, will be reviewed again in 2031. The move targets driver speed, a key factor in crash severity, and signals a shift toward automated enforcement on major city crossings.

• Speed Cameras Coming To MTA Crossings, Patch, Published 2025-05-08

Two sedans barreled down Hylan Boulevard and struck a man crossing against the light. Metal slammed flesh. He lay broken and unconscious. The drivers walked away. The street swallowed another body. The city kept moving.

A man was struck and severely injured by two sedans on Hylan Boulevard near Dawson Place, Staten Island, at 12:33 a.m., according to the police report. The report states, 'Two sedans struck a man crossing against the light. His body broke beneath the front ends. He lay unconscious, crushed from head to foot.' Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead, and the point of impact was the center front end of each sedan. The drivers, both licensed, were uninjured and left the scene on foot. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was rendered unconscious. The police report lists the pedestrian's action as 'crossing against signal,' but contributing factors for the drivers are marked 'unspecified.' The narrative centers the violence of the collision and the devastating injuries inflicted by the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805898, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck reversed in the dark, crushing a man behind an Amazon warehouse. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. Police investigate. The night swallowed another worker on Staten Island’s industrial edge.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), a deadly crash occurred at 546 Gulf Ave., Staten Island, when a box truck backed up and struck 34-year-old Leony Salcedo-Chevalier, a pedestrian and Amazon subcontractor. The article states, “a 40-year-old man, while operating a box truck, backed the vehicle up at the location but wound up striking a pedestrian.” Both the driver and victim worked for Amazon subcontractors. The driver remained at the scene and has not been charged. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The incident highlights risks in warehouse zones, especially during night operations, and raises questions about vehicle movement and worker safety protocols on industrial sites.

• Box Truck Backs Over Worker At Warehouse, amny, Published 2025-04-10

A box truck backed up in the darkness near 546 Gulf Avenue. A man, thirty-four, was crushed in the roadway. The truck showed no damage. The street fell quiet, the life lost in a moment of steel and silence.

According to the police report, a box truck was backing up near 546 Gulf Avenue when a thirty-four-year-old man was crushed in the roadway. The incident occurred at 22:58. The narrative states, 'A box truck backed up in the dark. The driver sat behind the wheel. A man, age thirty-four, was crushed in the roadway.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The report does not cite any actions by the pedestrian as contributing factors. The truck showed no damage, and the street was quiet after. The driver’s action—backing the truck—placed a vulnerable road user in fatal danger. No further details on systemic factors or environmental conditions are provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804882, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Honda SUV barrels east on Steuben Street. The driver’s view is blocked. An old man crosses with the signal. Metal hits flesh. Blood pools, deep cuts mark his head. A woman and child inside the car are also hurt, both conscious.

According to the police report, a Honda SUV traveling east on Steuben Street near Hylan Boulevard struck a 76-year-old man as he crossed the intersection with the signal. The report states the driver’s view was obstructed and explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to the head and was conscious at the scene. The impact also injured a woman and child inside the vehicle, both of whom remained conscious. The narrative describes the collision in stark terms: 'Metal strikes flesh. Blood on the head, deep cuts.' The report makes clear the pedestrian was crossing legally, with the signal, when the SUV’s center front end struck him. Driver error and limited visibility are directly cited as causes, underscoring the systemic dangers faced by those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804886, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV struck Chaosheng Wu as he crossed Hylan Blvd. He died at the hospital. The driver stayed. No charges. Police investigate. The street remains dangerous. Another life lost to traffic on Staten Island.

According to the NY Daily News (March 10, 2025), Chaosheng Wu, 80, was crossing Hylan Blvd. at Benton Ave. when a 2008 Ford Edge hit him at 9:25 a.m. Friday. The article states, “The 65-year-old driver stayed at the scene and was not charged, but police are still investigating the crash.” Wu was taken to Staten Island University Hospital North, where he died. The driver was heading north on Hylan Blvd. at the time. No charges have been filed. The incident highlights the ongoing risk for pedestrians on major Staten Island corridors. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Hylan Blvd, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-10

A wooden board flew off a truck on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It smashed through a car’s windshield. Glass rained down on the family inside. The driver, shaken but steady, steered blind and pulled over. No one reported injuries. Danger passed, barely.

The New York Post (March 9, 2025) reports a near-disaster on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. High winds sent a wooden board flying from a pickup truck into David Deng’s windshield. Dashcam footage shows the board shattering glass across Deng and his family. Deng told the outlet, "I was in complete shock," and described glass covering their clothes and seats. The truck driver had stopped earlier, apparently trying to secure the load. The incident highlights the risk of unsecured cargo on city bridges. No police report was filed at the time. The event underscores the persistent threat loose debris poses to all road users.

• Loose Board Smashes Car Windshield On Bridge, New York Post, Published 2025-03-09

A Jeep turned left on Victory Blvd as a moped passed west. Metal screamed. A 12-year-old boy clung outside, helmetless. He struck pavement hard, his leg split open. He lay semiconscious beside the crushed moped.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV was making a left turn near 2084 Victory Blvd while a moped traveled west, attempting to pass. The crash's contributing factor is listed as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The report states: 'A Jeep turned left. A moped passed west. Metal screamed.' A 12-year-old boy, riding outside the moped without a helmet, was thrown to the pavement, suffering a severe leg laceration and lying semiconscious at the scene. The moped was described as 'crushed.' The report highlights driver errors—improper lane usage during passing and the Jeep's left turn—as the cause. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision's violence and injuries underscore the dangers posed by driver mistakes and systemic traffic risks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797622, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford SUV hit an 80-year-old man head-on near Benton Avenue. His head struck the pavement. Blood pooled beneath him. He died under a gray Staten Island sky. The street bore silent witness to another life ended by steel.

An 80-year-old pedestrian was killed when a northbound Ford SUV struck him head-on on Hylan Boulevard near Benton Avenue, according to the police report. The report states the man 'stepped into the street against the light.' The vehicle, a 2008 Ford SUV, was traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred, with the point of contact at the center front end. The police report describes the aftermath: 'His head hit hard. Blood pooled on the pavement. He died under a gray Staten Island sky.' The contributing factors listed in the police data are 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Distraction are cited in the report. The narrative centers the violence of the impact and the fatal consequences for the pedestrian. No mention is made of helmet use or other pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797079, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel tore on Victory Boulevard as a bus and a box truck slammed head-on. Four people, ages 23 to 66, were pulled from the wreckage, conscious but broken. Blood pooled, bones snapped, the street marked by violence and impact.

A violent head-on collision between a bus and a box truck on Victory Blvd near Canterbury Ave left four people injured, according to the police report. The crash occurred as both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they struck each other, their left front bumpers colliding. The police report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor. Four occupants—two drivers and two passengers, ages 23, 36, 52, and 66—suffered crush injuries to their legs and backs. All were conscious but badly hurt when pulled from the wreckage. The report details the scene: 'Steel screamed. Four people inside were crushed.' The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The police report does not specify further details about the nature of the illness or any other driver actions. The focus remains on the catastrophic impact and the systemic dangers of large vehicles colliding head-on.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792500, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A southbound bus struck a 49-year-old man at Otis Avenue near Hylan Boulevard. The man stayed conscious, bleeding hard from his arm. The bus rolled on, unmarked. Blood stained the intersection. The street bore witness.

A 49-year-old man was struck by a southbound bus at the intersection of Otis Avenue and Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, according to the police report. The report states the bus hit the pedestrian at the intersection, causing severe bleeding from his arm. The man remained conscious at the scene. The bus continued without stopping, leaving the injured pedestrian behind. According to the police report, the point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the bus. The report lists 'Unspecified' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors, but does not cite any specific pedestrian behavior as a cause. The bus sustained no reported damage. The police narrative emphasizes the bus driver's failure to remain at the scene and the resulting injury to the pedestrian, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by those on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786543, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Mazda SUV turned left on Forest Avenue, its front end smashing into a 68-year-old man crossing in the marked walk. He fell, struck his head, and died alone in the cold morning. The driver failed to yield and paid no attention.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was crossing Forest Avenue at Raymond Place in the marked crosswalk when a Mazda SUV, traveling north and making a left turn, struck him with its center front end. The report states the pedestrian suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The driver’s actions are cited as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The narrative notes the man was crossing in the marked walk, emphasizing his lawful presence in the intersection. No contributing factors are listed for the pedestrian. The crash occurred in the early morning, leaving the victim unconscious and alone. The report centers the driver’s failure to yield and inattention as the primary causes of this fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel met flesh on Mason Avenue. A 64-year-old woman stepped into the street. An SUV turned left, failed to yield, struck her down. She died in the cold air, her body broken. Driver inattention and failure to yield sealed her fate.

A 64-year-old woman was killed near 242 Mason Avenue in Staten Island when a westbound SUV, making a left turn, struck her as she crossed the street. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted at the time of the crash. The report states, 'Steel met flesh. She dropped, broken. The driver did not yield.' The impact occurred at the left front quarter panel of the SUV, causing fatal crush injuries to the pedestrian's entire body. The woman was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, as noted in the report, but the primary contributing factors remain 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The driver was licensed and operating a 2023 SUV. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777953, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Dodge pickup swung left on Hylan. A woman crossed in the marked lines. The truck’s bumper hit her head. She fell, silent and still. Internal wounds claimed her life. Staten Island pavement bore witness. No time for sirens.

A Dodge pickup truck turned left at Hylan Blvd and Jefferson Ave, striking a 57-year-old woman as she crossed in the marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the truck’s left front bumper hit her head, rendering her unconscious. She suffered internal injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting the driver’s failure to observe the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The woman was crossing with no signal present, as noted in the report, but the primary fault cited is driver inattention. The collision occurred in broad daylight, and the pickup showed no damage. The deadly impact underscores the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians on Staten Island streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771158, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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 Yamaha motorcycle struck a turning Lexus on North Gannon Avenue. The unlicensed rider, helmeted, was ejected and left bleeding, body shattered. The sedan’s side caved in. Speed too high. Silence followed the scream. Staten Island’s roads bear the scars.

According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle traveling west on North Gannon Avenue collided with the left side doors of a Lexus sedan as it made a right turn near Mountainview Avenue. The report states the motorcycle was operated by an unlicensed male rider, age 35, who was wearing a helmet. The contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' The narrative describes the rider being ejected from the motorcycle, suffering severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. The sedan’s side was heavily damaged. The crash occurred at 18:23. The police report makes clear that excessive speed was a primary factor, with the motorcycle slamming into the turning vehicle. No contributing factors are attributed to the sedan driver. The report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the crash, focusing solely on speed and licensing violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747510, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped crashed on Richmond Road, hurling its unlicensed, unhelmeted rider into a parked SUV. The road split beneath him. Blood pooled on broken asphalt. His leg torn open, he lay conscious, pain radiating from the wound.

A violent crash unfolded on Richmond Road near Spring Street in Staten Island when a moped collided with a parked SUV, according to the police report. The 25-year-old moped rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected from the seat after the moped struck the center front end against the SUV's left rear bumper. The police report states the rider suffered severe lacerations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with blood pooling at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited in the report is 'Pavement Defective,' highlighting the hazardous road conditions that caused the crash. The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time. The report notes the rider's lack of license and helmet, but these details are listed after the systemic danger of broken pavement. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed by neglected infrastructure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council wants DOT to study speed bumps and other ways to slow electric bikes in bike lanes. The bill targets crash hotspots. Sponsors demand answers. The measure sits in committee. No action yet. Riders and walkers wait for results.

Int 0823-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on April 18, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to study speed bumps and other speed-reducing measures for electric bikes in bike lanes. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law in relation to a department of transportation study on speed reducing measures for bicycles with electric assist operating in bicycle lanes.' Council Members Robert F. Holden, Justin L. Brannan, James F. Gennaro (primary sponsor), Farah N. Louis, Vickie Paladino, and David M. Carr back the bill. Their action: sponsorship and referral to committee. The study must pinpoint crash-prone spots and weigh the impact on all users. If speed bumps won’t work, DOT must suggest alternatives. The bill expires once the study is submitted.

• File Int 0823-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A 72-year-old woman drove her SUV west on Jewett Avenue. Something struck. Her chest bore the brunt. Belted in, awake, she waited in the dark, pain blooming, silence thick. The night pressed in, the street held its secrets.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old woman was driving her 2021 Mazda SUV westbound on Jewett Avenue near College Avenue in Staten Island. The report states she was the sole occupant, traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The narrative details, 'Something hit. Her chest crushed. Belted in, awake, she waited in silence while the night held its breath.' The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor, indicating a vehicle-related error played a role in the crash. The driver suffered chest injuries described as 'crush injuries' and was conscious at the scene. No mention is made of pedestrian or cyclist involvement, and no victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the circumstances and the vehicle-related factors that led to the driver’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708047, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14