District 7: Five Dead, No More Excuses

Aug 15 - A westbound SUV struck a parked SUV at 415 W 127th in Harlem. A 62-year-old man died at the scene; another person was injured. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely. Both front bumpers were crushed.

Two sport-utility vehicles collided at 415 W 127th Street in Manhattan. A 62-year-old male occupant suffered apparent death at the scene; another person sustained injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The persons data also lists "Following Too Closely" alongside driver inattention for the injured driver. The crash involved one SUV going straight westbound and another recorded as parked and struck on its left front. Impact damaged the right front of the moving SUV and the left front of the parked SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 14 - A sedan changed lanes on the Henry Hudson Parkway and collided with a northbound motorcycle. The rider was ejected and suffered severe lacerations and entire-body injuries. Police recorded a view obstruction at the scene.

According to the police report, a northbound sedan changed lanes on the Henry Hudson Parkway and struck a northbound motorcycle. The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe lacerations and entire-body injuries; officers listed the rider as incoherent at the scene. Police recorded "View Obstructed/Limited" as a contributing factor. The sedan's pre-crash action is listed as changing lanes; the motorcycle was going straight. Point of impact is recorded as the sedan's right front quarter panel and the motorcycle's center front. Vehicle types and driver details for both parties are recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835059 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 14 - An eastbound SUV hit a 20‑year‑old woman on Amsterdam at West 96th. She bled from the head. The impact crushed the left front bumper. The driver stayed. Police logged no clear cause. Another pedestrian pays the toll.

A 2005 Dodge SUV traveling east struck a 20-year-old woman on Amsterdam Avenue at West 96th Street. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding; the SUV showed damage to the left front bumper. According to the police report, contributing factors are listed as “Unspecified,” and the pedestrian’s location is “Not at Intersection” with action “Other Actions in Roadway.” The driver was licensed and going straight ahead. No driver errors were identified in the data, and no other injuries were reported. The record lists no signal or helmet factors. This is the cost of heavy vehicles meeting people in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834977 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 6 - A motorcycle and an SUV collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. A 20-year-old male motorcyclist suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police listed driver inexperience and unsafe speed as contributing factors.

A motorcycle and a driver in an SUV, both traveling south on Henry Hudson Parkway, collided. According to the police report, a 20-year-old male motorcyclist was injured and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police listed "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor and recorded "Unsafe Speed" for the motorcyclist. The motorcycle showed center-front impact damage; the SUV showed damage to its right rear quarter panel. No other injured parties were specified in the report. The police narrative names driver errors rather than roadway conditions or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 1 - Two sedans met in a merge on Henry Hudson Parkway. One driver went straight south. The other merged. Police recorded Passing Too Closely. A 68-year-old driver, a 22-year-old driver, and a 22-year-old passenger were hurt.

Two southbound sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. One driver went straight. The other merged. According to the police report, 'Passing Too Closely' was a contributing factor. The straight-ahead driver’s left front bumper contacted the merging driver’s right rear quarter. Three people were hurt: a 68-year-old male driver with arm injuries, a 22-year-old male driver with shoulder injuries, and a 22-year-old female passenger with leg injuries. Police recorded driver error—Passing Too Closely. The report lists shock for two victims and notes crush injuries. No contributing factors were assigned to those injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 24 - A firefighter died on FDR Drive. The driver fled. At Port Authority, a bus crash left over two dozen hurt. No arrests. The city’s streets remain brutal for those on foot and in transit.

Patch reported on July 24, 2025, that an FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run on FDR Drive. The driver left the scene. No arrests have been made. The article also notes, 'More Than 2 Dozen Injured In Bus Crash At Port Authority Bus Terminal.' Both incidents highlight ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and point to gaps in enforcement and street safety. Investigations continue, but the city’s traffic violence persists.

• Firefighter Killed, Dozens Hurt In Crashes, Patch, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 24 - After two die at Canal Street, Kevin Duggan and advocates demand the city end car dominance. They call for fewer lanes, slower speeds, and space for people. The city stalls. Danger remains.

""We urge the DOT not to wait for more crashes and deaths on Canal Street to act."" -- Mark Levine

On July 24, 2025, Kevin Duggan issued a policy statement after a double fatal crash at the Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street entrance. The matter urges, "the city to redesign Canal Street to be less car-centric after decades of studies and delays." Duggan, joined by advocates and politicians, calls for lane reductions, speed cuts, and pedestrian-first changes. The Department of Transportation faces a 30-day deadline to release plans. The safety analyst notes the event text is too vague for a clear safety impact, as no concrete intervention is described. The push is loud, but action is uncertain.

• Fixing Canal Street Means Rethinking the Manhattan Bridge Itself: Experts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - The driver of a northbound taxi rear-ended a 14-year-old riding an e-bike near 3320 Broadway. The taxi hit the bike from behind. The teen suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the driver of a northbound taxi struck the center back of a northbound e-bike near 3320 Broadway. A 14-year-old male e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Following Too Closely." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The taxi sustained center front-end damage and the e-bike was struck in its center back end. The report lists the rider's contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite rider error as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 22 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended in seconds. Blood, wreckage, tequila, guns left behind. The driver ran. Bystanders paid the price.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-22), a stolen rental car struck and killed May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Scott Cruickshank, 55, at Bowery and Canal. Prosecutors said the driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, fled the scene, leaving 'an open bottle of tequila and two 9mm guns in the wreck.' Surveillance video captured the car plowing into a woman on a bench and a passing cyclist. Romero faces murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide charges. Passenger Kennedy Lecraft faces charges for possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of unchecked speeding and stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian in Chinatown, New York Post, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. It struck Kevin Cruickshank, a cyclist, and May Kwok, seated on a bench. Both died. The driver fled. Canal Street remains a deadly corridor for walkers and riders.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevy Malibu sped through a median at Bowery and Canal, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok, who sat on a bench. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article quotes Families for Safe Streets: 'Canal Street is one of the most dangerous streets in all of Manhattan—notorious for pedestrian and cyclist fatalities—and a comprehensive redesign is needed to prioritize safety.' The crash highlights ongoing risks from reckless driving and the urgent need for safer street design.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A car tore through Chinatown. A pedestrian and a cyclist died. Two women face police. Witnesses saw speed. Blood on the street. City danger, sharp and sudden.

CBS New York (2025-07-20) reports a deadly crash in Manhattan's Chinatown. A pedestrian and a cyclist were killed. Two women are in police custody. Witnesses told CBS, "the driver was speeding when tragedy struck." The article highlights driver speed as a factor. The crash underscores ongoing risks for people walking and biking in city streets.

• Pedestrian And Cyclist Killed In Chinatown, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 13 - Council moves to shield delivery workers. Wage floors, tipping rules, and safety gear on the line. Workers face street danger daily. New rules aim to cut risk and boost dignity.

On July 14, 2025, the NYC Council will vote on bills to protect delivery workers. The agenda includes wage floors, tipping requirements, and safety measures. Council Members Shaun Abreu, Jennifer Gutierrez, and Sandy Nurse sponsor key bills. Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the package. The matter summary states: 'Council members will vote on a list of legislative items that would benefit delivery app workers.' These protections can improve worker well-being and bargaining power, reducing pressure to take unsafe risks. The council’s action targets the daily hazards faced by delivery workers on city streets.

• NYC Council expected to vote Monday on wage and workplace protections for delivery workers, AMNY, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 10 - Council ends Instacart loophole. All app delivery workers get minimum wage. Bills target pay, tips, and safety. Workers risk streets for every order. Law brings fairer pay, not safer roads.

On July 10, 2025, the City Council advanced Intro 1133 and 1135 to close the Instacart loophole and regulate app-based delivery. The bills, led by Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, and Shaun Abreu, require all apps to pay minimum wage and restore upfront tipping. The matter summary: 'regulate the app-based delivery industry.' Sophia Lebowitz supported the action. Advocates say the package strengthens 2023's pay law. A safety analyst notes: mandating minimum wage improves labor conditions but does not directly affect safety, mode shift, or street equity for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council To Close Instacart Loophole, Pass Delivery Industry Regulation Bills, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 6 - A fast electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in the hospital. The cyclist, bruised, faced wrongful charges. Chaos thrives where speed meets congestion.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, near West 60th Street. An illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist, sending its operator to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The cyclist, Carolyn Backus, was wrongly charged with leaving the scene, though she "remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics." The Manhattan D.A. dismissed the charge, noting Backus rode a non-motorized bike. The article highlights the risk of high-speed e-vehicles in crowded park zones, where "unpredictable congestion makes it the last place...anyone should be speeding."

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 26 - A cyclist slammed into a parked SUV on Riverside Drive. Driver inattention left the rider bleeding, ejected, face torn. The street stayed dark. Metal and flesh met. The city kept moving.

A cyclist, age 24, was ejected and suffered severe facial bleeding after colliding with a parked SUV on Riverside Drive at West 130th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The cyclist was conscious but badly hurt. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash involved a bike and a station wagon/SUV. The report did not list helmet use or signaling as factors. The impact was brutal. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 23 - A stolen box truck crashed into a Midtown building. The front awning buckled under the force. No injuries. Police detained a person of interest. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. The city watched, unblinking.

CBS New York reported on June 23, 2025, that a stolen box truck struck a building in Midtown Manhattan, damaging the front awning. According to police, 'no one was hurt and a person of interest was taken into custody.' The incident highlights the risk posed by unauthorized drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles. The crash did not result in injuries, but the impact damaged property and disrupted the area. The report underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and the potential for harm in dense urban environments, where even a single reckless act can threaten public safety.

• Stolen Truck Slams Midtown Building, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-23