District 8 Bleeds: Broken Promises, Broken Bodies

A man died on the RFK Bridge exit at 125th Street. The crash crushed his body. He was not at an intersection. The driver’s actions remain unspecified. The street claimed another life. The system failed to protect him.

A male pedestrian was killed on the RFK Bridge exit at 125th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the victim suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred while the vehicle was going straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection but was in the roadway. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817511, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 22-year-old e-scooter rider suffered head injuries on 3rd Avenue. The crash stemmed from driver inattention and following too closely. The impact left the rider in shock, with crush injuries. Systemic danger persists for vulnerable road users.

A crash on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan left a 22-year-old e-scooter rider injured. According to the police report, the collision involved an e-scooter and another vehicle, both traveling north. The rider suffered head injuries and was in shock after the impact. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The e-scooter operator was unlicensed. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention and maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814738, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man was attacked in Mott Haven. The beating followed a road rage incident. Police search for suspects. The street became a scene of sudden violence. Another day, another danger for New York’s vulnerable.

CBS New York reported on April 28, 2025, that a man was beaten during an apparent road rage incident in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The NYPD is searching for suspects after 'a man was beaten in what police are calling an apparent road rage attack.' The article highlights the eruption of violence linked to driver aggression, turning a city street into a crime scene. No details on the victim’s actions or condition were provided. The incident underscores the risks faced by people on New York streets and points to the ongoing threat posed by unchecked driver behavior. No charges or arrests have been made at this time.

• Man Beaten In Bronx Road Rage, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-28

An e-bike surged through Manhattan night. Two young riders hurled onto hard pavement. One sprawled unconscious, head bleeding. The other gripped a broken arm, pain sharp and real. No helmets. No license. The street swallowed their cries.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling north near E 103rd Street and 1st Avenue crashed at 21:56. The report states, 'an e-bike slammed forward in the dark. Two young riders were thrown. One lay unconscious, blood on his head. The other clutched her arm, awake, in pain.' Both riders were unhelmeted and the e-bike was operated without a license. The primary contributing factors listed are 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The driver, a 21-year-old male, suffered severe head lacerations and was ejected from the bike, found unconscious. The vehicle had no reported damage, but the human toll was immediate and severe. The police report highlights the absence of safety equipment and the unlicensed operation, underscoring systemic risks present on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805900, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus barrels into a Ford SUV at 3rd Avenue and East 111th Street. Metal screams. The bus driver is crushed, passengers wounded. A parked USPS truck stands mute. Shock and pain ripple through the morning air.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on 3rd Avenue collided with the front of a Ford SUV at East 111th Street. The crash left the bus driver, a 67-year-old woman, with crush injuries and in shock. Passengers on the bus suffered neck and arm pain. The report states that both vehicles involved were traveling at 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact tore metal and sent fear through those present. A USPS box truck was parked nearby and was not involved in the collision. The police report makes clear that excessive speed by both the bus and the SUV contributed to the crash. No contributing factors are attributed to the actions or behaviors of the injured driver or passengers beyond the cited driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804496, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A southbound SUV turned left on St. Anns Avenue, its front end smashing into a man crossing with the light. His body crumpled, bleeding, crushed beneath the weight. The car stood undamaged. The man did not.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was crossing St. Anns Avenue at East 135th Street in the Bronx, with the signal, when a southbound Honda SUV made a left turn and struck him with its right front quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was left conscious but bleeding on the street. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The SUV sustained no damage, while the pedestrian bore the full force of the impact. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal,' but lists only driver error as a cause. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver failure to yield to people in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796005, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A KIA slammed into a Honda on Bruckner Blvd, crushing two women inside. The driver had no license. Metal and belts pressed flesh, leaving neck and back injuries. The street bore witness. Both victims remained conscious, pain etched in their bodies.

According to the police report, a KIA sedan traveling west on Bruckner Blvd near St Anns Ave struck the rear of a Honda sedan. The KIA's front end collided with the Honda's back end, crushing two women inside the KIA—one suffered neck injuries, the other back injuries. Both were conscious after the crash, described as 'crushed against the belts.' The report explicitly notes the KIA driver was unlicensed at the time of the collision. No contributing factors are specified beyond the lack of a valid license. The narrative states, 'A KIA slammed into the back of a Honda. Two women inside crushed against the belts. One’s neck, the other’s back. Both awake. The driver held no license. The street held the rest.' The focus remains on the unlicensed driver and the violent impact that left both occupants injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792592, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan veered on the Triborough Bridge, smashing into two SUVs. Steel twisted. The driver, forty-six, slumped semiconscious, bleeding from the head. Engines cooled in the aftermath. The bridge stood silent, bearing witness to sudden violence.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northbound on the Triborough Bridge veered and struck two SUVs. The report states, 'A sedan veered, struck two SUVs. The driver, 46, slumped bleeding from the head. Semiconscious. His belt held fast. Illness named the cause.' The driver of the sedan suffered severe head injuries and was found semiconscious, with his seatbelt still fastened. The contributing factor listed in the report is 'Illness.' The impact left the sedan and both SUVs damaged, with steel crumpled and engines cooling in the aftermath. No errors or contributing factors are attributed to the occupants of the SUVs. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent dangers faced by all road users when control is lost behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790166, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 53-year-old man crossed Harlem River Drive before dawn. An unlicensed SUV driver struck him with the left front bumper. The man died at the scene, his body broken beneath the gray sky. No crosswalk. No signal. Just impact.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old man was crossing Harlem River Drive early in the morning when a southbound SUV struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk or at a signal. The report states the driver was unlicensed, operating a 2019 Nissan SUV registered in Connecticut. The impact caused fatal crush injuries, and the man died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative details the pedestrian's location as 'not at intersection' and 'crossing, no signal or crosswalk,' but does not cite these as contributing factors. The focus remains on the unlicensed status of the driver and the fatal outcome on a major city roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788419, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 2015 Audi SUV lay crushed on the southbound Major Deegan. Inside, a 40-year-old man bled from deep wounds to his face. The metal trapped him. He wore only a lap belt. The night pressed in, silent and cold.

A violent crash on the southbound Major Deegan Expressway left a 2015 Audi SUV demolished and its sole occupant, a 40-year-old man, suffering severe lacerations to his face. According to the police report, the vehicle was found crushed, with the driver conscious but bleeding heavily and trapped by the wreckage. The report notes the driver wore only a lap belt. The police narrative describes the scene: 'Southbound on the Major Deegan, a 2015 Audi SUV lay crushed. Inside, a 40-year-old man bled from deep cuts to his face. He wore only a lap belt. He was awake. The metal held him.' The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on the cause. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The focus remains on the catastrophic impact and the resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778577, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A man on an e-scooter crashed into a parked sedan on East 149 Street. He flew forward, face first, blood pooling on the asphalt. His face was torn open. He stayed conscious, pain etched deep, the car unmoved.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old man riding an e-scooter struck a parked sedan on East 149 Street. The report states the e-scooter operator 'hit a parked sedan,' was 'ejected,' and landed 'face first.' The man suffered 'severe lacerations' to his face but remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The sedan, a 2017 Nissan, was parked and sustained no damage. The e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is mentioned only after the primary cause: inattention. The collision left the street marked by blood and injury, underscoring the lethal consequences of distraction on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764243, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW motorcycle collided with the left side of a Toyota SUV at East 106th Street and 3rd Avenue. The rider and passenger were thrown, suffered fatal head trauma and crush injuries. The impact silenced the street, ending two lives instantly.

According to the police report, at 4:43 a.m., a BMW motorcycle traveling north struck the left side doors of a Toyota SUV heading west at East 106th Street and 3rd Avenue. The motorcycle rider, 30, and his passenger, 35, were ejected and died from head trauma and crush wounds despite wearing helmets. The report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor for the motorcycle driver, indicating a critical driver error. The SUV driver had no contributing factors listed. The violent impact and fatal injuries highlight the deadly consequences of driver negligence at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763117, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Toyota sedan struck a southbound cyclist on East 102nd near Madison. The man’s arm was crushed. He stayed conscious, half-thrown from his bike. The street froze, the bumper bent, the city’s danger laid bare.

A crash on East 102nd Street near Madison Avenue in Manhattan left a 40-year-old cyclist injured after a Toyota sedan struck him, according to the police report. The cyclist, traveling south, was hit by the sedan’s left front bumper and partially ejected from his bike. The report states the man suffered crush injuries to his arm but remained conscious at the scene. Both vehicles were reportedly heading straight before the collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on the driver’s actions. The narrative describes the impact as forceful, with the cyclist thrown partway off his bike and the sedan’s bumper bent. No evidence in the report points to cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent threat vehicles pose to people moving through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763401, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel struck flesh on East 125th. A minicycle, speeding, crashed head-on into an ambulance mid-turn. The 22-year-old rider, helmeted, was crushed but conscious. Signals ignored. The scooter’s front folded. The street echoed with the cost of haste.

A violent collision unfolded at East 125th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan when, according to the police report, a minicycle 'slammed head-on into an ambulance mid-turn.' The crash left the 22-year-old minicycle rider with crush injuries across his entire body, though he remained conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, underscoring the systemic dangers present when signals are ignored and speed exceeds safe limits. The minicycle, traveling straight, collided with the ambulance as it made a left turn. The police report notes that the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of impact. The scooter’s front end was described as folding 'like paper,' a stark testament to the force involved when traffic controls fail to protect vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759833, 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 southbound bus hit a 35-year-old woman on 3rd Avenue near East 138th Street. She fell, her head bleeding onto the asphalt. The driver did not stop. Morning light caught the blood pooling beneath her as she lay conscious.

A 35-year-old woman was struck by a southbound bus on 3rd Avenue near East 138th Street at 7:50 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the bus hit the woman as she crossed without a signal, causing her to fall and suffer a severe head injury with significant bleeding. The driver did not remain at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but this is listed after the driver's error. The vehicle, a 2016 CHEV-TRUCK/BUS, showed no damage, and the point of impact was the left front bumper. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A baby boy, alone in darkness, was struck and killed by an unlicensed SUV driver on the Major Deegan Expressway. The driver did not stop. The child died far from any crosswalk, crushed beneath the left front bumper.

A baby boy was killed on the Major Deegan Expressway when he was struck by the left front bumper of a 2008 Toyota SUV, according to the police report. The report states the child was crossing alone in the dark, far from any crosswalk, when the unlicensed driver hit him and did not stop. The police describe the child as suffering crush injuries to his entire body and dying at the scene. The driver’s license status is listed as 'Unlicensed' in the report, and the vehicle was traveling straight ahead. The police narrative makes clear the driver left the scene. No contributing factors are specified beyond the unlicensed status and failure to remain. The focus remains on the actions of the driver and the systemic danger posed by unlicensed, hit-and-run motorists on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752519, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck barreled through East 109th and 3rd, ignoring the signal. The driver struck a 63-year-old cyclist head-on. The man flew, landed hard, and bled on the asphalt, conscious but torn. The truck’s disregard left violence in its wake.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on East 109th Street at 3rd Avenue 'ran the light,' disregarding traffic control. The truck struck a 63-year-old man riding a bike, hitting him headfirst. The report states the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, lying conscious but injured on the street. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the truck driver's failure to obey the signal. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver's traffic violation. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when large vehicles ignore basic traffic controls in Manhattan’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi rolled east near 545 East 142nd. A man walked outside the crosswalk. Steel met flesh. His leg folded, pain sharp. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent, the city’s danger exposed.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east near 545 East 142nd Street in the Bronx struck a 37-year-old man who was walking where no crosswalk marked the way. The report states the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes, 'No screech, no dent. Just his leg folded under steel.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. There is no mention of driver evasive action or vehicle damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The absence of a marked crosswalk and the lack of specified driver error in the report highlight the persistent systemic dangers faced by people on foot in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746385, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14