Two Dead. Sixteen Gone. How Many More Before NYC Streets Change?

Jul 19 - A Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, struck a cyclist and a woman on the sidewalk. Both died. The car hit an NYPD van. Two drivers tried to flee but were caught. No officers hurt. No charges yet.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu exiting the Manhattan Bridge at Canal Street and Bowery struck and killed a cyclist and a pedestrian at 7:30 a.m. Police say two women in their 20s drove the car and 'initially tried to leave on foot,' but were taken into custody. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. No officers were injured. As of Saturday afternoon, 'the NYPD said it had not filed charges.' The deaths follow a city report of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting ongoing risks for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist, Pedestrian Killed Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A van crashed in Midtown. Inside: dozens of propane tanks. The street held its breath. Danger rode in silence, hidden until metal met metal.

CBS New York reported on July 17, 2025, that 'dozens of propane tanks were found in a van in Midtown Manhattan after a car crash Tuesday night.' The article does not detail injuries or the cause of the crash. The presence of hazardous cargo in a crash raises questions about vehicle safety checks and enforcement. Storing large amounts of propane in a van on city streets exposes bystanders and road users to hidden risks. The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of hazardous material transport in dense urban areas.

• Propane Tanks Discovered After Midtown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A DOT worker fixing a sign was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near miss in lower Manhattan. The cyclist fled. The worker bled on the street. Police are searching. No arrests. Another morning, another wound.

NY Daily News (2025-07-16) reports a city DOT worker was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near collision at Broadway and Cedar St. The worker was fixing a street sign when the cyclist nearly hit his truck. Witnesses said, 'They weren't even in the bike lane, they were parked on the corner.' After the argument, the cyclist cut the worker's arm with a box cutter and fled. The DOT worker was treated and released. Police are searching for the cyclist. The incident highlights the dangers of street work and the tense interactions between vehicles and vulnerable road users.

• DOT Worker Slashed After Near Collision, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 13 - Two moped drivers collided on E 135 St at Locust Ave. A 23-year-old and a 16-year-old suffered crush injuries. Police recorded unsafe lane changing and unsafe speed. Both riders were conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, two moped drivers collided at E 135 St and Locust Ave in the Bronx. A 23-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were driving the two mopeds. Both riders suffered crush injuries and are listed as injured and conscious. Police recorded "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Unsafe Speed" as contributing factors for both drivers. Both mopeds show center back end damage and neither rider was ejected. Injury severity is listed as 4 for each rider. The police report attributes the crash to the drivers' unsafe lane changes and speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829223 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 12 - A 71-year-old passenger died. A 79-year-old driver struck two cars, then a pole. Metal twisted. Lives changed. The street stayed silent.

CBS New York (2025-07-12) reports a 71-year-old passenger died after a crash in Co-op City, Bronx. Police said a 79-year-old driver 'slammed into two cars before hitting a light pole.' The sequence ended in fatal injury. The article highlights the impact but does not detail causes. The crash underscores risks for passengers and raises questions about driver fitness and street design. No blame is assigned. The facts stand stark.

• Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 6 - A high-speed electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in critical condition. Congestion and speed collided. Chaos followed. Bystanders watched. Sirens wailed.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, where an illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist. The unicycle, capable of speeds over 40 mph, struck Carolyn Backus, who was riding a standard bike. The unicycle operator was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. NYPD initially charged Backus with leaving the scene, but the charge was dropped. A spokesperson clarified, 'She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics.' The incident highlights risks from high-speed, illegal vehicles in crowded park spaces.

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

Jul 3 - A Mustang jumped the curb in Melrose. Six pedestrians fell. Screams echoed. The driver fled. Scaffolding twisted. Blood on the sidewalk. No arrests. The city waits for answers.

ABC7 reported on July 3, 2025, that a Ford Mustang struck six pedestrians after mounting the curb at East 149th Street and Courtlandt Avenue in the Bronx. Surveillance showed the car turning left while people crossed with the right of way. The driver accelerated, hit a woman, then continued under scaffolding, injuring five more. Witnesses described panic and pain: "People were yelling, were in pain," said Vivian Cole. The suspects abandoned the damaged car and fled. All victims were hospitalized with minor injuries. The Buildings Department confirmed the crash damaged the shed but not the vacant building. No arrests have been made.

• Mustang Plows Bronx Sidewalk, Six Hurt, ABC7, Published 2025-07-03

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 28 - A driver fleeing police tore through a red light in the Bronx. Two cars spun onto the sidewalk. Three pedestrians hit. One man clings to life. Metal, glass, blood on Bruckner Boulevard.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-28), an unlicensed driver sped from an NYPD stop, ran a red light, and crashed into another car at Bruckner Blvd. and Hunts Point Ave. Both vehicles spun onto the sidewalk, striking three pedestrians. The article states, "Jenkins slammed on the gas and sped off east on Hunts Point Ave., blowing through a red light." Police charged the driver with vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing. The crash highlights the risks when drivers evade police and ignore signals. One pedestrian remains in critical condition.

• Bronx Crash Leaves Pedestrian Critical, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-28

Jun 22 - Metal struck metal before dawn. A car hit another, then slammed a scooter. Two riders flew off. An 18-year-old woman lay critical. Sirens cut the Bronx dark. Seven hurt. The road stayed open. Danger did not end.

ABC7 reported on June 22, 2025, that a multi-vehicle crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx left seven injured, including one woman in critical condition. The article states, 'The Honda Accord collided with the Honda Pilot. The Honda Pilot then collided with the Razor Scooter, causing the 24-year-old man operating the scooter and an 18-year-old woman to be ejected.' Six others from the cars suffered minor injuries. The crash happened before 4 a.m. near Throggs Neck. Police are investigating the sequence of impacts. The incident highlights the risks faced by scooter riders and the dangers of high-speed, multi-vehicle traffic on city parkways.

• Seven Hurt In Hutchinson Parkway Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-06-22

Jun 21 - A scooter slammed into a Honda Pilot before dawn. The passenger, eighteen, hit the road hard. The driver fled. Three more hurt in the cars. Sirens wailed. No arrests. The street stayed cold and dangerous.

According to the New York Post (published June 21, 2025), an 18-year-old scooter passenger was left in critical condition after a crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx. Police said the scooter collided with a Honda Pilot around 4 a.m., triggering a chain reaction that involved a Honda Accord. The article reports, "The moped's driver fled with the bike before cops arrived." Three passengers in each car were also injured and taken to Jacobi Hospital. No arrests had been made by Saturday afternoon. The incident highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users and raises questions about driver accountability and the effectiveness of current enforcement on city parkways.

• Scooter Crash Leaves Teen Critical in Bronx, New York Post, Published 2025-06-21

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.

• Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park, ABC7, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 18 - Waymo will test robotaxis on New York streets. Human drivers will control the cars. State law blocks full autonomy. Officials stress safety. Waymo pushes for legal change. The city weighs risk. Streets wait for the next move.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Waymo will soon test its driverless taxi technology in New York City. The vehicles will not operate autonomously; human drivers will remain behind the wheel, as state law forbids fully driverless cars. Waymo is lobbying for a law change to allow autonomous operation, but the effort has stalled in the State Assembly. Mayoral spokeswoman Sophia Askari said, "Public safety is our first priority, which is why we have strong guardrails and requirements in place on any sort of autonomous vehicles." The city’s Department of Transportation is reviewing Waymo’s permit application, the first under the new Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration or Testing Permit Program. The article highlights the tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution, with policy decisions pending and no driverless operation allowed yet.

• Waymo Robotaxis Begin NYC Street Tests, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - A teen fell from a moving train at Baychester Avenue. He landed on the tracks. Medics rushed him to the hospital. His injuries are critical. The station echoed with sirens and fear. The train kept running. The system failed to protect.

ABC7 reported on June 17, 2025, that a teenager, estimated to be between 14 and 16 years old, suffered critical injuries after falling onto the tracks while subway surfing at Baychester Avenue station in the Bronx. Police told ABC7, 'He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.' The article highlights the ongoing risks of unsecured access to train exteriors and the lack of effective barriers or deterrents. No driver error was cited, but the incident underscores systemic gaps in transit safety and enforcement. The report does not mention any policy response or changes following the event.

• Teen Critically Hurt In Bronx Subway Fall, ABC7, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - A road rage clash in the Bronx turned deadly. Keino Campbell, a Navy veteran, was shot three times while driving. He crashed a few blocks away and died at the hospital. Police arrested Michael Aracena for murder.

NY Daily News reported on June 16, 2025, that Michael Aracena, 20, was arrested for the murder of Keino Campbell, 27, during a road rage incident in the Bronx. According to police, Campbell was driving near Co-op City at 2 a.m. when a confrontation escalated. Aracena allegedly shot Campbell three times in the chest. The wounded Campbell drove off but lost consciousness and crashed near Givan and Palmer Avenues. He died shortly after at Jacobi Medical Center. The article states, 'Campbell was shot three times in the chest as the quarrel escalated.' This case highlights the lethal risks of armed confrontations on city streets and raises questions about gun access and road conflict escalation.

• Navy Veteran Killed In Bronx Shooting, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 14 - A 22-year-old cyclist slammed into a right-side door on E 100 St. He flew from his bike. Blood poured from his head. He stayed conscious. The crash left him injured and shaken.

A 22-year-old man riding south on E 100 St at 2 Ave was ejected from his bike after striking a right-side door. He suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and an unspecified vehicle. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor. No driver errors were detailed in the data. The cyclist was the only person injured in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820809 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A tanker truck turned left on Bruckner. A moped went straight. The two collided. A 22-year-old moped passenger died from head injuries. The moped driver, 23, was hurt. Police cite traffic control disregarded. The street saw blood and loss.

A deadly crash unfolded at Bruckner Boulevard and Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. A tanker truck, heading west, made a left turn. A moped, traveling south, went straight. The two vehicles collided. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The moped carried two young men. The 22-year-old passenger suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The 23-year-old moped driver was injured, reporting pain and nausea. The tanker driver, 31, was not reported injured. No helmet use or signals were listed as factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers disregard traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820106 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 2 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19