Sixteen Dead, No End in Sight—Hold Ayala Accountable Now

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city bus swerved to dodge a double-parked car. It crashed through a wall and dangled over a Bronx overpass. No one was hurt. Debris rained down. The city’s parking chaos left concrete cracked and nerves frayed.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus partially drove off the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass near Kappock Street after the driver swerved to avoid a double-parked car. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz stated, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." The crash damaged the overpass wall and scattered debris onto the street below. No injuries were reported, though conflicting accounts left passenger presence unclear. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz highlighted the broader issue: "We’re seeing all over the city parking regulations not being enforced." The incident underscores the risks posed by illegal parking and the need for stricter enforcement and infrastructure checks.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

A taxi veered off Sixth Avenue, mounted the curb, and struck a crowd near Herald Square. Three pedestrians, including a child, landed in the hospital. The driver stayed at the scene. Metal, flesh, and concrete met in Midtown’s holiday rush.

Gothamist (2024-12-26) reports a Midtown crash where a taxi driver, experiencing a medical episode, drove onto the sidewalk at Sixth Avenue and West 34th Street, injuring a 9-year-old boy and two women. Police said, 'they did not suspect any criminality in the crash.' The driver, 58, remained at the scene and was taken for evaluation. Four others declined medical attention. The article notes, 'the driver was driving northbound on Sixth Avenue around 3 p.m. on Wednesday when he jumped the curb and plowed into a crowd.' The incident highlights the persistent risk posed by vehicles in crowded pedestrian zones, regardless of intent or driver health. No policy changes were announced.

• Taxi Jumps Curb, Hits Midtown Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2024-12-26

A police car crossed the line. Metal struck flesh. Samuel Williams, riding his dirt bike, was thrown and killed. Body cam footage shows the officer’s move. Another NYPD car tried the same. The city sent Williams’ family a bill.

NY Daily News (2024-12-23) reports that NYPD body camera footage shows an officer veering into the path of Samuel Williams, a 36-year-old dirt bike rider, during a pursuit on the University Heights Bridge. Williams was struck, thrown, and died from his injuries. The article states, “An officer pursuing dirt bikers suddenly crossed the double yellow line into Williams' path, causing a collision.” Another NYPD vehicle attempted a similar maneuver. The family’s attorney called it a “deadly maneuver” for a minor violation. The city later billed Williams’ family for police vehicle damages. The NYPD has not commented, citing litigation. The case raises questions about police pursuit tactics and accountability.

• NYPD Officer Veers Into Dirt Biker’s Path, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-23

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left at E 149th and Jackson. An e-scooter slammed its front into the car’s rear. The rider hit the pavement, head split, blood pooling. He did not move. The street bore witness to another brutal collision.

At the corner of E 149th Street and Jackson Avenue in the Bronx, a sedan making a left turn was struck in the right rear bumper by an e-scooter traveling straight, according to the police report. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-scooter slammed its rear. The rider, 38, unlicensed, helmetless, hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled. His head split. He did not move.' The e-scooter rider suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious. The police report lists the sedan’s pre-crash action as 'Making Left Turn' and the e-scooter’s as 'Going Straight Ahead.' No specific driver errors are cited in the report, but the sequence of events centers on the sedan’s left turn across the path of the e-scooter. The report notes the e-scooter rider was unlicensed and helmetless, but these details follow the account of the sedan’s maneuver. The crash left the vulnerable road user gravely injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

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

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A sedan cut left on 2nd Avenue. Metal struck a 56-year-old e-scooter rider’s head. Blood spilled. Speech faltered. The man lay broken in the street while traffic rolled past. Unsafe lane change left a body and silence behind.

According to the police report, a sedan veered left near 2034 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, striking a 56-year-old man riding an e-scooter. The crash occurred as the sedan was 'entering parked position' and the e-scooter was 'going straight ahead.' The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The impact gashed the rider’s head, leaving him incoherent and severely injured. The police narrative states, 'Steel kissed skull. A 56-year-old man dropped hard, head gashed, speech broken. No helmet. Blood pooled. The street hushed.' The report notes the victim was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after citing the driver’s errors. The collision underscores the danger posed by improper lane changes and driver inattention to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769895 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04