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

Jul 14 - A Ford SUV slammed into a sedan from behind on the Major Deegan Expressway just after midnight. The 28-year-old sedan driver suffered head and crush injuries, remaining conscious as pain spread beneath his skin. Impact left the SUV’s right side battered.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV rear-ended a sedan on the Major Deegan Expressway shortly after midnight. The SUV, traveling north, struck the sedan from behind, with the point of impact listed as the right front bumper of the SUV. The report states the 28-year-old sedan driver, who wore a lap belt, suffered head trauma and crush injuries but remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, highlighting a critical driver error. The SUV sustained damage to its right side doors, while the sedan showed no visible damage. No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior by the injured driver. The crash underscores the danger posed by tailgating on New York City’s high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 5 - An unlicensed, intoxicated driver sped an SUV into parked vehicles on Park Avenue. Metal screamed as the SUV tore through the street. A 26-year-old rear passenger suffered a bleeding arm injury but stayed conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 1399 Park Avenue in Manhattan at 12:48 a.m. An unlicensed driver operating a 2015 Toyota SUV at unsafe speed collided with multiple parked cars. The report states, "an unlicensed driver in a speeding SUV plowed through parked cars. Metal screamed." Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor. The SUV carried three occupants; the right rear passenger, a 26-year-old man, sustained a severe bleeding injury to his upper arm but remained conscious. The police report explicitly identifies the driver as "unlicensed" and lists "Alcohol Involvement" and "Unsafe Speed" as key contributing factors. No errors or contributing factors were attributed to the injured passenger. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of unlicensed, impaired, and reckless driving in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - Steel screamed at East 135th and Lincoln. A Jeep and a Honda met in the dark. Two young passengers, seatbelts biting, bones breaking. Pelvis shattered, back torn. Both awake, both hurting. Metal and flesh, twisted by force.

At 1:35 a.m. at the corner of East 135th Street and Lincoln Avenue, a Jeep SUV and a Honda sedan collided, according to the police report. The impact left a 21-year-old woman with a shattered pelvis and a 28-year-old man with severe back injuries. Both were passengers, both were conscious, both wore seatbelts, and both suffered crush injuries. The police report states that both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' before the crash, with the Jeep traveling north and the Honda heading east. The Jeep's right front quarter panel and the Honda's left front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. No specific driver errors were cited in the report; contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The violence of the crash and the resulting injuries underscore the dangers passengers face when vehicles collide at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 9 - A Toyota sedan slammed on Brook Avenue, its front crumpled. A woman pinned in the back seat, a man trapped at the wheel. Both conscious, both broken. Sirens split the silence before dawn. Passing too closely left bodies shattered.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan traveling south on Brook Avenue near East 146th Street crashed before dawn. The sedan's front end was crushed. A 33-year-old man, identified as the driver, was trapped at the wheel with crush injuries to his lower body. A 43-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was pinned in the back seat, suffering injuries to her entire body. Both occupants were conscious when first responders arrived. The police report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the driver. The narrative describes a violent impact: 'A Toyota sedan crushed at the front. A woman, 43, pinned in back. A man, 33, trapped at the wheel. Both conscious. Both broken.' No contributing factors are attributed to the passenger. The report centers driver error as the cause of this severe crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 14 - A Toyota SUV reversed on East 138th Street. Its distracted driver struck a woman stepping down from a vehicle. Her knees and feet were crushed. She stayed upright, conscious. The Bronx street bore the weight.

According to the police report, a woman was injured on East 138th Street in the Bronx when a Toyota SUV backed up and struck her as she stepped down from another vehicle. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV backed up. Its bumper struck her legs. She stayed upright, conscious. Her knees and feet crushed beneath the weight. The driver was distracted.' The victim, a 56-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her knees and feet. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The impact and injuries resulted from the driver’s failure to pay attention while reversing. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Apr 4 - A diesel truck reversed near East 132nd Street. Its rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man standing off the road. Bones shattered. The truck rolled on. The man stayed conscious, pain radiating through his crushed leg.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck was backing west near 650 East 132nd Street in the Bronx when its right rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man. The report states the pedestrian was 'off the road' and 'not in roadway' at the time of impact. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the man’s knee, lower leg, and foot, but he remained conscious. The report notes, 'Bones crushed. He stayed awake. The machine rolled on.' No damage was reported to the truck. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' and does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The incident underscores the lethal risk heavy vehicles pose, even when vulnerable road users are not in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718348 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 29 - A man lay still on East 106th, struck down by a northbound bike. The street was silent. The front of the bike bore the mark of impact. No one spoke. He died where he fell, another life ended at the curb.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the intersection of East 106th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan after being struck in the head by a northbound cyclist, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:17, and the victim died at the scene. The report notes the front of the bike was visibly marked from the collision. The contributing factors for both the cyclist and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified' in the police data, offering no further detail on driver error or pedestrian behavior. The narrative underscores the quiet aftermath and the fatal outcome for the pedestrian. The focus remains on the deadly impact and the unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 17 - A man on an e-bike slammed confusion at East 96th and 1st. The front end buckled. Blood streamed from his face. He stayed conscious. The street held him. The bleeding would not stop. The night pressed in.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound at the corner of East 96th Street and 1st Avenue was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states that the e-bike's front end crumpled on impact and the rider suffered severe bleeding from the face but remained conscious on the street. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report describes the crash as a head-on collision with confusion, emphasizing the vulnerability of the rider and the unforgiving nature of the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 12 - A man rode west on East 117th. His bike hit something head-on. The frame collapsed. Blood streaked his face. He lay semiconscious, bleeding, as the street fell silent.

A 28-year-old man riding a bicycle west on East 117th Street near 1st Avenue suffered severe facial bleeding after his bike struck an object head-on, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'His bike struck something head-on. The frame folded. Blood ran down his face. He lay semiconscious, bleeding, as the street held its breath.' The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or vehicle operator actions were cited as contributing factors in the official data. The crash occurred in the early morning darkness. The focus remains on the impact and the resulting injuries, with the cause left undetermined in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701966 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Jan 14 - Two SUVs slammed together on East 141st Street. Metal shrieked. A 33-year-old man, riding up front, bled from the head but stayed conscious. One driver held no license. Speed ruled the moment. The street showed no mercy.

According to the police report, two station wagons—both SUVs—collided on East 141st Street. The crash involved a 33-year-old front passenger who suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The report states, 'Two SUVs collided at speed. Metal tore. A 33-year-old man, front passenger, bled from the head. He wore a harness. He stayed awake.' The crash occurred at 10:13 a.m. One of the drivers was unlicensed, as confirmed by the report: 'One driver held no license.' The primary contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' No evidence in the report suggests any passenger error or contributing behavior. The focus remains on driver actions—speeding and operating a vehicle without a license—both systemic dangers that led to violent injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695487 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 7 - A southbound bus hit a 65-year-old man crossing Bruckner Boulevard at Wales Avenue. The right front bumper caught his leg. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Deep lacerations marked the scene. The bus continued on. The man remained conscious.

A 65-year-old man was struck by a southbound bus at the intersection of Bruckner Boulevard and Wales Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The report states the bus's right front bumper hit the pedestrian's leg, causing severe lacerations and visible bleeding. The man was crossing the street at the intersection when the collision occurred. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing against the light.' The driver was operating a 2010 GMC bus, traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the impact and the injuries sustained, with the bus continuing on after the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 31 - A Tesla sedan struck a newborn boy head-on on 3rd Avenue. The baby lay motionless in the street. No sound followed. The car kept straight. The city’s silence grew heavier. A life ended before it began.

A newborn boy was killed when a northbound Tesla sedan struck him head-on on 3rd Avenue. According to the police report, 'A newborn boy, not yet a day old, struck head-on by a northbound Tesla. The car kept straight. The baby lay still. No cry. No breath. Just silence in the street.' The child, a pedestrian not at an intersection, suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factors for both the driver and the crash. No driver errors were specified in the data. The Tesla sustained damage to its center front end. The tragedy unfolded in the early morning, leaving a silent street and a life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A dump truck rolled down Westchester Avenue. A man crossed at the intersection. Steel hit his head. Blood pooled on the street. The signal was ignored. He lay unconscious, fifty-three years old. The Bronx night fell silent.

A 53-year-old man was struck by a dump truck while crossing Westchester Avenue near Forest Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in the crosswalk when the truck hit him, causing a severe head injury and leaving him unconscious and bleeding. The report notes, 'Signal ignored.' The point of impact was the truck’s right front bumper. The pedestrian was listed as 'crossing against signal,' but the report also lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified.' No helmet or other safety equipment is mentioned. The crash left the street silent, marked by blood and steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - A BMW and a Ford slammed head-on before dawn. Metal tore. A woman in the front seat bled from the leg, awake and hurting. Alcohol hung in the air. The road was silent, except for pain.

A BMW sedan and a Ford SUV collided head-on on the Major Deegan Expressway at 2:58 a.m. One woman, riding in the front passenger seat, suffered severe lacerations to her leg. According to the police report, 'Alcohol Involvement' was a contributing factor in the crash. The report describes the scene: 'A BMW and a Ford collided head-on. Metal screamed. A woman in the front seat bled from the leg, awake and hurting. Alcohol lingered.' No driver errors beyond alcohol involvement are listed. The injured woman was conscious and not ejected. She wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left the night quiet, except for the sound of injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 8 - A Honda SUV veered across Bruckner Expressway. A Yamaha motorcycle slammed its rear. The rider flew, helmet on, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Steel and speed met flesh. The road took its toll.

A crash on Bruckner Expressway involved a Honda SUV and a Yamaha motorcycle. The SUV cut across lanes. The motorcycle struck the SUV’s rear. According to the police report, 'A Honda SUV cut across lanes. A Yamaha motorcycle hit its rear. The rider flew. Helmet on. Awake. His leg torn open.' The 27-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash’s violence left him bleeding on the road. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677587 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 22 - A man crossed Saint Anns Avenue in the crosswalk. A northbound sedan hit him head-on. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake, torn and bleeding, under the Bronx night.

A 40-year-old man was crossing Saint Anns Avenue at East 140th Street in a marked crosswalk when a northbound sedan struck him head-on. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The report describes the impact as direct to the center front end of the sedan. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The narrative details the man’s injuries and the aftermath, but does not mention any actions by the driver or the use of safety equipment. The crash left the pedestrian bleeding in the street, held by the night air of the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19