Blood on Canal, Silence at City Hall

A driver sped at 109 mph. Concrete barriers now ring the crash site. DOT will shrink lanes and cut speed limits. Change comes slow. Pedestrians and cyclists paid the price.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports DOT will install concrete barriers and narrow lanes at Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street exit after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian at 109 mph. DOT plans to lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, pending public comment. The article notes, 'the bridge currently functions like a Mario Kart-style speed boost.' DOT will also 'fast-track community engagement on a full redesign.' The crash highlights the danger of wide lanes and high speeds at a busy pedestrian crossing. Policy changes lagged until tragedy forced action.

• DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Two women face indictment after a deadly Chinatown crash. The toll is real. The system failed to protect. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

CBS New York reported on August 7, 2025, that two women were indicted following a deadly crash in Chinatown, Manhattan. The article states, 'Two women charged in connection with a deadly crash in Chinatown have now been indicted.' Details on the crash itself are limited, but the indictment signals potential driver error or negligence. The case highlights ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in dense city neighborhoods and underscores the need for stronger traffic safety measures.

• Two Indicted After Chinatown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-07

A Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider flew to the pavement. The driver fled. The bike’s red light blinked in the dark. Police arrested the unlicensed driver two hours later. The rider remains critical.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-31) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver in a Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-bike rider on Second Ave. near 15th St., leaving the cyclist with serious head trauma. The driver fled, drove on the sidewalk, and later took the SUV to a car wash. He confessed to police after turning himself in two hours later, saying he fled because he lacked a license. The article notes, 'He now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license.' The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The crash highlights persistent dangers from unlicensed drivers and gaps in enforcement.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-31

A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

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

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

A stolen Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck and killed a pedestrian and a cyclist. The driver tried to flee. Eyewitnesses stopped her. Broken bodies, broken laws, broken city.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-22), Autumn Donna Ascension Romero crashed a stolen rental car at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok and Kevin Cruickshank. Prosecutors say Romero admitted to drinking before driving and tried to flee the scene with her passenger. An open tequila bottle and loaded pistols were found in the car. The article quotes, 'They then tried to flee the scene followed by multiple eyewitnesses who told them to stop.' Romero faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. The crash highlights dangers from impaired driving, stolen vehicles, and failures in preventing reckless use of rentals.

• Stolen Car Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-22

A stolen car tore through Chinatown. The driver jumped the curb. Two lives ended—one on a bench, one on a bike. Guns found in the wreck. The street holds the scars.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevrolet Malibu crashed at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Cruickshank, 55. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascension Romero, faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. Police said she "jumped a curb in Chinatown and killed two people." Passenger Kennedy Lecraft faces charges for weapon possession and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Two pistols and ammunition were found in the trunk. The article notes Romero had been freed without bail after a prior hit-and-run. The crash exposes gaps in bail and rental car oversight.

• Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-21

A stolen Chevy Malibu tore through Bowery and Canal, crushing a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Metal, bodies, silence. The driver fled. Two lives ended in seconds. The street swallowed them whole.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-20), a stolen Chevy Malibu jumped a median at Bowery and Canal, striking cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died. The car, driven by Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, crashed into an NYPD van. Romero and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article notes Romero faces a separate charge from a previous crash. The incident highlights the lethal risk of stolen vehicles and the failure of current safeguards to protect people outside cars.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-20

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

A pick-up truck struck a 64-year-old woman crossing Broome Street with the signal. She suffered arm injuries. The truck’s front end hit her. No driver errors listed. System failed to protect her.

A pick-up truck making a left turn on Broome Street struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed at the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in the elbow, lower arm, and hand, suffering a contusion. The truck’s center front end made contact. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The system left a pedestrian exposed in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

SUV and sedan collided on West Houston. Three people hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Back injuries. Whiplash. Metal and glass. No helmet or signal issues reported.

A crash on West Houston Street at Greenwich Street in Manhattan involved a sedan and an SUV. Three occupants suffered back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the main contributing factor. Both vehicles were going straight. No helmet or signal violations were listed. The impact left three people hurt, including a 15-year-old passenger, a 38-year-old front passenger, and a 44-year-old driver. The report does not mention any pedestrian or cyclist involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A sedan struck a parked diesel truck on West Street. Three people hurt. Police cite driver fatigue and other vehicular factors. Metal and bodies took the blow. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A sedan traveling north hit a parked diesel tractor truck at 340 West Street in Manhattan. Three occupants were injured, including a 21-year-old woman with head trauma. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Fell Asleep' and 'Other Vehicular.' The sedan’s driver wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left metal twisted and people hurt. Systemic danger and driver fatigue played their part. No mention of vulnerable road users, but the toll remains clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Adams’s Fifth Avenue plan drops bike and bus lanes. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. Sidewalks widen, but cars keep space. Board calls for real safety, not delay.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-14) reports Mayor Adams cut a bus lane and bike lane from the Fifth Avenue redesign, keeping two lanes for cars and widening sidewalks. The Manhattan Community Board 5 called this move not a "real solution" to safety, urging a return to the 2021 plan with protected bike lanes and faster bus service. "We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue," said CB 5 Vice Chair Samir Lavingia. The board warns that without bike lanes, cyclists will ride sidewalks, risking conflict. The plan, shaped with business interests, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and delays safer changes until at least 2028.

• Fifth Avenue Redesign Cuts Bike, Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-14

SUV plowed through the intersection. A young woman crossing with the signal took the hit. She fell hard, bruised and shocked. The driver ignored traffic control. Streets stayed dangerous.

A 22-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing West Houston Street at Broadway. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver disregarded traffic control and hit her. She suffered a hip and upper leg contusion and was in shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians when drivers ignore signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

An e-bike struck an 88-year-old man at Elizabeth and Kenmare. The crash left him bleeding from the head. Police cite driver inexperience and unsafe speed.

An e-bike traveling west on Elizabeth Street collided with an 88-year-old pedestrian at the intersection with Kenmare Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and minor bleeding. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' were listed as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the center front end of the e-bike. No other injuries were specified. The data highlights driver errors as the primary causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A box truck reversed on Greenwich. It struck a woman crossing outside the crosswalk. She suffered hip and leg injuries. The truck showed no damage. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

A box truck backed up on Greenwich Street in Manhattan and struck a 33-year-old woman who was crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her hip and upper leg. The truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. No specific driver errors were listed in the report; contributing factors were marked as 'Unspecified.' The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The report highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827123 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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

A tractor truck turned right on West St, striking a taxi. The taxi driver suffered back injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No driver errors listed in the police report.

A crash unfolded at West St and Canal St in Manhattan. A tractor truck making a right turn struck a taxi going straight. According to the police report, the taxi driver, a 35-year-old man, was injured with back pain. The truck driver and other listed occupants were not reported injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors for this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Three NJ Transit buses crashed at Port Authority before dawn. The impact shut the express lane. Buses stacked up. Service stalled. By midmorning, the ramp reopened. Delays lingered. Riders stranded in the city’s heart.

NY1 reported on July 2, 2025, that three NJ Transit buses collided at the Port Authority Bus Terminal around 6:15 a.m. The crash closed the express bus lane ramp, halting service and rerouting traffic. According to NY1, 'the collision happened around 6:15 a.m., shutting down the express bus lane ramp at the Midtown Manhattan terminal.' Service resumed by 10 a.m. with delays. The incident highlights the risks of crowded terminal operations and the cascading effects of bus collisions on transit flow. No details on driver actions or injuries were provided.

• Three NJ Transit Buses Collide At Terminal, NY1, Published 2025-07-02