Crash Count for Central Park
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 430
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 244
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 74
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 8
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 2
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Aug 19, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Central Park?

Central Park Bleeds While City Hall Sleeps

Central Park Bleeds While City Hall Sleeps

Central Park: Jan 1, 2022 - Aug 6, 2025

Blood on the Park Roads

Central Park is not safe. Not for the old, not for the young. Not for the cyclist, not for the walker. In the last twelve months, one person died and three were seriously injured here. Fifty-one more were hurt. The numbers do not tell you about the sound of bone on asphalt, or the blood that stains the crosswalk. But they are the record of a city that looks away.

Just weeks ago, a man on a bike died on the 97th Street Transverse. He was 43. The crash report lists him as ejected, dead at the scene. No further detail. No comfort for his family. No change for the next rider. NYC Open Data

A child was hit at Central Park West and 85th. The report says “failure to yield right-of-way” and “unsafe speed.” She survived, but with severe lacerations to the head. She was crossing with the signal. The driver was on a bike. The city moves on.

The Voices in the Silence

The dead do not speak. The living do. After a cyclist was struck in Washington Heights, a resident said, “No one stops at these stop signs. We see people go through these red lights all the time.” Another added, “I really want there to be speed humps because it’s just terrifying.”

The horror is not just in the crash. It is in the waiting. It is in the knowledge that nothing will change until someone makes it change.

What Leaders Have Done—and What They Haven’t

Local leaders have taken some steps. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal voted yes on the Stop Super Speeders Act, a bill that would force repeat dangerous drivers to install speed limiters. Open States Assembly Member Micah Lasher voted to extend school speed zones. These are steps. But the blood still runs. The city has the power to lower the speed limit to 20 mph. It has not done so.

Every day of delay is another day of risk.

Call to Action: Make Them Hear You

Call your council member. Call the mayor. Tell them to use the power they have. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real protection for people who walk and ride. Do not wait for another name to be added to the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Central Park sit politically?
Central Park belongs to borough Manhattan, community board Manhattan CB64, city council district District 6, assembly district AD 69 and state senate district SD 47.
What types of vehicles caused injuries and deaths to pedestrians in Central Park?
In the last period, pedestrians were injured or killed by: Cars and Trucks (22 incidents, including 2 serious injuries and 1 death), Motorcycles and Mopeds (4 incidents), and Bikes (10 incidents, including 2 serious injuries).
Are these crashes just 'accidents' or are they preventable?
These crashes are not random. Most could be prevented with lower speed limits, better street design, and enforcement against reckless driving.
What can local politicians do to make Central Park safer?
They can lower the speed limit to 20 mph, redesign crossings, install speed humps, and pass laws that keep repeat dangerous drivers off the road.
What is CrashCount?
We’re a tool for helping hold local politicians and other actors accountable for their failure to protect you when you’re walking or cycling in NYC. We update our site constantly to provide you with up to date information on what’s happening in your neighborhood.
How many people have been killed or seriously injured in Central Park recently?
In the last twelve months, one person was killed and three were seriously injured in traffic crashes in Central Park.
What recent steps have local leaders taken?
Senator Hoylman-Sigal voted for the Stop Super Speeders Act, and Assembly Member Lasher voted to extend school speed zones. But the city has not yet lowered the speed limit to 20 mph.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Micah Lasher
Assembly Member Micah Lasher
District 69
District Office:
245 W. 104th St., New York, NY 10025
Legislative Office:
Room 534, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Gale A. Brewer
Council Member Gale A. Brewer
District 6
District Office:
563 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024
212-873-0282
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1744, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6975
Twitter: galeabrewer
Brad Hoylman-Sigal
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
District 47
District Office:
322 8th Ave. Suite 1700, New York, NY 10001
Legislative Office:
Room 310, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247

Traffic Safety Timeline for Central Park

Central Park Group Backs Carriage Ban

Two runaway horses crashed into pedicabs. A cab driver’s wrist broke. The Conservancy calls for a ban. Heavy carriages scar pavement. Manure stains the drives. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

West Side Spirit (2025-08-13) reports the Central Park Conservancy urged city leaders to ban horse-drawn carriages, citing public safety. Their letter referenced two May incidents: a bolting horse and a crash injuring a pedicab driver. CEO Elizabeth W. Smith wrote, 'Banning horse carriages has become a matter of public health and safety for Park visitors.' The Conservancy also noted damage to park infrastructure and daily manure left behind. The push supports Ryder’s Law, a City Council bill named after a collapsed horse. The article highlights ongoing debate and recent injuries, underscoring risks to vulnerable park users.



  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835213 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-22

  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836134 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-22
DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal

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.


Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades

A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.


Carriage Horse Dies On Manhattan Street

Lady collapsed and died on the job. Her death sparked protest. Carriage horses face city traffic, noise, heat. Activists demand change. The city debates the future of horses in streets built for cars.

CBS New York (2025-08-06) reports that Lady, a carriage horse, died after collapsing in Manhattan. The article states, "Activists are now demanding change, calling for increased protections and possibly an end to horse-drawn carriages." Lady's death, just two months into her work, has renewed scrutiny of the carriage industry. The incident highlights risks horses face in urban traffic and raises questions about city policy on animal labor amid cars and congestion. The debate centers on whether current regulations protect horses or if systemic change is needed.


Improper Passing Injures Cyclist on Central Park West

Two cyclists collided on Central Park West. One man, 58, suffered a leg injury. Police cite improper lane use. The crash left bruises and confusion in the night.

Two men riding north on Central Park West crashed late at night. The 58-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering a contusion to his leg. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' contributed to the crash. Both riders were listed as wearing helmets. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. No other vehicles were involved. The collision highlights the risks cyclists face, even on city streets meant for them.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-22
Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack

A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.


Manhattan Bridge Crash Kills Two Bystanders

A car sped off Manhattan Bridge, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and bench sitter May Kwok. Police found guns, alcohol, and an overdue rental. The city faces calls to fix a deadly intersection.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-28) reports two women face charges after a car, speeding off Manhattan Bridge, killed cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Police found guns, alcohol, and an overdue rental at the scene; one driver refused a breathalyzer. Council Member Marte criticized the Department of Transportation for 'ongoing neglect.' The crash site, long known as dangerous, drew protests and renewed calls for city action. The indictment remains sealed until the next court date.


Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be

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.


Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision

A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.


SUV Turns, Strikes E-Bike in Central Park

SUV cut across 79th Street Transverse. E-bike rider hit, leg bloodied. Unsafe speed and failure to yield fueled the crash. Metal met flesh. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

An SUV making a right turn on 79th Street Transverse at Central Park West struck a northbound e-bike. The 32-year-old cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his lower leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The SUV’s right front quarter panel took the impact. No helmet was listed as a factor. The system failed to protect the cyclist. The street became a wound.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-22
Chinatown Hit-And-Run Kills Two

A car struck a pedestrian and a cyclist on Canal Street. Both died. The driver fled. The intersection stands exposed, its danger plain. Grief gathers. Safety questions rise.

CBS New York (2025-07-24) reports a vigil in Chinatown after a hit-and-run killed a pedestrian and a cyclist at a Canal Street intersection. The article notes, "the crash is raising questions about a bigger safety problem at an intersection of Canal Street." The driver left the scene, highlighting both individual lawlessness and systemic failure. The deaths underscore persistent risks for vulnerable road users at this location. Community response points to urgent need for safer street design and enforcement.


Driver Held After Chinatown Crash Kills Two

A rented sedan sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck a cyclist and a pedestrian on Canal Street. Both died at the scene. Police found alcohol and guns in the car. The driver tried to flee. The city failed to keep them safe.

Gothamist (2025-07-22) reports a Staten Island driver, Autumn Ascencio Romero, faces murder and other charges after killing a cyclist and a pedestrian in Chinatown. Prosecutors say she lost control of a rented car at high speed, striking Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Police found 'an open bottle of tequila in the car’s passenger area' and two pistols in the trunk. Witnesses saw the driver and a passenger try to flee. Romero had been charged in a prior Brooklyn crash involving a suspended license. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and gaps in enforcement.


Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two

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.


Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown

A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.


Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two in Chinatown

A car sped off the Manhattan Bridge, jumped the curb, struck a cyclist and a pedestrian. Both died. The driver and passenger tried to flee. Police caught them. Metal, speed, and chaos at Canal and Bowery.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that a Chevy Malibu jumped the curb near Canal Street and Bowery, killing a cyclist in his 30s and a pedestrian in her 60s. The two women in the car attempted to flee but were arrested. Mayor Eric Adams cited 'the rate of speed was pretty high' and called for action against reckless driving. The car also struck a parked police van. Charges are pending as police investigate. The crash highlights ongoing dangers at busy intersections and the deadly impact of speed.


Sedan Hits Cyclist on Central Park West

A sedan struck a cyclist on Central Park West. The cyclist took a blow to the head. Police cite driver inattention and passing too closely. Metal met flesh. The street stayed cold.

A sedan collided with a cyclist on Central Park West near West 102nd Street in Manhattan. The 29-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and was reported conscious, with a contusion. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s left front bumper took damage. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver or other occupants. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and pass too close to vulnerable road users.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-22
DOT Worker Slashed By E-Biker Downtown

A DOT worker fixing a sign near a bike lane was slashed by an e-bike rider with a box cutter. Blood on Broadway. The rider fled. The worker survived. No arrests. The city keeps moving.

According to amny (2025-07-17), a DOT worker was attacked by an e-bike rider at Broadway and Cedar Street while repairing a street sign. Police said the worker backed up his truck, nearly causing a crash with the cyclist. The rider then "whipped out a box cutter and slashed the worker in his left arm and back." The assailant fled. DOT condemned the attack, calling it "abhorrent." No arrests have been made. The incident highlights tensions at work sites near bike lanes and underscores the need for safe conditions for street workers.


Brewer Backs Safety Boosting E Bike Regulation and Infrastructure

Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'