Randall’s Island Bleeds—Demand Action Before Luck Runs Out

A cab driver died after an SUV, moving at 77 mph in a 25 zone, struck his car in the Bronx. The driver ran. DNA on the airbag led to charges. The street stayed silent. The loss remains.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-09), Imani Williams was charged after her SUV hit a livery cab at 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, killing driver Robert Godwin. Prosecutors say Williams used a bus lane, ran a red light, and fled on foot. DNA from the airbag identified her. District Attorney Darcel Clark said, 'This defendant was allegedly driving three times the speed limit when her SUV slammed into a livery cab.' The case highlights the deadly risk of speeding and reckless driving in city streets.

• Speeding SUV Kills Bronx Cab Driver, New York Post, Published 2025-08-09

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

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

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

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

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

A driver ran a red. Cars slammed. Three pedestrians fell. Sirens cut the night. One man clings to life. The street holds the scars. The driver fled, but police caught him.

CBS New York (2025-06-28) reports a multivehicle crash at Bruckner Boulevard and Hunts Point Avenue. Police say Charles Jenkins "allegedly ran a red light," triggering a collision that sent both vehicles onto the sidewalk. Jenkins' car struck three pedestrians, critically injuring one. Jenkins then "got out of his vehicle and ran away, but he was later arrested." Charges include vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and unlicensed driving. The investigation continues.

• Red Light Run Crushes Bronx Pedestrians, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-28

A stolen box truck crashed into a Midtown building. The front awning buckled under the force. No injuries. Police detained a person of interest. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. The city watched, unblinking.

CBS New York reported on June 23, 2025, that a stolen box truck struck a building in Midtown Manhattan, damaging the front awning. According to police, 'no one was hurt and a person of interest was taken into custody.' The incident highlights the risk posed by unauthorized drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles. The crash did not result in injuries, but the impact damaged property and disrupted the area. The report underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and the potential for harm in dense urban environments, where even a single reckless act can threaten public safety.

• Stolen Truck Slams Midtown Building, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-23

A parked Ford and a bronze Toyota touched in Manhattan. An investigator cuffed the young driver on the spot. The arrest was later voided. The Attorney General’s office is investigating. No injuries reported. Tension hung in the air.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-20), a minor collision occurred in Manhattan when a civilian's Toyota touched a parked Ford Expedition belonging to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ security detail. The investigator, Nelson Yu, a retired NYPD detective, immediately confronted and handcuffed the young woman driver, demanding identification. A witness described, 'He jumped out and cuffed her on the spot. No questions, no warning.' The woman was reportedly driving without a license. The arrest was later voided. The Attorney General’s office stated, 'OAG is investigating this matter internally and will not have further comment at this time.' The incident highlights the use of force and protocol in minor traffic incidents involving law enforcement personnel.

• Security Detail Cuffs Woman After Fender-Bender, New York Post, Published 2025-06-20

A Bronx man died after his e-bike struck a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk. He flew from the bike, hit the curb, and never recovered. The pedestrian suffered a minor hand injury. Police are investigating. No arrests have been made.

West Side Spirit reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after his e-bike collided with a pedestrian at East Drive and East 97th Street in Central Park. The article states, "He ran into the unidentified 41 year-old pedestrian. Nico-Garcia was then flung from his bike and struck his head on the curb, the NYPD said." The pedestrian sustained a minor hand injury and refused medical treatment. The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating; no arrests have been made. City data shows e-bike and e-scooter deaths have dropped in 2025, but Central Park crash numbers remain steady. The incident highlights ongoing risks at crosswalks and the need for systemic safety improvements.

• E-Bike Rider Killed in Park Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-19

Drag racers struck a car. Words were exchanged. Gunfire followed. Keino Campbell, Navy vet, fell in the Bronx night. Three shots to the chest. His mother grieves. The street stays dangerous. The system failed to keep him safe.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-18), Keino Campbell, 27, was shot and killed in a road rage incident after confronting two drag racers who had bumped his car in the Bronx. The article reports, "Keino Campbell, 27, was shot three times in the chest in a road rage incident." Police arrested Michael Aracena, 20, charging him with murder, manslaughter, and weapon possession. Another suspect, accused of handing over the gun, remains at large. The incident highlights the lethal risks of illegal street racing and the easy escalation of violence on city roads. Systemic failures in preventing reckless driving and gun access contributed to the tragedy.

• Bronx Navy Veteran Killed In Road Rage, New York Post, Published 2025-06-18