South Richmond Hill: Four Dead, No More Excuses

Nov 5 - A driver passing on 101 Ave hit a parked sedan at 130 St in Queens. The crash injured a 36-year-old front passenger. Police recorded unsafe speed by the driver.

On 101 Ave at 130 St in Queens, a driver in a westbound sedan, while passing, hit a parked sedan. The impact damaged the parked car’s left rear bumper and injured a 36-year-old front passenger. She reported back pain and whiplash and was listed as injured. According to the police report, unsafe speed contributed to the crash. Police recorded unsafe speed by the driver. The parked car had two occupants; the driver’s injury status was listed as unspecified. The passing car’s right front bumper took the hit. The crash was logged at 4:05 p.m. The data list both vehicles as sedans.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4855164 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-12

• Driver Fatally Doors Cyclist in Queens Yet is Not Charged, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-10-28

Oct 11 - On 94 Ave at 127 St, a 14‑year‑old moped driver collided with a parked pickup in Queens. He suffered head wounds and severe lacerations. Police recorded driver inattention or distraction.

On 94 Ave at 127 St in Queens, a 14-year-old driving a moped collided with a parked pickup truck. He was the only person hurt. He suffered head trauma and severe lacerations. He was described as incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" by the driver was recorded. The pickup was parked and showed no damage. The moped was traveling north and showed front-end damage. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4848999 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-12

• Queens City Council candidate Jonathan Rinaldi accused of posting fabricated endorsements in District 29 race, AMNY, Published 2025-10-10

• Hit-run driver speeding to Dunkin’ Donuts when he killed Queens expressway construction worker: D.A., NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-21

Sep 21 - A driver was arraigned on manslaughter and assault charges after a hit-and-run killed an on-duty construction flag worker on the Nassau Expressway. Prosecutors say the case seeks accountability for dangerous driving; the worker did not survive.

"A driver who allegedly ran down a safety flag worker at a construction site in Queens last week, killing her, was arraigned on manslaughter and a list of other charges, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Sunday." -- Melinda R. Katz

This is not a council bill. Matter: "Queens DA: Motorist arraigned after hit-and-run collision that left on-duty construction worker dead on Nassau Expressway." Event date: 2025-09-21. Status: defendant Daveanand Budhai arraigned on second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault charges after the fatal collision. Queens District Attorney Melinda R. Katz announced the indictment and pushed for prosecution. No council committee or councilmember sponsorship applies; Barbara Russo-Lennon is listed as the reporting source. Safety impact: prosecutors say accountability can deter dangerous driving — "Prosecuting a hit-and-run driver signals accountability for dangerous driving, which can deter similar behavior and support a culture of safety for vulnerable road users. However, without complementary infrastructure or systemic changes, the impact is likely modest."

• Queens DA: Motorist arraigned after hit-and-run collision that left on-duty construction worker dead on Nassau Expressway, AMNY, Published 2025-09-21

• Driver charged after woman directing traffic around expressway killed in Queens hit-and-run, ABC7, Published 2025-09-20

• Suspect who allegedly intentionally ran over, killed Queens teen is in the country illegally, ICE says, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-18

Sep 16 - On 101 Ave at 109 St in Queens, a box-truck driver backed and collided with an SUV going straight. The SUV driver, 52, suffered whiplash. Police recorded Backing Unsafely.

Two vehicles collided on 101 Ave at 109 St in Queens. A box-truck driver was backing. An SUV driver was traveling straight west. The SUV driver, a 52-year-old man, reported neck pain and whiplash. "According to the police report, officers recorded Backing Unsafely in the crash." Both vehicles were listed with rear-center damage. NYPD data shows both drivers were licensed. No other injuries were recorded in the dataset. The crash was logged at 4:00 p.m. The truck was a 2019 Freightliner box truck. The SUV was a 2024 Mazda. The record places the crash in the 102nd Precinct area. Collision ID 4843112.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4843112 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-12

• Man struck and killed by two vehicles while trying to cross Belt Parkway in South Ozone Park: NYPD, amny, Published 2025-09-16

• 2 children struck by driver in Queens, suspect in custody, witnesses say, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-15

• Teenage girl fatally struck by SUV in Queens, suspect in custody, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

• Queens teen with autism fatally struck by car after going missing from LI school, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-05

• Many Queens riders now navigating new commute, due to full redesign of MTA's bus network, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-02

Sep 1 - A driver in a Jeep SUV hit the back of a 67-year-old e-bike rider at 120 St and 95 Ave in Queens at 9:20 p.m. The rider went down, stayed conscious, and hurt his arm. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver.

On September 1, 2025, at about 9:20 p.m., a driver in a 2023 Jeep SUV, traveling north on 120 St, went straight and hit the back of a westbound e-bike at 95 Ave in Queens. The crash injured a 67-year-old bicyclist, who was conscious with an arm contusion and was partially ejected. According to the police report, police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. The e-bike had center back-end damage; the SUV had center front-end damage. Both were reported as going straight ahead. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-12

• MTA got busy with second phase of Queens bus network redesign this weekend, amny, Published 2025-09-01

• Second phase of Queens bus network redesign goes into effect, NY1, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 8 - A driver in an SUV and a motorcyclist collided at 101 Avenue and 112 Street in Queens. The motorcycle driver, 35, was injured — knee, lower leg and foot contusion. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Traffic Control Disregarded.

A driver in an SUV collided with a motorcycle at 101 Avenue and 112 Street in Queens. One motorcyclist was hurt. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' are listed as contributing factors. The injured person is a 35-year-old male motorcycle driver, conscious and not ejected, with injury to the knee, lower leg and foot and a contusion. Vehicle records show center front end damage to the motorcycle and left rear quarter panel damage to the SUV. The report logs the crash at 17:00 and lists the involved vehicle types as SUV and motorcycle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-12

Aug 6 - A horse named Lady died in Hell's Kitchen. Photos reignited calls to ban carriages. The City Council stalled. Unions and leaders blocked hearings. Advocates warned of more injuries. Analysts say the ban would have minimal direct effect on pedestrians and cyclists.

Bill 2025, proposed to ban horse-drawn carriages, remained stalled as of August 6, 2025. The measure sits in the City Council health committee chaired by Lynn C. Schulman. Queens Councilman Robert F. Holden is the bill's sponsor. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not publicly taken a position. The article ran under the headline "Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages." Advocates rallied and warned, "without a ban there will be more crashes, injuries, and possibly deaths." TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. The proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages may have minimal direct impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety, as these vehicles are a small share of street traffic; the primary safety risks for vulnerable road users stem from motor vehicles and street design.

• Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01