Night streets, hard numbers: Mott Haven’s toll

Feb 12 - Three men suffered neck and head injuries in a northbound collision involving a taxi and two sedans on the Major Deegan Expressway. The crash, marked by rear-end impacts, was caused by driver inattention and distraction, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on the Major Deegan Expressway involving a taxi and two sedans all traveling northbound. The collision involved rear-end impacts between the vehicles. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. Three male occupants were injured: two drivers, aged 40, and one 21-year-old front passenger. All were conscious and sustained neck and head injuries consistent with whiplash. Each occupant was restrained with lap belts and harnesses and none were ejected. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victims. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793820 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 12 - A 59-year-old man suffered whole-body injuries and whiplash after a pick-up truck struck him at an intersection in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The truck was making a left turn and hit the pedestrian front-center.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on E 138 St near Brook Ave in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2004 Nissan pick-up truck, traveling east and making a left turn, struck him with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his entire body and complained of whiplash, resulting in shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate any driver violations such as failure to yield. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the truck alone. This incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing legally at signalized intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 8 - A KIA slammed into a Honda on Bruckner Blvd, crushing two women inside. The driver had no license. Metal and belts pressed flesh, leaving neck and back injuries. The street bore witness. Both victims remained conscious, pain etched in their bodies.

According to the police report, a KIA sedan traveling west on Bruckner Blvd near St Anns Ave struck the rear of a Honda sedan. The KIA's front end collided with the Honda's back end, crushing two women inside the KIA—one suffered neck injuries, the other back injuries. Both were conscious after the crash, described as 'crushed against the belts.' The report explicitly notes the KIA driver was unlicensed at the time of the collision. No contributing factors are specified beyond the lack of a valid license. The narrative states, 'A KIA slammed into the back of a Honda. Two women inside crushed against the belts. One’s neck, the other’s back. Both awake. The driver held no license. The street held the rest.' The focus remains on the unlicensed driver and the violent impact that left both occupants injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792592 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 6 - A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 4 - Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Jan 29 - A Nissan SUV traveling west collided with a Honda sedan making a left turn northbound on E 138 St. The sedan’s front passenger suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, at 21:13 on E 138 St, a 2014 Nissan SUV traveling west struck a 2008 Honda sedan making a left turn north. The point of impact was the SUV’s center front end against the sedan’s right side doors. The sedan carried two occupants; the front passenger, a 32-year-old male, was injured with contusions and bruising to the shoulder and upper arm. He was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The police report explicitly identifies the contributing factor as "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" by one of the drivers. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage to the SUV’s left front bumper and the sedan’s right rear quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 20 - A northbound SUV struck the right rear bumper of a sedan on Bruckner Blvd in the Bronx. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered hip and upper leg injuries and whiplash. Slippery pavement contributed to the collision, according to police.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:17 on Bruckner Blvd in the Bronx. A northbound SUV impacted the right rear bumper of a northbound sedan. The sedan’s 25-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining hip and upper leg injuries and whiplash. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies slippery pavement as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before the impact. The SUV’s left front bumper and the sedan’s right rear bumper sustained damage. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. The report highlights the hazardous road conditions that led to the SUV rear-ending the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 18 - A Ford SUV making a left turn on E 149 St in the Bronx struck an object or vehicle, injuring both occupants. Both men suffered head contusions. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary cause of the crash and resulting injuries.

According to the police report, a 2017 Ford SUV was making a left turn on E 149 St near Southern Blvd in the Bronx at 6:37 AM when it crashed. The vehicle had two male occupants: a 25-year-old driver and a 30-year-old front passenger. Both men were conscious but sustained head injuries described as contusions or bruises. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for both the driver and passenger injuries. The SUV's point of impact and damage was the center front end, indicating a frontal collision during the turn. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and were not ejected. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of excessive speed during turning maneuvers in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790232 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 17 - A city bus teetered over a Bronx overpass after swerving to dodge a double-parked car. Steel scraped concrete. Debris rained down. No one was hurt. The wall broke. The rules broke first.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus nearly plunged from the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass after the driver swerved to avoid an illegally double-parked car. The bus crashed into the wall, leaving it hanging over the edge. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." No injuries were reported, but the crash caused structural damage and scattered debris below. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz noted, "It speaks to the importance of enforcing our parking rules because it was going around a double-parked car." The incident highlights the danger posed by lax parking enforcement and infrastructure vulnerable to impact.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 15 - A sedan traveling east collided with a driver going south on E 140 St in the Bronx. The impact struck the driver’s right side doors, causing neck injuries and whiplash. Driver distraction was cited as the cause, leaving the driver injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on E 140 St collided with a driver heading south near Bruckner Blvd in the Bronx. The point of impact was the right side doors of the driver’s vehicle. The driver, a 41-year-old female, suffered neck injuries and complained of whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The sedan’s front center end was damaged, indicating it struck the side of the other vehicle. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction in urban traffic, resulting in serious injury to the vulnerable occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787187 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 13 - An SUV backed unsafely on the Major Deegan. Three vehicles collided. Two men, 62 and 73, suffered neck and head injuries. Both were conscious, restrained. Driver error triggered the crash. Metal and bodies took the blow.

According to the police report, a crash unfolded at 19:10 on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. One SUV backed unsafely, causing a collision with another SUV and a sedan. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the key driver error. Two male occupants, aged 62 and 73, were injured—one with neck trauma, the other with head trauma. Both were conscious and restrained with airbags deployed. The 62-year-old's injury was noted as whiplash. The report attributes the crash to the unsafe backing maneuver, with no contributing factors assigned to the injured occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 13 - A 55-year-old woman was struck while crossing with the signal at an intersection in the Bronx. The SUV hit her on the right side doors. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of E 149 St and 3 Ave in the Bronx at 6:56 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a Station Wagon/SUV traveling east went straight ahead and struck her on the right side doors. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, with an injury severity rated as 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No helmet or other safety equipment was noted, nor were any pedestrian behaviors identified as contributing factors in the police data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 7 - A speeding SUV collided head-on with a moped traveling east on E 144 St in the Bronx. The moped driver, a 23-year-old man, was ejected and suffered serious leg injuries. The SUV driver was licensed; the moped driver was not.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:04 on E 144 St near Park Ave in the Bronx. The collision involved a 2023 SUV traveling west and a 2023 moped traveling east. The SUV struck the moped at the center front end, with the contributing factor listed as Unsafe Speed. The moped driver, a 23-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries classified as severity 3. He was wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling at an unsafe speed, which led to the crash. The moped driver was unlicensed. The report highlights driver error on the part of the SUV operator as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 5 - A sedan turning left hit a 28-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Willis Ave. She suffered fractures and dislocations to her lower body. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed loud. The pain stayed sharp.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Willis Ave made a left turn and struck a 28-year-old woman who was crossing at the intersection near E 144 St in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. She sustained serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786446 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 1 - SUV slammed roof-first on Bruckner. Driver, alone, hit hard. Alcohol and speed fueled the wreck. Face bruised, belt on. No one else hurt. City streets, danger always near.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old woman driving a Ford SUV south on Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx crashed just before 1 a.m. The vehicle struck with enough force to damage the roof. The driver suffered facial contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the risks when drivers operate under the influence and at high speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 29 - A 24-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions when an SUV merging westbound on E 149 St collided with his e-bike. The SUV’s left front quarter panel hit the bike’s right front quarter panel, causing injury without ejection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:35 on E 149 St in the Bronx. A female SUV driver, licensed in New York, was merging westbound when her vehicle’s left front quarter panel struck the right front quarter panel of a westbound e-bike ridden by a 24-year-old male with a permit license. The bicyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver’s error in merging. No contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted. The collision caused damage to both vehicles’ front quarter panels, underscoring the impact location and driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 26 - A taxi veered off Sixth Avenue, mounted the curb, and struck a crowd near Herald Square. Three pedestrians, including a child, landed in the hospital. The driver stayed at the scene. Metal, flesh, and concrete met in Midtown’s holiday rush.

Gothamist (2024-12-26) reports a Midtown crash where a taxi driver, experiencing a medical episode, drove onto the sidewalk at Sixth Avenue and West 34th Street, injuring a 9-year-old boy and two women. Police said, 'they did not suspect any criminality in the crash.' The driver, 58, remained at the scene and was taken for evaluation. Four others declined medical attention. The article notes, 'the driver was driving northbound on Sixth Avenue around 3 p.m. on Wednesday when he jumped the curb and plowed into a crowd.' The incident highlights the persistent risk posed by vehicles in crowded pedestrian zones, regardless of intent or driver health. No policy changes were announced.

• Taxi Jumps Curb, Hits Midtown Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2024-12-26

Dec 23 - A police car crossed the line. Metal struck flesh. Samuel Williams, riding his dirt bike, was thrown and killed. Body cam footage shows the officer’s move. Another NYPD car tried the same. The city sent Williams’ family a bill.

NY Daily News (2024-12-23) reports that NYPD body camera footage shows an officer veering into the path of Samuel Williams, a 36-year-old dirt bike rider, during a pursuit on the University Heights Bridge. Williams was struck, thrown, and died from his injuries. The article states, “An officer pursuing dirt bikers suddenly crossed the double yellow line into Williams' path, causing a collision.” Another NYPD vehicle attempted a similar maneuver. The family’s attorney called it a “deadly maneuver” for a minor violation. The city later billed Williams’ family for police vehicle damages. The NYPD has not commented, citing litigation. The case raises questions about police pursuit tactics and accountability.

• NYPD Officer Veers Into Dirt Biker’s Path, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-23