Canal Street Bleeds, City Shrugs: Demand Action Now

Sep 7 - A southbound sedan driver hit a taxi's rear on Canal near Broadway before dawn. The taxi driver suffered a head injury. Police recorded driver inattention and distraction.

According to the police report, a southbound sedan driver hit the back of a southbound taxi on Canal Street at Broadway at 1:50 a.m. in Manhattan. The taxi showed right-rear bumper damage; the sedan had front-end damage. The 38-year-old male taxi driver was injured with a head abrasion. The 30-year-old female sedan driver was listed as uninjured. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction as a contributing factor. The report notes both drivers were going straight before impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 4 - Near 200 Chambers St, a driver in a parked BMW SUV was in a crash with a cyclist moving east. Impact to the SUV’s right-side doors and the bike’s front. The rider suffered an arm bruise. Police cited Passing or Lane Usage Improper and Other Vehicular.

A 32-year-old bicyclist was hurt near 200 Chambers St in Manhattan. A driver in a 2024 BMW SUV was listed as parked. The bike was recorded eastbound. According to the police report, the point of impact was the SUV’s right-side doors and the bike’s center front end at 13:50. Police recorded “Passing or Lane Usage Improper” and “Other Vehicular” as contributing factors. The rider suffered a contusion to the elbow and hand and was conscious. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. No additional injuries were detailed in the data. The record shows a common crash at the curb: a parked driver’s doors in the path of a person on a bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 27 - The driver of a taxi struck the right side of a passing moped on Canal Street. The 62-year-old moped driver fell and suffered an abrasion and lower-leg injuries. According to the police report, the factor was "Passing or Lane Usage Improper."

A taxi struck a moped eastbound near 272 Canal St. The driver of the moped, a 62-year-old man, suffered an abrasion and trauma to the knee/lower leg/foot. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." Vehicle records list the moped as 'Passing' and the taxi as 'Going Straight Ahead.' The driver of the taxi struck the moped's right side with his right front bumper. A box truck nearby registered no damage. Police recorded "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" by the driver as the error that set the crash in motion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - A taxi driver turned right on Lafayette at Canal and hit a 53-year-old bicyclist. The rider suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and complained of pain. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.

Both drivers were making right turns northbound on Lafayette at Canal. The taxi driver turned right and struck a 53-year-old male bicyclist. The cyclist suffered shoulder and upper-arm trauma, was recorded in shock, and complained of pain or nausea. Vehicle damage included the bicycle’s center front end and the taxi’s left rear quarter panel and left-side doors. According to the police report, the crash involved "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Driver error listed: Failure to Yield Right-of-Way. The bicyclist had no safety equipment listed. Police coded the bicyclist’s injury severity as 3.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - A taxi turning right met a northbound pickup changing lanes on Canal at Church. Metal hit. A rear-seat passenger in the cab was hurt. Police cite bad lane use and tailgating. The street funnels speed. The system failed the person who paid the fare.

A taxi making a right turn on Canal Street at Church Street struck a northbound pickup that was changing lanes. A 25-year-old rear-seat passenger in the cab was injured. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Passing or Lane Usage Improper” and “Following Too Closely.” The data lists driver behaviors including Following Too Closely and Turning Improperly among involved motorists. The pickup showed damage to the right rear quarter panel; the taxi had front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed, but a passenger was hurt in a routine turn-and-merge conflict. The crash underscores driver errors in a tight corridor where traffic stacks and shifts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 7 - A driver turning left on West St hit a 26-year-old woman in the intersection. She suffered an upper-arm contusion and remained conscious. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction. The vehicle showed left-front damage.

An SUV making a left turn on West St at N Moore St struck a 26-year-old woman in the intersection. She suffered a contusion to her upper arm and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was the contributing factor. The driver, a licensed man, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Police recorded the pre-crash action as making a left turn and the point of impact as the left front bumper. Vehicle damage was to the left front quarter panel. No other injuries were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 7 - 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.

• Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades, NY1, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 3 - The driver of an SUV hit a 49-year-old woman riding a bike at Centre and Chambers. She suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

The driver of a 2022 Ford SUV struck a 49-year-old woman riding a bicycle on Centre Street at Chambers. The bicyclist suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. The cyclist complained of pain and nausea. The SUV was traveling west going straight ahead; the bike was traveling south. The SUV's point of impact was center front end; the bicycle's point of impact was left side doors. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A southbound SUV and westbound sedan met at Canal and Varick. One driver suffered leg injuries and was in shock. Police cited failure to yield. Glass and metal littered the road.

Two drivers met at Canal Street and Varick Street. The driver of a sedan was traveling west. The driver of an SUV was traveling south. One occupant was injured: a 33-year-old male driver with knee‑lower‑leg‑foot injuries and listed in shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The crash damaged the right front areas of both vehicles. The injured driver was recorded as using a lap belt and harness; no pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - 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

Jul 29 - 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.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A taxi's right front struck a sedan's right rear at Reade St and W Broadway. Two passengers — a 36-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl — were hurt. Police recorded 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.'

A taxi and a sedan collided at Reade Street and West Broadway in Manhattan. The taxi's right front bumper struck the sedan's right rear quarter panel while both vehicles were going straight. Two passengers in the sedan were injured: a 36-year-old front passenger with elbow and lower-arm injuries and a 12-year-old right-rear passenger with a head injury. Both complained of whiplash and were conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor in the crash. The report lists no other contributing factors and notes damage to the sedan's right rear quarter and the taxi's right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 27 - 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

Jul 25 - 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.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21