SoHo-Little Italy: Four deaths, hundreds hurt — and the cars keep coming

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 24 - A firefighter died on FDR Drive. The driver fled. At Port Authority, a bus crash left over two dozen hurt. No arrests. The city’s streets remain brutal for those on foot and in transit.

Patch reported on July 24, 2025, that an FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run on FDR Drive. The driver left the scene. No arrests have been made. The article also notes, 'More Than 2 Dozen Injured In Bus Crash At Port Authority Bus Terminal.' Both incidents highlight ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and point to gaps in enforcement and street safety. Investigations continue, but the city’s traffic violence persists.

• Firefighter Killed, Dozens Hurt In Crashes, Patch, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - 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

Jul 21 - A speeding car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The driver faces murder charges. The car was a long-overdue rental. Debris scattered. Lives ended in seconds.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a driver faces murder and manslaughter charges after a deadly Chinatown crash. The car, a weeks-overdue rental, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck a cyclist and a pedestrian, killing both. Police found two 9mm pistols in the trunk. The article states, "the car was traveling westbound off the Manhattan Bridge at a high rate of speed" and "struck Cruickshank, Kwok and an unoccupied NYPD vehicle." The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons possession. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Chinatown Crash Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 18 - A pick-up truck struck a 64-year-old woman crossing Broome Street with the signal. She suffered arm injuries. The truck’s front end hit her. No driver errors listed. System failed to protect her.

A pick-up truck making a left turn on Broome Street struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed at the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in the elbow, lower arm, and hand, suffering a contusion. The truck’s center front end made contact. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The system left a pedestrian exposed in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 17 - The driver of an SUV rear-ended a sedan at West Houston and Greenwich. Three people in the sedan were injured. They complained of back injuries and whiplash. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver.

The driver of an SUV rear-ended a sedan on West Houston at Greenwich Street in Manhattan. Three people in the sedan were hurt: a 44-year-old driver, a 38-year-old front passenger, and a 15-year-old rear passenger. All three reported back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was listed as a contributing factor. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the SUV struck the sedan’s center front with its center back end. No pedestrians or cyclists are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 17 - A sedan struck a parked diesel truck on West Street. Three people hurt. Police cite driver fatigue and other vehicular factors. Metal and bodies took the blow. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A sedan traveling north hit a parked diesel tractor truck at 340 West Street in Manhattan. Three occupants were injured, including a 21-year-old woman with head trauma. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Fell Asleep' and 'Other Vehicular.' The sedan’s driver wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left metal twisted and people hurt. Systemic danger and driver fatigue played their part. No mention of vulnerable road users, but the toll remains clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 17 - A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.

• Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 14 - 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

Jul 13 - SUV plowed through the intersection. A young woman crossing with the signal took the hit. She fell hard, bruised and shocked. The driver ignored traffic control. Streets stayed dangerous.

A 22-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing West Houston Street at Broadway. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver disregarded traffic control and hit her. She suffered a hip and upper leg contusion and was in shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians when drivers ignore signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 9 - The driver of an e-bike hit an 88-year-old man at Elizabeth and Kenmare. He suffered a head injury with minor bleeding and was incoherent at the scene. Police listed driver inexperience and unsafe speed.

The driver of an e-bike struck an 88-year-old pedestrian at the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Kenmare Street in Manhattan. The man suffered a head injury and showed minor bleeding; he was incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, "Driver Inexperience" and "Unsafe Speed" were listed as contributing factors. The point of impact and vehicle damage were recorded at the center front end of the e-bike. Police records list the pedestrian as injured and specify no additional injured parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 9 - A box truck reversed on Greenwich. It struck a woman crossing outside the crosswalk. She suffered hip and leg injuries. The truck showed no damage. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

A box truck backed up on Greenwich Street in Manhattan and struck a 33-year-old woman who was crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her hip and upper leg. The truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. No specific driver errors were listed in the report; contributing factors were marked as 'Unspecified.' The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The report highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827123 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 6 - A fast electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in the hospital. The cyclist, bruised, faced wrongful charges. Chaos thrives where speed meets congestion.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, near West 60th Street. An illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist, sending its operator to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The cyclist, Carolyn Backus, was wrongly charged with leaving the scene, though she "remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics." The Manhattan D.A. dismissed the charge, noting Backus rode a non-motorized bike. The article highlights the risk of high-speed e-vehicles in crowded park zones, where "unpredictable congestion makes it the last place...anyone should be speeding."

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 4 - A tractor truck turned right on West St, striking a taxi. The taxi driver suffered back injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No driver errors listed in the police report.

A crash unfolded at West St and Canal St in Manhattan. A tractor truck making a right turn struck a taxi going straight. According to the police report, the taxi driver, a 35-year-old man, was injured with back pain. The truck driver and other listed occupants were not reported injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors for this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - 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

Jun 26 - SUV driver tailed too close on Avenue of the Americas. E-scooter rider struck, arm bloodied. Police cite driver’s error. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A 25-year-old e-scooter rider was injured on Avenue of the Americas at Spring Street when a northbound SUV followed too closely and struck him. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the listed contributing factor. The e-scooter rider suffered an arm injury and abrasion. The SUV driver and occupant were not seriously hurt. The report notes the e-scooter rider wore a helmet, but only after citing the driver’s error. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance from vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823440 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 25 - Albany stalled. Lawmakers dragged their feet. No new laws for safer streets. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. The car stays king. The status quo kills. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

The 2025 Albany legislative session ended June 25, with lawmakers failing to pass key street safety bills. The Streetsblog NYC report reads: "Our elected officials in Albany have failed the livable streets movement again." Despite support for measures like speed camera reauthorization, most bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists died in committee or never reached the floor. Assembly Member Amy Sohn and others criticized the lack of action. The only major win was extending the city’s speed camera program. A safety analyst notes: 'Failure to advance livable streets policies likely maintains the status quo, which typically prioritizes car-centric infrastructure and neglects the safety and needs of pedestrians and cyclists.' The session’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No progress. No protection.

• D-Minus! The Albany Report Card for 2025, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 19 - An e-bike rider struck a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk. The rider flew from the bike, hit the curb, and died. The pedestrian suffered a minor hand injury. Police are investigating. No arrests. The park remains dangerous for all.

West Side Spirit reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk near East 97th Street and East Drive. The article states, "Nico-Garcia was then flung from his bike and struck his head on the curb, the NYPD said." The pedestrian, 41, had a minor hand injury and refused treatment. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident; no arrests have been made. City data shows e-bike and e-scooter deaths have dropped citywide in 2025, but Central Park crash numbers remain steady. The report notes, "more people crash on regular bikes in the park than on e-bikes or e-scooters, while the opposite is true for NYC overall." The crash highlights ongoing risks at crossings and the persistent threat to vulnerable road users.

• E-Biker Killed After Central Park Crash, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17