No More Blood on Canal Street: Demand Safer Roads Now

Aug 7 - A driver sped off the Manhattan Bridge, killed a cyclist and a pedestrian. City rushes barriers, lowers speed limits. Canal Street stays deadly. Grief, action, but danger remains.

Gothamist (2025-08-07) reports two people died when a driver, charged with vehicular homicide, sped at 109 mph off the Manhattan Bridge and crashed at Bowery and Canal. The city will add barriers, lower speed limits, and narrow lanes. Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez said, "We are taking immediate steps to fortify this intersection." Advocates warn most of Canal Street remains dangerous. Seven have died on this corridor since 2011. Community redesign meetings are now scheduled sooner in response to the crash.

• City Acts After Canal Street Deaths, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A cyclist and a scooter rider crashed head-on on the Brooklyn Bridge. Both were ejected. The woman suffered a fracture and dislocation. The man bled from the face. Police cited rider error and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle.

A 62-year-old woman riding a bike and a 22-year-old man on a standing scooter collided head-on on the Brooklyn Bridge while moving in opposite directions. Both were ejected. The woman suffered a fracture and dislocation. The man had minor facial bleeding. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' contributed to the crash. Police recorded straight-line travel before impact and front-end damage on both. No motor vehicles were involved. The crash occurred at 4:14 p.m. on August 6.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833314 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 31 - 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

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 - 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

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 - 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 stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended in seconds. Blood, wreckage, tequila, guns left behind. The driver ran. Bystanders paid the price.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-22), a stolen rental car struck and killed May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Scott Cruickshank, 55, at Bowery and Canal. Prosecutors said the driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, fled the scene, leaving 'an open bottle of tequila and two 9mm guns in the wreck.' Surveillance video captured the car plowing into a woman on a bench and a passing cyclist. Romero faces murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide charges. Passenger Kennedy Lecraft faces charges for possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of unchecked speeding and stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian in Chinatown, New York Post, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A stolen Chevy sped off the Manhattan Bridge, jumped a curb, and struck two people in Chinatown. Both died on scene. Guns found in the wreck. Driver faces murder and other charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-21), a blue Chevy Malibu, reported stolen, crashed at Bowery and Canal after the driver lost control and jumped a curb. The crash killed May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Cruickshank, 55. Police said, "The out-of-control driver accused of jumping a curb in Chinatown and killing two people has been charged with murder along with weapon possession after guns were found in the wrecked stolen rental car." The driver, Autumn Donna Ascension Romero, faces murder, manslaughter, and other charges. Her passenger faces weapon and stolen property charges. The article highlights prior incidents involving the driver and raises questions about rental car oversight and street safety.

• Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A driver in a sedan struck a pedestrian on Bowery at Canal. The pedestrian suffered lower leg and foot injuries. The driver and two passengers were also hurt. Police listed unsafe speed and alcohol as contributing factors.

A driver in a sedan traveling west on Bowery at Canal struck a 20-year-old pedestrian. The pedestrian suffered injuries to the lower leg and foot. The driver and two passengers, ages 25 and 21, were injured; the driver complained of neck pain and was trapped in the vehicle. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' were listed as contributing factors. Police recorded damage and point of impact on the sedan's left side doors. The vehicle is a 2017 Infiniti registered in New Jersey. The report noted the pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - 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

Jul 18 - A van crashed in Midtown. Police found 76 propane tanks and 15 fuel canisters inside. The driver faces reckless endangerment charges. Firefighters removed the fuel. Streets held danger in plain sight.

CBS New York reported on July 18, 2025, that after a van crashed at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue, FDNY found 'a strong smell of gas and propane tanks in the back of the van.' Firefighters removed 76 propane cylinders and 15 fuel canisters, totaling 75 gallons of gas and 10 gallons of diesel. The driver was charged with reckless endangerment and cited for multiple fire code violations. The Manhattan district attorney's office is handling the case. The incident highlights risks when hazardous materials travel city streets without oversight.

• Van Crash Reveals Propane Stockpile Midtown, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-18

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 10 - The driver of an SUV hit the rear of a stopped box truck at 125 Canal Street. A 41-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered a bruised elbow and arm. Police cited defective brakes and driver inexperience.

At 2:55 p.m. at 125 Canal Street in Manhattan, the driver of a Tesla SUV struck the center back end of a stopped box truck while traveling northwest. A 41-year-old woman driving the SUV was injured, recorded as a contusion (bruise) to the elbow/lower arm/hand. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Brakes Defective" and "Driver Inexperience." The report records the SUV's point of impact as center front end and the truck's as center back end; the truck was stopped in traffic and the SUV was going straight ahead. The report also notes the SUV's air bag deployed and a lap belt was used.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 - SUV and sedan collided on Chrystie near Canal. Two occupants hurt. Police cite improper turning. Metal struck metal. Passengers bore the force.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, crashed on Chrystie Street at Canal Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Two people were injured: a 38-year-old front passenger suffered hip and leg injuries, and a 55-year-old driver sustained back injuries. Both were conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or actions by the injured are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 25 - Sedan struck a pick-up truck’s rear on Canal. Three people hurt. Neck, head, back injuries. Metal and glass. Manhattan evening. No clear cause. Police list factors as unspecified.

A sedan crashed into the back of a pick-up truck on Canal Street in Manhattan. Three people were injured: a 28-year-old woman with neck injuries, a 47-year-old man with head trauma, and a 33-year-old man with back injuries. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east when the sedan hit the truck’s center rear. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are identified in the data. Safety equipment use is noted for some occupants but not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 23 - A sedan hit a nine-year-old on a standing scooter at Cherry Street and Market Slip. The child suffered chest injuries. Police cite driver inexperience. The street stayed busy. The system failed the vulnerable.

A sedan traveling north on Cherry Street struck a nine-year-old boy riding a standing scooter at Market Slip in Manhattan. The child, listed as 'Other Motorized' and 'Driver,' suffered chest injuries and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. No other injuries were specified for the sedan occupants. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The collision highlights the risk faced by vulnerable road users when driver errors occur.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822712 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04