Crash Count for Lower East Side
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,466
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 787
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 198
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 13
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 8
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jun 7, 2025
Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Lower East Side?
SUVs/Cars 42 4 3 Motos/Mopeds 7 0 0 Trucks/Buses 2 0 4 Bikes 2 0 0

Lower East Side Bleeds—City Lets Speed Kill

Lower East Side: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025

The Toll on the Street

A man steps off the curb. A truck does not stop. Four killed, one child scraped and left to watch on Water Street. A sedan on FDR Drive, a pedestrian struck, never to get up. An old man crossing Delancey, hit by an SUV turning right. The numbers do not flinch: eight dead, thirteen left with serious wounds since 2022. On the Lower East Side, the street is a wound that will not close.

In the last year alone: five killed, four more with injuries that will not heal. Two of the dead were over 55. One was 25. One was 35. The city counts the bodies, but the street remembers the names.

Who Bears the Brunt

Cars and trucks kill. Of the deaths and injuries to pedestrians, sedans, SUVs, taxis, and trucks do most of the work. Trucks alone took four lives. A sedan, a taxi, an SUV—each left a body behind. Motorcycles and mopeds break bones and skin, but rarely kill. Bikes are not blameless, but their toll is measured in bruises, not funerals.

What Has Been Done—And What Has Not

The city talks of Vision Zero. It builds some new crosswalks, lowers some speed limits. But the blood keeps coming. Sammy’s Law passed in Albany, giving the city power to set its own speed limits. The city can lower speeds to 20 mph. It has not done so everywhere. Speed cameras work, but their future is always in doubt. Each year, Albany must vote to keep them on. Each year, the clock ticks.

The council and the mayor say the right words. But on the Lower East Side, the street is still a place where you can die for crossing at the wrong time, or for no reason at all.

What Comes Next

This is not fate. This is policy. Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand cameras that never go dark. Demand streets where a child can cross and come home. Take action now.

Citations

Citations
Other Geographies

Lower East Side Lower East Side sits in Manhattan, Precinct 7, District 1, AD 65, SD 27, Manhattan CB3.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
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State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Lower East Side

Van Turns Left, Sedan Strikes on Houston Street

A van turned left on Avenue C. A sedan drove straight on Houston. The sedan hit the van’s front. One driver suffered a shoulder injury. Others escaped with minor or no injuries. Failure to yield caused the crash. Steel met flesh. Pain followed.

Two vehicles collided at East Houston Street and Avenue C in Manhattan. According to the police report, a van was making a left turn while a sedan traveled straight ahead. The sedan struck the van’s front. One driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered a shoulder injury and reported pain and shock. Others involved, including another driver and passengers, had minor or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or helmet or signal issues are noted in the data. The crash highlights the danger when vehicles fail to yield during turns.


GMC SUV Strikes Pedestrian on Clinton Street

A GMC SUV hit a man crossing Clinton Street at Delancey. The crash left him bruised in the chest. He stayed conscious. The front of the SUV took the impact. The driver’s actions remain unspecified. The street bore the mark of danger.

A 46-year-old man walking at the intersection of Clinton Street and Delancey Street in Manhattan was struck by a GMC SUV traveling west. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a chest contusion but remained conscious after the crash. The vehicle’s center front end hit the pedestrian. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The police report does not mention helmet use or signal issues. The incident highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians at city intersections.


Sedan Turns Left, E-Scooter Driver Injured on Columbia

A sedan and an e-scooter collided at Columbia and Stanton. The e-scooter driver suffered abdominal injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Three sedan occupants were involved. The crash left one vulnerable road user hurt in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

A sedan and an e-scooter crashed at the intersection of Columbia Street and Stanton Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the sedan was making a left turn while the e-scooter was heading straight. The e-scooter driver, a 50-year-old man, was injured in the abdomen and pelvis. Three people in the sedan, including the driver and two passengers, were also involved but did not report specific injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The data does not indicate any helmet or signaling issues. The collision highlights the risks faced by e-scooter riders when drivers fail to pay attention.


Sedan Ignores Signal, Passengers Suffer Head Injuries

A sedan barreled through a traffic control on East Houston and Avenue D. The crash left two rear passengers hurt, both struck in the head. Metal twisted. The street fell silent. The driver disregarded the rules. The city paid the price.

A crash on East Houston Street at Avenue D in Manhattan involved a sedan traveling east and another vehicle making a left turn. According to the police report, the sedan disregarded traffic control. Two rear passengers, a 43-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman, suffered head injuries. The woman reported whiplash. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The impact struck the right front bumper of the sedan and the right side doors of the other vehicle. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.


Box Truck Backs Into Pedestrian on Madison

A box truck reversed on Madison Street. Its rear struck a man crossing outside the crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered an arm abrasion. He stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The street saw blood, not broken glass.

A box truck, backing southwest on Madison Street, struck a 34-year-old man who was crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in the elbow, lower arm, and hand, suffering an abrasion but remaining conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The truck sustained no damage. No driver errors were cited in the data. The incident did not occur at an intersection or with a signal. The crash left one person hurt and highlights the risks faced by pedestrians on city streets.


Sedan Strikes Pedestrian on Delancey Street

A 27-year-old man lay on Delancey Street, clutching his lower leg after a sedan hit him at the Clinton Street intersection. Sirens echoed in the early morning darkness. Blood pooled near his foot. He spoke in fragments, confusion clouding his face.

According to the police report, a sedan struck a 27-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection of Delancey Street and Clinton Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was described as incoherent at the scene. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor, indicating a driver-related error or maneuver not otherwise specified. No mention was made of helmet use or signaling as contributing factors. The crash underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at city intersections.


2
Sedan Injures Two in Unsafe Lane Change

Metal scraped and glass scattered on the Williamsburg Bridge bike and pedestrian path. A BMW sedan struck with force, leaving the driver and front passenger conscious but bleeding from head abrasions. Sirens echoed as responders arrived to treat the injured.

A BMW sedan traveling east on the Williamsburg Bridge bike and pedestrian path collided with enough force to injure both the driver, a 32-year-old man, and the front passenger, a 31-year-old woman. According to the police report, both sustained head abrasions and were conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as a contributing factor in the crash. No additional contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, are mentioned. The incident highlights the consequences of driver error in a location meant for vulnerable road users.


Unlicensed Driver’s Unsafe Lane Change Injures Elderly Woman

Metal screeches on FDR Drive. An 81-year-old woman clutches the wheel, pain shooting through her shoulder and leg. Blood stains the armrest. Sirens echo. Doors swing open. A child sits silent in the back. The crash leaves wounds and fear behind.

On FDR Drive, a multi-vehicle collision left an 81-year-old woman injured, with abrasions to her shoulder and upper arm. According to the police report, the crash involved several sedans and SUVs traveling southbound. The report states, “Unsafe lane change,” as the primary contributing factor. One of the involved drivers was unlicensed. The narrative details the moment: 'Metal grinds against metal. An 81-year-old woman grips the wheel. A child strapped in back. Pain in the shoulder, pain in the leg. Doors open. Sirens wail. Unsafe lane change. Blood on the armrest.' The data lists no helmet or signal violations. The crash underscores the consequences of driver error and unlicensed operation on city highways.


Taxi Strikes Elderly Pedestrian on Delancey

A 73-year-old woman crossing Delancey Street at Norfolk was hit by an eastbound taxi. Sirens echoed as she clutched her leg in pain, shock on her face. The intersection filled with tense voices and the smell of exhaust.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on Delancey Street struck a 73-year-old female pedestrian as she crossed at the intersection with Norfolk Street. The pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal, suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and reported pain and nausea. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, identifying a clear driver error. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet use or signaling was included in the report.


Taxi Collision on FDR Drive Causes Neck Injury

Two taxis collided on FDR Drive at night. One driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way. Impact damaged the right front and left rear bumpers. Airbags deployed for the injured driver.

According to the police report, two taxis traveling south on FDR Drive collided at 20:11. One taxi was going straight ahead while the other was merging. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the first taxi and the left rear bumper of the second. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The injured party was a 35-year-old male driver of one taxi who suffered a neck injury described as whiplash and was in shock. His airbag deployed during the crash. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision caused significant damage to the vehicles' bumpers. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.


Sedan Strikes Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A 67-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan made a right turn and struck her at an intersection on Madison Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, left in shock, and sustained moderate injuries.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2017 Toyota sedan, traveling east and making a right turn on Madison Street in Manhattan, struck her at the intersection. The point of impact was the sedan's center front end. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, and no visible complaints were noted at the scene, though she was in shock and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot with a severity level of 3. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Vehicle damage was reported as none. The focus remains on the collision caused by the vehicle's movement during the right turn.


Sedan Strikes Manhattan Pedestrian Turning Improperly

A 33-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries when a sedan struck him on Madison Street in Manhattan. The driver’s improper turn caused the collision. The pedestrian remained conscious with bruises but no severe trauma.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Madison Street struck a 33-year-old male pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The report explicitly cites the driver’s error as "Turning Improperly," which directly contributed to the collision. The pedestrian’s location and actions were recorded as "Unknown" and "Does Not Apply," indicating no contributing factors from the pedestrian’s behavior were noted. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. This crash underscores the dangers posed by driver errors in turning maneuvers in Manhattan’s streets.


Cyclist Slams Head at Delancey and Norfolk

A man on a bike, unlicensed, sped through the night at Delancey and Norfolk. His head struck hard, blood pooling on the asphalt. The city watched, silent. He survived, conscious, but the street bore the mark.

A 47-year-old man riding a bike was severely injured at the corner of Delancey Street and Norfolk Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 1:35 a.m. The report states the cyclist was traveling at 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' is listed as a contributing factor. The man was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The narrative notes, 'Head split, blood on asphalt. Conscious. Unlicensed. The front end crumpled.' The impact caused severe bleeding from the head, but the cyclist remained conscious. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as driver errors. No mention is made of any other vehicles or external hazards. The focus remains on the cyclist’s actions and the systemic dangers present at this intersection.


Sedan Strikes Bicyclist on Ridge Street

A 35-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured with upper arm trauma after a sedan collided with him on Ridge Street in Manhattan. The driver struck the cyclist’s right side, causing shock and pain but no vehicle damage to the bike.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 17:54 on Ridge Street in Manhattan involving a sedan and a bicycle. The sedan, traveling south, struck the bicyclist, who was traveling east, impacting the cyclist’s center front end with the sedan’s right side doors. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and suffered an upper arm injury and shock. The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the bicyclist. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No helmet or safety equipment was noted for the bicyclist, but no contributing factor was assigned to this. The collision highlights the dangers bicyclists face from vehicle side impacts in Manhattan traffic.


Bicyclist Injured in Manhattan Collision on Allen St

A 31-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a crash on Allen Street. The cyclist was semiconscious but not ejected. The incident involved a single bike traveling north, striking the left rear bumper of an unspecified vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Allen Street in Manhattan at 15:15. The injured party was a 31-year-old male bicyclist, who was the sole occupant and driver of his bike traveling north, going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left rear bumper of an unspecified vehicle. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was semiconscious but not ejected from the bike. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The vehicle involved was unspecified, with no driver information or license status provided. The report does not indicate any victim behavior contributing to the crash.


Taxi Strikes Elderly Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A 76-year-old woman suffered abrasions after a taxi struck her at an intersection on Essex Street. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when hit, sustaining lower arm injuries.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on Essex Street made a left turn and struck a 76-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The taxi showed no vehicle damage despite the collision. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time. This incident highlights the driver's failure to yield and maintain attention while executing a left turn, directly causing harm to a vulnerable pedestrian following traffic signals.


Sedan Hits Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A 22-year-old woman suffered a hip and upper leg contusion after a sedan struck her at an intersection on East Houston Street. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, colliding with the pedestrian crossing legally with the signal late at night.

According to the police report, at 11:30 PM on East Houston Street in Manhattan, a sedan struck a 22-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to her hip and upper leg and remained conscious after the impact. The report explicitly cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor to the collision. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted, but the driver’s failure to yield is the primary cause. The sedan impacted the pedestrian at the center front end, indicating a direct collision. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.


SUV and Taxi Collide on Delancey Street

Two vehicles crashed on Delancey Street in Manhattan. The SUV and taxi collided front bumpers while traveling southeast. The SUV driver, a 26-year-old man, suffered arm injuries and shock. Alcohol involvement was noted as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:14 AM on Delancey Street, Manhattan, involving a 2022 SUV and a 2021 taxi, both traveling southeast. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the left front bumper of the taxi. The SUV driver, a 26-year-old male, was injured with elbow, lower arm, and hand injuries and experienced shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report does not specify pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors, focusing on the collision between the two vehicles and the role of alcohol in the incident.


2
Rear-End Collision Injures Two Sedan Occupants

Two men in sedans collided on Suffolk Street in Manhattan. The rear vehicle struck the front car’s center back end. Both drivers were conscious but suffered chest and neck injuries. Slippery pavement contributed to the crash dynamics.

According to the police report, at 1:00 PM on Suffolk Street in Manhattan, a rear-end collision occurred involving two sedans traveling south. The front vehicle was stopped in traffic when the following sedan struck its center back end. The drivers, both licensed men from New York, were conscious but sustained injuries: the front passenger suffered a chest contusion, and the driver experienced whiplash to the neck. Both occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected. The report cites 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor, indicating road conditions played a role. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly noted in the data. The collision caused damage to the center back end of the front sedan and the center front end of the rear sedan.


2
Unlicensed Motorcycle Driver Hits Pedestrian Crossing

A motorcycle driver without a license struck a pedestrian crossing against the signal on Essex Street. Both suffered injuries and shock. The collision caused bruises and bleeding, highlighting critical driver errors and pedestrian confusion at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old unlicensed motorcycle driver traveling southwest on Essex Street collided with a 40-year-old female pedestrian crossing against the signal at an intersection. The motorcycle's right front bumper struck the pedestrian, causing injuries to her knee and lower leg with minor bleeding. The driver sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm. Both victims were in shock. The report cites 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but the critical driver error was operating the motorcycle without a valid license. The driver was going straight ahead at the time of impact. This crash underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed vehicle operation combined with pedestrian confusion in busy Manhattan intersections.