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
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Lower East Side

Fire Engine Strikes Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A fire engine making a left turn hit a 39-year-old pedestrian crossing East Houston Street with the signal. The pedestrian suffered an elbow abrasion but remained conscious. The crash exposed a failure to yield right-of-way by the vehicle driver.

According to the police report, a fire engine traveling southeast on East Houston Street was making a left turn when it struck a 39-year-old male pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained an abrasion to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor attributed to the vehicle driver. The fire engine showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely with the center front end. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted, but the primary cause was the driver's failure to yield. This incident highlights the dangers posed by emergency vehicles not yielding to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.


Distracted Sedan Driver Kills Pedestrian on FDR Drive

A sedan struck a man lying on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. The driver, distracted, hit him head-on. The man died instantly, his head taking the blow. The road was dark. The driver kept going. Silence followed.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old man was killed on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. when a southbound sedan struck him head-on. The report states, 'A man lay in the dark. A southbound sedan struck him head-on. His head took the blow. He died there, still and silent.' The driver was found to be distracted at the time of the crash, with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' listed as a primary contributing factor. The sedan's center front end took the impact, matching the pedestrian's fatal head injury. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver's inattention, which led to the fatal collision.


SUV With Defective Brakes Injures Manhattan Pedestrian

A 26-year-old man was struck by an SUV traveling north on Norfolk Street. The vehicle’s defective brakes caused the collision. The pedestrian suffered severe lower leg injuries and a fracture while off the roadway, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male pedestrian was injured by a 2020 Toyota SUV traveling north on Norfolk Street in Manhattan at 7:37 PM. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The report identifies 'Brakes Defective' as the primary contributing factor to the collision. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was licensed and was going straight ahead before impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper. The defective brakes impaired the driver’s ability to stop, directly leading to the pedestrian’s injury.


Bicyclist Suffers Shoulder Fracture on Grand Street

A 30-year-old female bicyclist fractured her shoulder and suffered a dislocation on Grand Street in Manhattan. The crash involved a single bike and an unspecified vehicle. Injuries were serious but the bicyclist was not ejected from the bike.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old female bicyclist was injured on Grand Street in Manhattan at 4:30 AM. The bicyclist sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated upper arm injury. The report lists the bicyclist as the driver of the bike and notes no helmet or safety equipment was used, though no contributing factors were specified. The crash involved one bike and another unspecified vehicle, with the point of impact and vehicle damage categorized as 'Other.' The report does not identify any driver errors or contributing factors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist was not ejected from the bike, indicating the impact was severe enough to cause serious injury but did not throw the rider off. The data highlights the vulnerability of bicyclists in crashes involving unspecified vehicle actions.


SUV Turns Right, Strikes Manhattan Bicyclist

A distracted SUV driver made a right turn on Clinton Street, colliding with a northbound bicyclist. The cyclist suffered a fractured elbow and hand dislocation. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Clinton Street near Stanton Street in Manhattan at 8:00 PM. A 31-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was struck by a 2011 SUV making a right turn. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper. The bicyclist sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and had five occupants in the vehicle. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no victim behavior was listed as a contributing factor. The collision highlights critical driver errors leading to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.


Box Truck Backs Into SUV Passenger on Ludlow

A box truck backing unsafely struck an SUV traveling north on Ludlow Street in Manhattan. The SUV’s front passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. The truck driver’s inattention and unsafe backing caused the collision, leaving the passenger injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:40 on Ludlow Street in Manhattan. A box truck was backing north when it collided with the center front end of a northbound SUV. The truck driver was cited for 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The SUV sustained front-end damage but the truck showed no damage. The SUV’s front passenger, a 39-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash, remaining conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report explicitly identifies the truck driver’s unsafe backing and distraction as contributing factors. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing. The collision highlights the dangers posed by inattentive drivers performing unsafe maneuvers in busy Manhattan streets.


5
Pickup Truck Crushes Four Off-Road Pedestrians

A Ford pickup truck surged onto Jackson Street, crushing four people not in the roadway. Three women and a man, ages 30 to 59, died beneath the truck’s front end. The street ran red. Metal and bone. No warning. No escape.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck traveling north on Jackson Street near Water Street struck four pedestrians who were not in the roadway. The report states the victims—three women and one man, ages 30 to 59—were hit head-on and suffered fatal crush injuries to the chest and skull. All four died at the scene, pinned beneath the truck’s front end. The police narrative describes the collision as occurring off-street, with the pedestrians explicitly listed as 'not in roadway.' The report lists the contributing factor for the driver as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrian behavior was cited as contributing. The crash highlights the lethal danger when a large vehicle leaves the roadway and enters spaces where people walk or gather.


16-Year-Old Bicyclist Injured in Manhattan Crash

A 16-year-old female bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Manhattan collision. The bike struck the left front bumper of a vehicle. She was conscious and bruised, with no helmet worn. Police cite unspecified contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old female bicyclist riding east on Stanton Street in Manhattan was injured when her bike impacted the left front bumper of a 2018 Toyota SUV. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. She was conscious and not ejected from the bike. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. The vehicle involved showed no damage, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited in the report. The crash highlights the dangers bicyclists face even when traveling straight ahead.


SUV Rear-Ends Sedan on FDR Drive

A northbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan changing lanes on FDR Drive. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed and following too closely as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:15 on FDR Drive when a northbound SUV traveling straight ahead rear-ended a sedan that was changing lanes. The point of impact was the SUV's left rear bumper striking the sedan's right front bumper. The sedan driver, a 48-year-old male occupant, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights driver errors involving speed management and maintaining safe following distance on a busy highway.


Distracted Driver Causes Sedan Collision on Ludlow Street

Two sedans collided on Ludlow Street in Manhattan at 9:43 AM. The left-side impact injured a 44-year-old male driver with neck whiplash. Police cite driver inattention as the key factor behind the crash, highlighting systemic risks from distracted driving.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:43 AM on Ludlow Street near Delancey Street in Manhattan. Two sedans were involved: a 2016 Hyundai traveling east going straight ahead, and a 2011 Honda making a left turn traveling southeast. The point of impact was the left side doors of the Hyundai and the right front bumper of the Honda. The 44-year-old male driver of one vehicle sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving in urban traffic environments.


Pick-up Truck Lane Change Injures Child Passenger

A pick-up truck changing lanes on FDR Drive struck a sedan, injuring an 8-year-old passenger. The child suffered facial contusions but was conscious and restrained. The crash was caused by improper lane usage, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:50 on FDR Drive involving a pick-up truck and a sedan traveling southbound. The pick-up truck driver was changing lanes improperly, cited as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' which led to a collision with the sedan. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the pick-up truck and the center front end of the sedan. An 8-year-old occupant in the pick-up truck, seated in the rear and secured with a harness, sustained facial contusions and was conscious after the crash. The police report explicitly identifies the driver's lane change error as the contributing factor. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The child was not ejected and suffered injury severity level 3.


Distracted Driver Hits Pedestrian Crossing Ludlow

A 49-year-old woman was struck while crossing Ludlow Street in a marked crosswalk. The sedan driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan driver making a left turn on Ludlow Street struck a 49-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious after the collision. The report cites two driver errors: 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted beyond crossing without a signal. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and failure to yield to pedestrians at intersections.


Pedestrian Injured at Manhattan Intersection

A 47-year-old man suffered back injuries and shock after a collision at East Houston Street and Ludlow Street. The pedestrian was at the intersection when struck, resulting in complaint of pain and nausea. The incident highlights dangers at busy city crossings.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of East Houston Street and Ludlow Street in Manhattan around 1:30 p.m. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report does not specify vehicle type or driver actions, nor does it list any contributing factors such as failure to yield or driver errors. The pedestrian was located at the intersection at the time of the collision. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The lack of detailed vehicle or driver information underscores systemic issues in crash reporting and the vulnerability of pedestrians in Manhattan intersections.


Sedan Strikes Pedestrian Crossing Against Signal

A sedan making a left turn hit an 18-year-old pedestrian crossing against the signal at East Houston Street and Chrystie Street. The pedestrian suffered bruises and an elbow injury. The driver showed no vehicle damage, highlighting the impact on the vulnerable pedestrian.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:03 on East Houston Street near Chrystie Street in Manhattan. A 2013 Ford sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling southeast and making a left turn, struck an 18-year-old male pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision happened. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and an injury to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact occurring at the right front quarter panel. The report lists no contributing factors for the driver but notes the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal. This incident underscores the danger posed to pedestrians by turning vehicles in busy intersections.


Sedan and Bicycle Collide on Pitt Street

A northbound sedan and bicycle collided on Pitt Street in Manhattan, striking each other on their right side doors. The 61-year-old male bicyclist suffered upper arm abrasions and remained conscious. The crash exposed critical driver errors and systemic risks.

According to the police report, a 2019 Jeep sedan and a bicycle, both traveling northbound on Pitt Street near Delancey Street, collided with impact on their right side doors. The bicyclist, a 61-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not specify any driver violations or pedestrian errors. The collision of two vehicles traveling straight ahead with damage on the same side suggests a failure in vehicle positioning or awareness. No helmet or crossing signal use was noted as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers cyclists face when sharing narrow urban streets with motor vehicles, emphasizing driver responsibility in avoiding side-impact collisions.


Two Sedans Collide on FDR Drive, Passenger Injured

Two sedans collided on FDR Drive at 1:14 a.m. The front passenger of one vehicle suffered abrasions and an elbow injury. Police cited improper turning and failure to yield as contributing factors. The injured passenger was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, at 1:14 a.m. on FDR Drive, two sedans traveling north collided. One driver was changing lanes while the other was going straight ahead. The collision occurred at the left front bumper of the first vehicle and the right front bumper of the second. The report identifies 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the crash. A 20-year-old female front passenger was injured, sustaining abrasions and an elbow-lower-arm-hand injury. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt at the time of the crash. The driver errors—improper turning and failure to yield—were central to the collision, highlighting systemic dangers on this stretch of FDR Drive.


Unlicensed SUV Driver Hits Manhattan Bicyclist

A 34-year-old bicyclist suffered a back injury and shock after a collision with an unlicensed SUV driver in Manhattan. The SUV was parked before impact; no vehicle damage was reported. The bicyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Manhattan near Pitt Street at 16:10. The collision involved a 2011 Honda SUV and a bicyclist traveling northbound. The SUV driver was unlicensed and had been parked prior to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the bike. The bicyclist, a 34-year-old male, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from his bike. The SUV sustained no damage. The report lists the SUV driver's license status as unlicensed, indicating a critical driver error. The bicyclist's contributing factors are unspecified, and no safety equipment was used. The data highlights systemic danger posed by unlicensed drivers operating vehicles in the city.


Elderly Cyclist Injured in Manhattan Sedan Collision

A 75-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a sedan on East Houston Street. The cyclist was not ejected and experienced shock. The sedan struck the bike’s left rear quarter panel with no reported vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 5:20 AM on East Houston Street in Manhattan involving a sedan and a bicycle. The bicyclist, a 75-year-old male, was injured with contusions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of the sedan, which sustained no damage. The bicyclist was riding straight ahead southwest and was not ejected from the bike. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify any driver errors or contributing factors related to the sedan driver. There is no mention of helmet use or crossing signals as contributing factors. The data highlights a collision involving a vulnerable road user and a motor vehicle with unclear driver fault but serious injury to the cyclist.


Two Sedans Collide on Norfolk Street

Two sedans traveling north collided on Norfolk Street in Manhattan. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both drivers were licensed women going straight ahead.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Norfolk Street in Manhattan collided at 8:00 PM. The rear sedan struck the center back end of the front sedan, which sustained damage to its center front end. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 23-year-old woman, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors to the crash. Both drivers were licensed women from New York, traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.


SUV Lane Change Causes Passenger Head Injury

A 33-year-old female passenger suffered a head contusion during a lane change on a slippery FDR Drive. The SUV’s front center impacted, causing injury despite no ejection. Slippery pavement contributed to the crash, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on FDR Drive involving a 2021 Toyota SUV traveling south. The driver, a licensed male, was changing lanes when the vehicle's center front end impacted, resulting in injury to a 33-year-old female passenger seated in the middle rear seat. The passenger sustained a head contusion and was conscious but injured. The report identifies 'Pavement Slippery' as the primary contributing factor, cited twice, indicating hazardous road conditions played a critical role. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted beyond the lane change maneuver. The passenger was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by slippery pavement during lane changes on high-speed roadways.