Crash Count for Lower East Side
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 2,193
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 1,197
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 312
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 20
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 9
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Oct 30, 2025
Carnage in Lower East Side
Detailed breakdowns aren’t yet available for this year slice; totals below reflect the selected window.
Killed 9
+2
Crush Injuries 4
Lower leg/foot 3
Back 1
Neck 1
Amputation 2
Head 1
Lower leg/foot 1
Severe Bleeding 5
Head 4
Lower leg/foot 1
Severe Lacerations 4
Head 3
Lower leg/foot 1
Concussion 8
Head 8
+3
Whiplash 37
Neck 15
+10
Head 8
+3
Back 7
+2
Lower leg/foot 3
Shoulder/upper arm 1
Whole body 1
Contusion/Bruise 89
Lower leg/foot 30
+25
Lower arm/hand 19
+14
Shoulder/upper arm 12
+7
Head 11
+6
Back 5
Chest 5
Hip/upper leg 4
Face 3
Eye 1
Neck 1
Abrasion 56
Lower arm/hand 20
+15
Lower leg/foot 13
+8
Head 8
+3
Shoulder/upper arm 6
+1
Face 3
Abdomen/pelvis 2
Chest 2
Hip/upper leg 1
Whole body 1
Pain/Nausea 21
Lower leg/foot 7
+2
Lower arm/hand 3
Neck 3
Shoulder/upper arm 3
Head 2
Back 1
Chest 1
Hip/upper leg 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Oct 30, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Lower East Side?

Preventable Speeding in Lower East Side School Zones

(since 2022)

Blood on the Crosswalks: How Many More Must Die Before They Act?

Lower East Side: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 17, 2025

The Toll in Flesh and Blood

Eight dead. Fifteen left with injuries so severe they may never walk the same. In just over three years, the Lower East Side has seen 1,627 crashes. Cars, trucks, bikes, and mopeds—steel against skin. Pedestrians and cyclists take the brunt.

A pickup truck on Water Street crushed four people on July 4, 2024. Three women and a man, all pedestrians, died where they stood. An eleven-year-old boy survived with his face torn open. No warning. No time to run. Crash data from NYC Open Data.

A city worker, fixing a street sign at dawn, was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near miss. “They weren’t even in the bike lane, they were parked on the corner, fixing the light or the sign or something,” a witness said. The worker bled on the sidewalk. The cyclist fled.

Heavy vehicles—trucks and buses—account for four of the eight deaths, a disproportionate share of fatalities given their smaller share of total crashes.

Leadership: Promises and Delays

Local leaders have moved, but not fast enough. Council Member Marte co-sponsored a bill to ban parking near crosswalks, aiming to clear sightlines and protect those on foot. The bill sits in committee, waiting. Council records on Legistar.

Senator Kavanagh voted yes on the Stop Super Speeders Act, a bill to force repeat dangerous drivers to install speed-limiting devices. The law targets the worst offenders, but the carnage continues while the process drags on. Bill details on Open States.

On Canal Street, Council Member Marte said, “The time is long overdue to take action in response to the dire conditions of Canal Street. He pledged his support to take action.”

Political solutions must be citywide, not local gestures. New York must lower its default speed limit across the city and require speed-limiters (intelligent speed assistance) for habitual speeders. The Stop Super Speeders Act (S4045) pushes speed-limiter tech for repeat offenders; implementing citywide lower limits plus targeted speed-limiter requirements would cut kinetic force and save lives.

The Cost of Waiting

Every delay is another body on the pavement. The city has started daylighting intersections and lowering speed limits, but the pace is glacial. The Fifth Avenue redesign cut bike and bus lanes to keep car lanes wide. “We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue,” said a community board leader.

The dead cannot wait.

Concrete steps the city and local leaders should implement now:

  • Install Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) and hardened curb turns at dangerous crossings.
  • Expand daylighting and daylighting enforcement near crosswalks; ban curbside parking that blocks visibility.
  • Deploy targeted enforcement and traffic-calming on corridors with high severe-injury and truck involvement.

Call your council member. Call your senator. Demand safer streets now.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Grace Lee
Assembly Member Grace Lee
District 65
District Office:
Room 302, 64 Fulton St., New York, NY 10038
Legislative Office:
Room 429, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Christopher Marte
Council Member Christopher Marte
District 1
District Office:
65 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002
212-587-3159
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1815, New York, NY 10007
212-587-3159
Brian Kavanagh
State Senator Brian Kavanagh
District 27
District Office:
Room 2011, 250 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Legislative Office:
Room 512, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
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

14
Int 1339-2025 Rivera co-sponsors bill that reduces street safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.


13
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Cyclist on Delancey

Jul 13 - A sedan turned left on Delancey and hit a cyclist. The rider took a blow to the shoulder. Police cite failure to yield. Passengers in the car were shaken. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A sedan making a left turn on Delancey Street collided with a cyclist traveling straight. The cyclist, a 27-year-old woman, suffered a shoulder injury and bruising. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. Four car occupants, all in their early twenties, were listed as uninjured or with unspecified injuries. The crash involved a Honda sedan and a bicycle. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The impact highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers fail to yield.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
4
SUV Turns Strike Cyclist on Chrystie Street

Jul 4 - SUV cut across Chrystie. Bike rider thrown. Arm gashed. Police cite improper passing and unsafe lane change. Metal against flesh. System failed to protect.

A 23-year-old cyclist was injured when an SUV collided with his bike at 229 Chrystie Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV was making a right turn while the cyclist was turning left. The cyclist was ejected and suffered an arm injury. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any cyclist error. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to use lanes properly.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
3
Charges Dropped In Central Park Collision

Jul 3 - A cyclist and e-unicycle rider collided in Central Park. The cyclist stayed for paramedics. Police dropped charges. The crash left one man in critical condition. Enforcement against cyclists rises. Streets remain tense.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-03) reports that Manhattan prosecutors dropped charges against Carolyn Backus, a cyclist accused of fleeing after colliding with an electric unicycle rider in Central Park. The DA's office stated, "She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive." The NYPD initially charged Backus, but the law applies only to motor vehicles. The crash left the unicycle rider critically injured. The article highlights increased NYPD enforcement against cyclists and e-bike riders, raising questions about policy focus and the treatment of non-motorized road users.


30
Int 0857-2024 Marte votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


30
Int 0857-2024 Rivera misses committee vote on bill improving street safety by removing abandoned vehicles.

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.


30
Int 0857-2024 Rivera votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


26
Distracted Driver Injures Skater on Grand Street

Jun 26 - A sedan struck a skater at 400 Grand Street. The skater took a hit to the chest. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The crash left one injured and two shaken.

A sedan traveling east collided with a 45-year-old in-line skater at 400 Grand Street in Manhattan. The skater, wearing a helmet, suffered a chest injury and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Two vehicle occupants were also involved but not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention. The skater’s helmet is noted in the report, but the primary cause remains driver distraction.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
20
Sedan Strikes Uninvolved Car, Child Hurt on South St

Jun 20 - A sedan hit another car on South Street. A seven-year-old boy suffered a face injury. Police cite reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. Three other occupants were also involved.

A sedan traveling south on South Street collided with another vehicle. According to the police report, a seven-year-old boy riding as a rear passenger was injured, suffering a facial contusion. Three other occupants, including a baby, a 33-year-old woman, and two 43-year-old men, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or contributing factors were noted in the report.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
20
Rear-End Crash on FDR Drive Injures Passenger

Jun 20 - SUV slammed into truck’s rear on FDR Drive. One passenger suffered neck injury. Police cite following too closely. Impact left scars on metal and flesh.

A pick-up truck carrying five people slowed on FDR Drive. An SUV struck its rear. According to the police report, one passenger, a 61-year-old woman, suffered a neck injury and whiplash. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling north. The SUV’s front hit the truck’s back. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger of tailgating, as noted by police.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
19
Motorcycle Collides With Car on E Houston Street

Jun 19 - A motorcycle slammed into a car’s side on E Houston and Essex. The rider, thirty-one, bled badly from his leg. The crash left him conscious but hurt. No driver errors listed. The street stayed busy. Metal and blood marked the scene.

A motorcycle and a car collided at E Houston Street and Essex Street in Manhattan. The motorcycle struck the left side doors of the car. According to the police report, the thirty-one-year-old motorcycle driver suffered severe bleeding to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The car, a Porsche, was traveling south while the motorcycle moved east. The police report notes the motorcyclist wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the intersection marked by injury and damage, underscoring the risks faced by those outside cars.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
19
Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.


17
Distracted Cyclist Hits Child Pedestrian on Delancey

Jun 17 - A cyclist struck a child crossing with the signal on Delancey. The child suffered a back injury. Police cite driver inattention. The crash exposes danger at Manhattan intersections.

A cyclist traveling north on Delancey Street struck a young pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at Allen Street. The child suffered a back injury, described as a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The cyclist was unlicensed. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, especially children, even when following the rules at Manhattan intersections.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
17
SUV Speeding on FDR Drive Injures Driver

Jun 17 - SUV tore down FDR Drive. Speed too high. Driver lost control. One man hurt, back bleeding. Police cite unsafe speed, distraction. Metal twisted. Shock lingered.

A station wagon SUV crashed on FDR Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered back injuries and minor bleeding. He was in shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV's left front bumper struck, damaging the right front quarter panel. Other occupants had unspecified injuries. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use. The crash highlights the danger of speed and distraction behind the wheel.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03
17
S 8344 Lee votes yes to extend school speed zones, improving child pedestrian safety.

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.


16
S 7678 Lee votes yes to expand school speed cameras, boosting pedestrian safety.

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.


16
S 7785 Lee votes yes to weaken bus rules, increasing pedestrian and cyclist risk.

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.


13
S 8344 Kavanagh votes yes to extend school speed zones, improving child pedestrian safety.

Jun 13 - 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.


13
S 5677 Lee votes yes on school speed cameras, boosting safety for children.

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.


13
S 6815 Lee votes yes to exempt some employees from bus lane rules.

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.