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

2
Improper Turn and Tailgating Crush Child on FDR Drive

Three sedans collided mid-turn on FDR Drive. Metal shrieked. A 57-year-old man crushed at the wheel. A six-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck injured, crying. Southbound traffic surged past. No one stopped. Systemic failure echoed in steel.

According to the police report, three sedans crashed near FDR Drive and Delancey Street during a right turn. The report states, 'Three sedans slammed mid-turn. A man, 57, crushed at the wheel. A 6-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck hurt, crying.' Both the man and the child suffered crush injuries, with the girl sustaining neck trauma. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. These driver errors—improper turning and tailgating—created a chain reaction that left two people injured. The report notes that southbound traffic continued moving and no one stopped. The focus remains on the hazardous driver behaviors and the systemic dangers present at this Manhattan intersection.


Sedan Strikes Bicyclist on East Houston Street

A sedan making a left turn on red collided with a bicyclist riding straight. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. According to the police report, failure to yield right-of-way by the driver caused the crash. The cyclist remained conscious.

According to the police report, at 11:15 p.m. on East Houston Street, a 2005 Honda sedan was making a left turn on red when it struck a 38-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight south. The point of impact was the sedan’s center front end hitting the cyclist. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, citing it twice in relation to the bicyclist and the vehicle. The sedan showed no damage, while the bike sustained other damage. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the danger posed by drivers turning on red without yielding to cyclists proceeding straight.


Taxi Backs Into Pedestrian on Clinton Street

A 64-year-old woman crossing Clinton Street was struck by a taxi backing unsafely. She suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow. The taxi showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The driver’s unsafe backing caused the injury.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on Clinton Street was backing unsafely when it struck a 64-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk at the time of the collision. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The taxi sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The driver’s failure to back safely directly caused the pedestrian’s injury. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.


Taxi U-Turn Hits Pedestrian on East Houston

A 25-year-old man walking along East Houston Street was injured when a taxi making a U-turn struck him. The pedestrian suffered abrasions over his entire body. The crash occurred late at night in Manhattan, highlighting dangers of vehicle maneuvers near sidewalks.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on East Houston Street was making a U-turn when it struck a 25-year-old male pedestrian walking along the highway with traffic. The pedestrian was injured, suffering abrasions over his entire body. The report lists the pedestrian's confusion or error as a contributing factor but emphasizes the taxi driver's action of making a U-turn as the critical event preceding the collision. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating the impact was likely low speed but still caused bodily injury. This incident occurred near Allen Street in Manhattan at 11 p.m. The report does not indicate any driver license issues or occupant presence in the taxi. The focus remains on the driver's maneuver and the pedestrian's presence on the roadway as factors in this injury crash.


Taxi and Sedan Collide on 1 Avenue

A taxi traveling west struck a sedan making a U-turn eastbound on 1 Avenue. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered hip and upper leg injuries. Police cite traffic control disregard as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:31 on 1 Avenue. A taxi traveling westbound collided with a sedan making a U-turn eastbound. The point of impact was the left front bumper on both vehicles, indicating a side collision. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old male occupant, was injured with contusions and bruises to his hip and upper leg. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt at the time. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, highlighting a driver error related to ignoring traffic signals or rules. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The taxi driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead, while the sedan driver was executing a U-turn when the collision occurred.


Elderly Man Killed by Turning Ford SUV

An 81-year-old man steps into the crosswalk at Delancey and Willett. A Ford SUV turns right, driver fails to yield. Head trauma, internal bleeding. He dies beneath the streetlights. No damage to the car. The city keeps moving.

According to the police report, an 81-year-old pedestrian was killed at the corner of Delancey Street and Willett Street in Manhattan. The crash occurred at 23:06, when the man entered a marked crosswalk. A Ford SUV, registered in New York and driven by a licensed New Jersey man, made a right turn without signaling. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered fatal head trauma and internal bleeding. The police report notes there was no damage to the vehicle. The victim was crossing with no signal, in a marked crosswalk, but the report attributes the crash to driver errors. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the collision.


Distracted Sedan Hits Pedestrian on Essex

A sedan traveling north on Essex Street struck a 31-year-old female pedestrian, fracturing her lower leg and foot. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused the collision. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously injured, suffering dislocation and distortion.

According to the police report, a Tesla sedan traveling north on Essex Street collided with a 31-year-old female pedestrian at approximately 8:45 PM. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries including fractures, dislocation, and distortion to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. There was no damage reported to the vehicle, and the pedestrian's exact location and actions at the time of impact remain unknown. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The driver’s failure to maintain attention behind the wheel directly led to the pedestrian’s severe injuries.


Van and Sedan Collide on East Houston Street

A van and sedan collided on East Houston Street in Manhattan. The front passenger in the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe lane changing and driver distraction as contributing factors. The crash caused significant vehicle damage and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:56 on East Houston Street in Manhattan. A sedan, traveling west and starting from parking, collided with a van also traveling west. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the van's right side doors. The front passenger in the sedan, a 35-year-old male, sustained neck injuries and whiplash, remaining conscious but injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The sedan's driver failed to maintain safe lane control, leading to the collision. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the sedan's left front quarter panel and the van's right side doors. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.


Taxi Rear-Ends Sedan Turning Right on Avenue D

A taxi struck a sedan on Avenue D in Manhattan as both vehicles made right turns. The taxi driver, following too closely and turning improperly, caused the collision. The sedan driver suffered knee and leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:11 on Avenue D near East Houston Street in Manhattan. Both vehicles were traveling south and making right turns when the taxi struck the sedan's right rear quarter panel with its left front bumper. The taxi driver was cited for 'Following Too Closely' and 'Turning Improperly,' contributing factors to the crash. The sedan driver, a 32-year-old male occupant, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and complained of whiplash. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The taxi driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle. No other contributing factors related to the sedan driver were noted in the report.


Sedan Turning Left Strikes Pedestrian Crossing

A sedan making a left turn struck a 58-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal on Madison Street. The victim suffered chest contusions and bruises. Limited driver visibility contributed to the collision at a slippery intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:32 on Madison Street in Manhattan. A sedan traveling north was making a left turn when it struck a 58-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained chest injuries classified as contusions and bruises and remained conscious. The report identifies 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a role in the crash. Additionally, the pavement was slippery, further complicating the situation. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front quarter panel. No driver license issues were noted. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is recorded but not cited as a contributing factor. This collision highlights the dangers posed by obstructed driver views and hazardous road conditions.


Sedan U-Turn Hits E-Scooter Rider

A sedan making an improper U-turn struck a northbound e-scooter in Manhattan. The 26-year-old female rider suffered a contusion to her elbow and lower arm. The impact damaged the sedan’s left rear quarter panel and the scooter’s front end.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at Essex Street in Manhattan around midnight. The sedan was making a U-turn when it collided with the e-scooter traveling northbound. The report cites "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error by the sedan operator. The e-scooter rider, a 26-year-old female, was injured with contusions to her elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel, while the e-scooter’s center front end was damaged. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment and was positioned riding or hanging on the outside of the scooter.


2
Two Passengers Injured in FDR Drive Crash

A sedan struck another vehicle on FDR Drive. Two passengers, a 4-year-old girl and an adult female, suffered whiplash injuries. Both were conscious but injured. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead.

A crash occurred on FDR Drive involving a sedan. Two passengers, a 4-year-old girl and an adult female, were injured, both suffering from whiplash. According to the police report, the driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The impact was noted at the left rear bumper of the sedan. No specific driver errors were listed, but both passengers were restrained with safety equipment. The severity of their injuries was classified as moderate.


Bus Hits Concrete Mixer Driver on Avenue A

A bus struck a concrete mixer truck on Avenue A in Manhattan. The truck driver, a 42-year-old man, suffered back injuries and bruises. Both vehicles were traveling west. The bus sustained damage to its right front bumper. The truck showed no damage.

According to the police report, a bus collided with a concrete mixer truck on Avenue A near East 1st Street in Manhattan. The concrete mixer driver, a 42-year-old man, was injured with back contusions and bruises but was conscious and not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling straight westbound. The bus sustained damage to its right front bumper, while the concrete mixer showed no damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors for either vehicle. The truck driver was licensed in New York, and the bus driver was licensed in Pennsylvania. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.


Sedan Strikes Pedestrian on Suffolk Street

A sedan hit a 33-year-old woman on Suffolk Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and lost consciousness. The driver was making a right turn at unsafe speed and failed to yield. The impact damaged the car’s front center.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Suffolk Street in Manhattan struck a 33-year-old female pedestrian who was not in the roadway. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was unconscious at the scene. The driver was making a right turn when the collision occurred. Contributing factors listed include unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way. The vehicle’s center front end was damaged on impact. No other occupants were in the vehicle. The report does not mention any safety equipment or pedestrian fault. The crash highlights driver errors in speed control and yielding that led to serious injury.


2
Moped Rider Killed Striking Parked Sedan

A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Rivington Street. Metal tore. The rider, a 29-year-old man, died on the pavement. The sedan’s side split open. The crash left silence under a gray Manhattan sky.

A 29-year-old man riding a moped crashed into a parked sedan near 166 Rivington Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the moped’s front folded on impact and the sedan’s side split open. The rider died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when inexperience meets city streets.


Sedan Strikes Elderly Pedestrian on Madison Street

A 72-year-old man walking along Madison Street was struck by a sedan. The impact hit the pedestrian’s abdomen and pelvis, causing abrasions. The driver was inattentive and distracted. The pedestrian was conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2017 Honda sedan traveling east on Madison Street struck him on the left side doors. The pedestrian was walking along the highway with traffic and suffered injuries to his abdomen and pelvis, including abrasions. The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was licensed in New York. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was conscious after the collision. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.


Moped Hits SUV Left Side in Manhattan

A moped struck the left side of a stopped SUV on Chrystie Street. The moped driver, a 49-year-old man, was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries and bruises. The crash involved driver inexperience and a permit-holding moped operator.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south passed a stopped SUV and collided with its left side doors on Chrystie Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 49-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained upper arm injuries and contusions. The SUV was occupied by a licensed male driver who was stopped in traffic at the time. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor, and the moped operator held only a permit. The point of impact was the left side doors of the SUV and the right front bumper of the moped. No other contributing factors were specified.


Taxi Rear-Ended in Manhattan Police Chase

A speeding sedan in a police pursuit slammed into a taxi stopped in traffic on East Houston Street. The impact injured a 24-year-old female passenger in the taxi, causing head trauma and shock. The crash left the taxi’s left rear bumper damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan involved in a police pursuit struck the rear of a taxi stopped in traffic on East Houston Street in Manhattan. The collision injured a 24-year-old female passenger seated in the taxi’s right rear position. She suffered head injuries and was in shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The taxi driver was licensed and stopped in traffic when hit. The police pursuit sedan caused the crash by failing to control speed. No other contributing factors were noted. The injured passenger was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash damaged the taxi’s left rear bumper.


Two Sedans Collide on Essex Street

Two sedans crashed on Essex Street in Manhattan late at night. One driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The collision involved left and right front quarter panels. Passing too closely caused the crash. Both vehicles traveled southbound.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Essex Street near Rivington Street in Manhattan. One driver, a 24-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and experienced shock. The crash occurred when one vehicle was going straight and the other was making a right turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of one sedan and the right front quarter panel of the other. The contributing factor listed was passing too closely. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.


2
SUV Hits Taxi Making Left Turn on 2 Avenue

A 50-year-old man driving an SUV struck a taxi turning left on 2 Avenue near East Houston Street. Both drivers were injured. Police noted alcohol involvement and driver distraction. The SUV hit the taxi’s left rear bumper. Injuries included head abrasion and pain complaints.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old male SUV driver traveling west on 2 Avenue collided with a taxi making a left turn southwest near East Houston Street. The SUV struck the taxi’s left rear bumper with its left front end. Both drivers were injured: the SUV driver was semiconscious with complaints of pain or nausea, and the taxi driver suffered a head abrasion and shock. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors for the SUV driver. The taxi driver’s contributing factors were unspecified. Both drivers were licensed and wearing safety equipment as noted. The crash caused damage to the left front bumper of the SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the taxi.