Crash Count for Lower East Side
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,601
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 866
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 221
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 15
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 8
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 26, 2025

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

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. Fourteen left with injuries so severe they may never walk the same. In just over three years, the Lower East Side has seen 1,525 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.

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.”

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.

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
Twitter: ChrisMarteNYC
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

Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.


Unsafe Lane Change Hurts Elderly Woman, Child

Metal screamed on FDR Drive. An 81-year-old woman and a child injured. Blood on the armrest. Sirens wailed. Unsafe lane change cut through the morning. System failed the vulnerable. Pain lingered in steel and flesh.

A crash on FDR Drive left an 81-year-old woman with shoulder injuries and a 4-year-old child shaken. A 35-year-old passenger suffered back pain, and an 80-year-old man was hurt in the leg. According to the police report, multiple sedans and SUVs collided. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the main contributing factor. Blood marked the scene. Sirens followed. The system put the most vulnerable at risk.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804265 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Taxi Strikes Elder Pedestrian on Delancey

Taxi hit a 73-year-old woman crossing Delancey. She walked with the signal. Her leg was hurt. Police cite failure to yield. Streets remain harsh for those on foot.

A taxi traveling east on Delancey Street struck a 73-year-old woman as she crossed at Norfolk Street with the signal. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was left in shock and pain. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the ongoing risk to pedestrians in Manhattan.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Officer Pinned By Spinning Dodge Charger

A Dodge Charger struck a street sweeper, spun out, and pinned an NYPD officer against his patrol car in the West Village. Both the officer and the driver landed in the hospital. The street saw chaos, metal, and speed.

NY Daily News (March 14, 2025) reports a crash at W. 13th St and Seventh Ave. A Dodge Charger, heading south, changed lanes and hit a street sweeper. The car spun several times and pinned a uniformed officer between vehicles. Surveillance footage showed the Charger 'appeared to be speeding,' according to a witness. The officer tried to escape but was struck. Both the officer and driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed. The incident highlights the dangers of lane changes and speed on city streets, raising questions about enforcement and street design.


Scooter Rider Killed Fleeing Traffic Stop

A stolen minivan tore through Harlem. The driver ran from police. He struck Devon Hughley on a scooter. Hughley died at Harlem Hospital. The driver fled. Police used facial recognition. They arrested Enesin Delarosa. Grief lingers. Memorials remain.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-06), Enesin Delarosa, 26, was arrested for fatally striking Devon Hughley, 45, while fleeing an NYPD car stop in Harlem on November 2. The article reports Delarosa was driving a stolen minivan and "allegedly hit Hughley near W.155th St. and St. Nicholas Ave. while fleeing a traffic stop." Delarosa faces charges of manslaughter, leaving the scene, fleeing police, and possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of high-speed police pursuits and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles in dense urban areas. Memorial posters for Hughley remain in his building. The article quotes Hughley's sister, Yvette Palmer: "the arrest brought some peace."


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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793933 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Int 1160-2025
Marte votes yes on pavement markings bill, boosting street safety citywide.

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.


Int 1160-2025
Rivera votes yes on pavement markings bill, boosting street safety citywide.

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.


Int 1160-2025
Rivera votes yes to require faster pavement markings, boosting street safety.

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.


Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue

A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.


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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790709 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive

Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.


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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789542 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Van Rear-Ends Sedan on FDR Drive

A van traveling south on Franklin D Roosevelt Drive struck the rear of a sedan also heading south. The sedan driver, a 26-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles showed front and rear damage consistent with a rear-end collision.

According to the police report, at 5:00 PM on Franklin D Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan, a van traveling south collided with the rear of a sedan also moving south. The point of impact was the center front end of the van and the left rear bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 26-year-old female occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash, wearing a lap belt and remaining conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not specify any contributing factors for the van driver. The collision pattern indicates a failure to maintain safe distance or attention by the van driver, resulting in the rear-end impact. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
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.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
SUV and Taxi Slam on Delancey Street

SUV and taxi collided on Delancey. The SUV driver, 26, suffered arm injuries and shock. Police flagged alcohol as a factor. No pedestrians or cyclists involved. Metal and glass met in the dark.

According to the police report, an SUV and a taxi crashed at 3:14 AM on Delancey Street in Manhattan. Both vehicles traveled southeast before colliding, striking front bumpers. The SUV driver, a 26-year-old man, was injured in the arm and suffered shock. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt. The crash highlights the danger when alcohol enters the equation. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report does not mention helmet or signal use.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04