Hell’s Kitchen Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

Jul 4 - A 68-year-old woman was struck by an SUV making a left turn on West 49 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle's left front bumper collided with her, causing knee and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 49 Street and 9 Avenue in Manhattan at 16:23. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 Cadillac SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated as 3. The report notes no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian but indicates unspecified contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The collision and resulting injuries highlight the dangers posed by vehicle maneuvers such as left turns at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - A sedan ran a traffic control and struck a northbound cyclist on West 54th. The rider took the hit to the face. He stayed conscious. The crash left the bike and car scarred. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on West 54th Street near 11th Avenue in Manhattan struck a 31-year-old male bicyclist riding north. The cyclist suffered facial abrasions and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a driver error, showing the sedan driver failed to obey signals or signs. 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was also noted as a factor. The sedan's right front bumper and the bike's right front quarter panel were damaged. The cyclist wore a helmet. The report does not assign blame to the injured rider beyond the noted confusion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 2 - State senators debate cutting the $15 congestion toll. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backs a lower fee if safety and transit gains hold. Liz Krueger wants $1 billion for the MTA. Jabari Brisport slams the rushed process. Trump vows to kill the tolls.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), discussed reducing the $15 base congestion pricing fee. The debate, reported by Gothamist, centers on whether a lower toll could unfreeze the program while still funding the MTA. Hoylman-Sigal said, "Nobody's wedded to $15. We are wedded to the improvements that congestion pricing will provide for mass transit or safety on our streets for cleaner air." Sen. Liz Krueger is open to a new fee if it raises $1 billion yearly. Sen. Jabari Brisport criticized the lack of study and feedback in the process, calling it "irresponsible." Any change needs legislative, MTA, and federal approval. Trump has promised to end congestion pricing if elected. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers weigh lower congestion pricing fee – but Trump could kill tolls if elected, gothamist.com, Published 2024-07-02

Jul 2 - Albany stalls. The MTA faces a $15 billion hole. Lawmakers argue over reviving congestion pricing with a lower toll. Transit hangs in the balance. Streets stay clogged. Riders and walkers wait for answers. No fix. No funding. Danger lingers.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), debated the future of congestion pricing and MTA funding. The matter, reported as 'MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls,' highlights confusion and division. Hoylman-Sigal supports lowering the toll, saying, 'The goal should be mend it don’t end it.' He urges keeping the program alive to save mass transit. Sen. Liz Krueger is open to tweaks if goals are met. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow opposes any revival. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall after the program’s pause. Policy experts warn that lowering the toll could weaken congestion relief and transit funding. No clear plan exists. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as gridlock and uncertainty persist.

• MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls: ‘I don’t know anything’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-02

Jun 30 - A 21-year-old woman crossing a marked Manhattan crosswalk was struck by a northbound vehicle. The driver’s inattention caused a severe lower leg fracture. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously injured, highlighting dangers at busy intersections.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female pedestrian was injured at a marked crosswalk near 747 10 Avenue in Manhattan around 5:15 AM. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal when a northbound vehicle traveling straight ahead struck her at the center front end. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, emphasizing the driver’s failure to maintain focus. The pedestrian suffered a fracture and dislocation to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This incident underscores the critical role of driver attentiveness in preventing severe injuries to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - City leaders cut the ribbon on Plaza33. Once a car-choked block, now a pedestrian haven. Trees, tables, and open space replace exhaust and noise. Years of work. A new chapter for Midtown. People walk, sit, and breathe. Cars banished. Safety reclaimed.

On June 27, 2024, city officials and civic leaders marked the completion of Plaza33, a pedestrian plaza on 33rd Street by Penn Station. The event capped years of transformation, turning a block once 'full of cars and trucks' into a car-free space. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Tony Simone, and Council Member Erik Bottcher attended the ribbon-cutting. Levine recalled, 'I remember the battle over transforming this space and all the people who said that it would clog up traffic all over Midtown if we turned this street over to people and here we are and it's gorgeous.' Vornado Realty Trust funded the $65-million project with the Department of Transportation. The plaza, now permanent, offers 16,000 square feet for pedestrians, with trees, seating, and public programming. The change removes cars from a busy Midtown block, giving vulnerable road users safe, open ground.

• Penn Station Block Completes Years-Long Transformation into ‘Plaza33’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-27

Jun 25 - E-scooter struck broken pavement on West 44 Street. Rider’s shoulder fractured, arm twisted. Helmet on. No ejection. Road defect, not rider, caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old man riding an e-scooter east on West 44 Street near 11 Avenue in Manhattan was injured at 8:17 AM. The rider suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder and upper arm. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Shoulders Defective/Improper' as contributing factors. The e-scooter hit the defect and sustained center front end damage. The rider was licensed in New Jersey and wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No driver error was cited. The crash highlights the danger of defective road conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736087 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - A car moving east on West 58th Street struck a 29-year-old woman head-on before sunrise. Her body was crushed. She died alone in the street, unnamed, as the city slept. The impact left silence and loss in its wake.

According to the police report, a woman was walking in the roadway near West 58th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan at 3:41 a.m. when an eastbound car struck her head-on. The report states her body was crushed and she died at the scene, 29 years old, alone in the dark. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and the car was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No information is provided about the vehicle type or the driver. The victim's actions are described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly force of the car and the lack of identified driver error in the report highlight the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially in the early hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - A 66-year-old man suffered abrasions and full-body injuries after an e-bike traveling east struck him while he crossed with the signal near West 58th Street. The e-bike showed no damage, highlighting the force of impact on the pedestrian.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling eastbound on West 58th Street struck a 66-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal but not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body, classified as injury severity level 3. The e-bike had no reported damage, indicating a significant impact on the pedestrian. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or other violations were explicitly cited. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. This incident underscores the dangers posed by e-bikes to pedestrians, even when crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 9 - A 29-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured with a shoulder contusion after colliding with an SUV making a right turn on West 51 Street. The SUV showed no damage. The bicyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:15 on West 51 Street in Manhattan. The SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a right turn southwest when it collided with a bicyclist traveling straight ahead southbound. The bicyclist, a 29-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained an upper arm and shoulder contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The SUV sustained no damage and had no occupants other than the driver. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors explicitly. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. The impact point was noted as 'Other' on the bike, indicating a collision location not on the vehicle's front or side. No pedestrian or victim fault is indicated in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733712 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A box truck swung right on 11th Avenue, crushing a 32-year-old CitiBike rider beneath its wheels. The man was thrown clear, lifeless. The truck rolled on, untouched. The street bore witness. No helmet. No time. Only aftermath.

A fatal collision occurred at 11th Avenue and West 50th Street in Manhattan when a box truck turned right and struck a 32-year-old man riding a CitiBike, according to the police report. The report states, 'A box truck turned right. A 32-year-old man on a CitiBike was crushed beneath its weight. No helmet. No time. His body thrown clear. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The bicyclist suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body and was ejected from the bike. The point of impact was the truck's right rear quarter panel, and the CitiBike's center front end. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both parties, but the narrative centers on the truck's right turn and the resulting deadly impact. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The truck sustained no damage and continued on after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A motorcycle struck the right rear quarter panel of a sedan traveling north on 10th Avenue in Manhattan. The motorcycle driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious. Passenger distraction contributed to the crash, according to police.

At 13:29 in Manhattan near 566 10th Avenue, a motorcycle collided with the right rear quarter panel of a northbound sedan, according to the police report. The motorcycle driver, a 58-year-old man, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report identifies 'Passenger Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error related to distraction inside the vehicle. The sedan showed no damage, while the motorcycle sustained front-end damage. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730991 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - A 36-year-old male motorcyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV made a right turn into his path on West 52 Street in Manhattan. The collision damaged the right front of both vehicles, leaving the rider injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:40 on West 52 Street near 10 Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV, traveling north, was making a right turn when it struck the motorcycle, which was also traveling north and going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the right front quarter panel of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a 36-year-old male driver, was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the SUV driver's action of making a right turn as the critical event leading to the collision. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06