Hell’s Kitchen Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

Apr 16 - Assembly bill A 7997 lets speed cameras catch drivers hiding or altering plates. It extends camera use in school zones. Lawmakers push to close loopholes that shield reckless drivers from accountability.

Assembly bill A 7997, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Deborah Glick with co-sponsors Jo Anne Simon, John Zaccaro Jr., Linda Rosenthal, and Tony Simone, was introduced on April 16, 2025. It 'permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York City for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.' By targeting plate obstruction, the bill seeks to stop drivers from dodging speed camera enforcement, a move that could help protect pedestrians and cyclists from repeat offenders.

• File A 7997, Open States, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 16 - Assembly bill A 7997 lets speed cameras catch drivers hiding or altering plates. It extends camera use in school zones. Lawmakers push to close loopholes that shield reckless drivers from accountability.

Assembly bill A 7997, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Deborah Glick with co-sponsors Jo Anne Simon, John Zaccaro Jr., Linda Rosenthal, and Tony Simone, was introduced on April 16, 2025. It 'permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York City for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.' By targeting plate obstruction, the bill seeks to stop drivers from dodging speed camera enforcement, a move that could help protect pedestrians and cyclists from repeat offenders.

• File A 7997, Open States, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 12 - A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Apr 11 - SUV turned right on W 53rd. Driver failed to yield. Struck 18-year-old woman crossing with signal. She suffered bruises. System failed to protect her.

An SUV driver struck an 18-year-old woman as she crossed W 53rd Street at 9th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a right turn, failed to yield the right-of-way. The woman suffered contusions. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver was not injured. The system allowed danger at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 11 - Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 10 - Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Senate bill S 7336 pushes more speed cameras and targets hidden plates. Sponsors want sharper eyes on reckless drivers. School zones stay under watch. The city’s most vulnerable stay exposed.

Senate bill S 7336, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, titled 'Relates to the use of certain photo speed violation monitoring systems for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction; repealer,' lets cameras catch drivers who hide or alter plates and extends speed camera use in school zones. Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill’s focus: more enforcement, less evasion. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear—more eyes on the street, more pressure on reckless drivers.

• File S 7336, Open States, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 7 - 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.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

Apr 6 - Steel crashes on West 49th. Three sedans tangle. A young woman, head struck, reels in shock. Sirens wail. The city holds its breath as the street falls silent.

Three sedans collided on West 49th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, metal buckled and a 21-year-old woman driving one sedan suffered a head injury and shock. Four others, aged 21 to 47, were listed as occupants with unspecified injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. Lap belts were used by the injured driver and another driver. The crash left the street quiet under city lights.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 4 - A sedan door snaps open on West 56th. A woman on a bike slams metal, hurled to the street. Blood pours from her head. She lies conscious. The driver stands untouched. Manhattan traffic surges on.

A woman riding a bike suffered severe head lacerations after striking a suddenly opened sedan door on West 56th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A parked sedan’s door swings open. A woman on a bike strikes metal, is thrown. Her head bleeds. She lies conscious on the pavement. The driver stands unharmed.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected and injured, but remained conscious. The sedan driver was not hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804142 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 4 - A box truck hit a man head-on near West 40th. Steel crushed his skull. He died in the street before dawn. The truck kept moving. No driver errors listed. The city stayed dark.

A 39-year-old man was killed when a box truck struck him head-on on 9th Avenue near West 40th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in the roadway, not at an intersection, when the truck hit him. He suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The driver, a 75-year-old man, was not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 4 - A box truck hit a man on West 59th. The driver dragged him, then left. A yellow cab struck the wounded man as he lay in the street. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He survived. The truck driver now faces charges.

According to the NY Daily News (April 4, 2025), a 59-year-old truck driver, Luis Cedeno Pluas, struck a pedestrian near Central Park on August 31, 2024. The victim, standing in the right-most lane of W. 59th St., was dragged for several feet by the Isuzu box truck. The driver "kept going" after the impact, leaving the man critically injured in the street. A yellow cab then hit the victim as he lay on the roadway. Police charged Cedeno Pluas with leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries. The article notes the victim's condition has improved and he is expected to recover. The incident highlights the danger of hit-and-run crashes and the vulnerability of people on foot in busy Manhattan corridors.

• Truck Strikes, Drags Man Near Central Park, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 3 - A stolen SUV crashed and burned in Inwood. Two NYPD officers chased, then left the scene. The driver died in the flames. The officers returned to their precinct, silent. Surveillance caught their exit. The city investigates. Policy on chases faces scrutiny.

NY Daily News (2025-04-03) reports two NYPD officers pursued a stolen Honda CR-V into Manhattan. The driver crashed at Dyckman St., and the car caught fire. The officers 'fled the scene, leaving him to die in the fiery wreck,' then returned to their Bronx precinct without reporting the crash. Surveillance footage showed their patrol car leaving. The NYPD suspended both officers and launched an investigation. This comes after new pursuit policies were enacted in February, restricting chases to felony or violent misdemeanor cases. The guidelines aimed to curb 'unnecessary police pursuits that lead to crashes and injure other motorists and pedestrians.' The incident raises questions about adherence to these policies and the risks of police chases in dense urban areas.

• NYPD Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 31 - A 76-year-old man crossing with the signal suffered a severe facial fracture when an e-bike made an improper left turn. The rider failed to yield right-of-way, striking the pedestrian at a Manhattan intersection during evening hours.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:34 on West 46th Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan. A 76-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by an e-bike making a left turn. The report cites 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors attributed to the e-bike operator. The pedestrian sustained a distorted fracture and dislocation to his face, classified as a severe injury. The e-bike had no reported damage, and the collision point was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene. This incident highlights driver errors in yielding and turning maneuvers that endangered a lawful pedestrian crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 31 - Council’s new rules slash outdoor dining in poor neighborhoods. Roadway seating banned in winter. Sidewalk cafes crowd pedestrians. Car parking wins. Small businesses struggle with high fees and red tape. City blames Council. Council blames DOT. Pedestrians lose space.

In March 2025, New York City’s Council and Mayor Adams clashed over outdoor dining rules. The 2023 Council bill banned street-side dining from December to March, restoring thousands of spaces to private car storage. The bill’s summary notes, 'outdoor dining is shrinking back to wealthier neighborhoods.' Mayor Adams signed the regulations. Assembly Member Tony Simone called the process 'overburdensome.' Advocates like Sara Lind and Christine Berthet slammed the rules as inequitable and harmful to pedestrians, saying sidewalk cafes now crowd walking space while car parking is prioritized. The Department of Transportation and Council trade blame for the system’s failures. Small businesses face high fees and complex applications, locking out many restaurants. Pedestrian advocates warn the new law pushes more tables into sidewalk space, squeezing walkers and prioritizing cars over people.

• Outdoor Dining Shrinks Back To Wealthier Neighborhoods as Mayor, Council Point Fingers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 30 - A left-turning sedan was hit broadside by a northbound car on W 56 St. The driver suffered neck injuries and a concussion. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control disregard.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 5:28 AM on W 56 St near 12 Ave in Manhattan. A 2015 Honda sedan, making a left turn, was struck in the right side doors by a 2018 BMW sedan traveling north. The Honda's driver, a 51-year-old man, was injured with a neck injury and concussion. He remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, both driver errors. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 25 - Van driver nodded off on W 50 St. He crashed into a parked beverage truck. Head bruised. Metal twisted. Streets stayed hard and unforgiving.

According to the police report, a van traveling east on W 50 St in Manhattan struck the rear of a parked beverage truck at 9:35. The 22-year-old male van driver suffered head contusions but remained conscious. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the primary contributing factor, pointing to driver error. The van's right front bumper and the truck's right rear bumper were damaged. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 18 - Tony Simone cheered Hochul’s fight to keep congestion pricing alive. He praised her stand against demolishing neighborhoods for Penn Station. But he drew a line: the station’s future should not be a bargaining chip for safer, saner streets.

On March 18, 2025, Assemblyman Tony Simone (District 75) issued a statement on congestion pricing and Penn Station redevelopment. The matter, titled 'Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan,' centers on Governor Hochul’s refusal to halt congestion pricing despite federal pressure. Simone, representing the Penn Station area, voiced support for both congestion pricing and a bold Penn Station overhaul, saying, 'It’s time to build a big bold Penn Station. I’m glad that she’s talking to the president about it.' He opposed linking the two projects, stating, 'I don’t think they should be connected.' Simone also welcomed Hochul’s resistance to Amtrak’s expansion plans that would raze neighborhoods. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-18

Mar 9 - A taxi making a left turn struck a bicyclist going straight on West 48th Street in Manhattan. The 35-year-old rider was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. Police cited the taxi driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:15 on West 48th Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan. A 35-year-old male bicyclist was traveling southbound, going straight ahead, when a taxi driver making a left turn struck him with the taxi’s left front bumper. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained a contusion and upper arm injury, classified as injury severity 3. The report explicitly lists the taxi driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was not using any safety equipment at the time, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The taxi driver was licensed and operating a 2020 Ford vehicle. Vehicle damage was limited to the taxi’s left front bumper. This crash highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18