Hell’s Kitchen Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

Mar 6 - 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."

• Scooter Rider Killed Fleeing Traffic Stop, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-06

Mar 5 - SUV slammed into a northbound cyclist on W 49 St. The rider, 33, took abrasions to his arm. He stayed conscious. The SUV struck head-on. No damage to the bike. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male cyclist was struck by a westbound Chevrolet SUV at 19:50 on W 49 St near 10 Ave in Manhattan. The SUV hit the bike's center front end. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The SUV driver was licensed. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The cyclist wore no safety equipment, but the report does not link this to the crash. The cause remains unspecified in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796633 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 5 - Two SUVs collided on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The trailing driver followed too closely, striking the lead vehicle. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:38 on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Two SUVs traveling westbound collided when the trailing vehicle struck the center back end of the lead SUV. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error by the rear vehicle operator. The injured party was the driver of the rear SUV, a 45-year-old male, who sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time of the crash. Both vehicles showed damage consistent with a rear-end collision, with impact points at the center front end of the lead vehicle and center back end of the trailing vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 27 - Assembly bill A 6225 drops the speed for owner liability to seven miles over the limit. Drivers face penalties sooner. Carroll and Simone sponsor. Aimed at curbing reckless speed. Streets may get safer. No safety analyst note yet.

Assembly bill A 6225 was introduced on February 27, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' lowers the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over the posted limit. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (primary sponsor, District 44) and Tony Simone (co-sponsor, District 75) back the measure. The bill seeks to hold drivers accountable at lower speeds. No safety analyst note is available yet.

• File A 6225, Open States, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 24 - Assembly Bill 5857 orders state agencies to fit their fleets with speed control tech. No loopholes. No delay. Sponsor Tony Simone pushes to keep state drivers in check. Machines will obey the law. Streets may breathe easier.

Assembly Bill A 5857, introduced on February 24, 2025, sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, from Assemblymember Tony Simone (District 75), demands every state agency plan for and install active intelligent speed assistance systems in all agency vehicles. The bill summary reads: 'Requires state agencies to prepare an active intelligent speed assistance system plan for the equipment of all state agency vehicles with active intelligent speed assistance systems, and to equip state agency vehicles with such systems by certain dates.' Simone leads the charge. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 5857, Open States, Published 2025-02-24

Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 14 - Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - A pick-up truck making an improper left turn collided with an SUV traveling west on W 42 St. The impact struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel. A 22-year-old rear passenger suffered facial contusions and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:46 a.m. on W 42 St near 10 Ave in Manhattan. A pick-up truck, traveling east, was making a left turn improperly when it struck a westbound SUV on its left front quarter panel. The report identifies 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor to the collision. The SUV carried two occupants; a 22-year-old male rear passenger was injured, sustaining facial contusions and shock. He was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The driver of the pick-up truck was licensed in New Jersey and traveling eastbound, while the SUV driver held a permit. The crash caused center front end damage to the truck and left front quarter panel damage to the SUV. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 13 - 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.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 6 - 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.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 4 - 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.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Feb 2 - Transit advocates and officials rallied at Grand Central. They demanded Governor Hochul fill a $33 billion gap in the MTA capital plan. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal called transit vital for the region. Advocates stressed accessibility and equity. The state’s budget leaves riders exposed.

On February 2, 2025, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal joined transit advocates at Grand Central Terminal to push for full funding of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The rally targeted Governor Hochul’s $252 billion budget, which omits $33 billion needed for transit upgrades. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the matter: 'NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This is about the economic engine for the entire region.' Assembly Member Tony Simone and others demanded investment in transportation deserts and accessible stations. Advocates cited the MTA’s ADA settlement, noting only a quarter of stations are wheelchair-accessible, with the fewest in low-income areas. The rally underscored that without full funding, vulnerable riders—especially those with disabilities—face continued barriers and danger.

• NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02