East Midtown Bleeds While Leaders Stall

A driver struck a cyclist in Washington Heights. The cyclist survived. Neighbors say the intersection breeds danger. The driver fled. NYPD searches. Streets remain unsafe.

CBS New York reported on August 4, 2025, that a driver hit a cyclist in Washington Heights and left the scene. The article notes, "local residents say the intersection has been a problem for some time." The NYPD is searching for the driver. The incident highlights ongoing risks at this location and points to persistent systemic hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. No mention of charges or arrests. The crash underscores the need for stronger street design and enforcement.

• Cyclist Hit By Driver In Washington Heights, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-04

A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-29

A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

A stolen Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck and killed a pedestrian and a cyclist. The driver tried to flee. Eyewitnesses stopped her. Broken bodies, broken laws, broken city.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-22), Autumn Donna Ascension Romero crashed a stolen rental car at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok and Kevin Cruickshank. Prosecutors say Romero admitted to drinking before driving and tried to flee the scene with her passenger. An open tequila bottle and loaded pistols were found in the car. The article quotes, 'They then tried to flee the scene followed by multiple eyewitnesses who told them to stop.' Romero faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. The crash highlights dangers from impaired driving, stolen vehicles, and failures in preventing reckless use of rentals.

• Stolen Car Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-22

A speeding car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The driver faces murder charges. The car was a long-overdue rental. Debris scattered. Lives ended in seconds.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a driver faces murder and manslaughter charges after a deadly Chinatown crash. The car, a weeks-overdue rental, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck a cyclist and a pedestrian, killing both. Police found two 9mm pistols in the trunk. The article states, "the car was traveling westbound off the Manhattan Bridge at a high rate of speed" and "struck Cruickshank, Kwok and an unoccupied NYPD vehicle." The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons possession. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Chinatown Crash Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Taxi struck cyclist on E 56th. Cyclist ejected, arm scraped. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A taxi collided with a 24-year-old cyclist on E 56th Street at 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered an arm abrasion. According to the police report, driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way caused the crash. Both the taxi driver and cyclist were listed with 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were specified for the taxi occupants. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828972 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a crash months before. System let her walk. Steel met flesh. The city failed to stop it.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown with a stolen rental car. Months earlier, she hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail eligible under state law. The article notes, "Three months before the fatal high-speed Saturday morning smash up... the 23-year-old driver allegedly clipped a woman... and fled." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat offenders.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

A car sped off the Manhattan Bridge, jumped the curb, struck a cyclist and a pedestrian. Both died. The driver and passenger tried to flee. Police caught them. Metal, speed, and chaos at Canal and Bowery.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that a Chevy Malibu jumped the curb near Canal Street and Bowery, killing a cyclist in his 30s and a pedestrian in her 60s. The two women in the car attempted to flee but were arrested. Mayor Eric Adams cited 'the rate of speed was pretty high' and called for action against reckless driving. The car also struck a parked police van. Charges are pending as police investigate. The crash highlights ongoing dangers at busy intersections and the deadly impact of speed.

• Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two in Chinatown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-19

A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.

• Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-17

A driver failed to yield on Vanderbilt. A woman crossing with the signal was hit. She suffered a shoulder injury. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 48-year-old woman was injured while crossing Vanderbilt Avenue at East 44th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was struck while crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, as listed in the report. The pedestrian suffered an abrasion and an upper arm injury. The driver’s failure to yield is the only contributing factor noted. No other errors or factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Taxi hit a woman working in the street. She took a blow to her arm. The cab kept straight. No driver error listed. The city’s danger is clear.

A taxi traveling south on Park Avenue struck a 59-year-old woman working in the roadway at the intersection with E 49th Street. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a contusion to her arm and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The taxi’s right front bumper made contact. The driver and two passengers were unhurt. The crash highlights the persistent risk faced by people working or walking in Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Adams’s Fifth Avenue plan drops bike and bus lanes. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. Sidewalks widen, but cars keep space. Board calls for real safety, not delay.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-14) reports Mayor Adams cut a bus lane and bike lane from the Fifth Avenue redesign, keeping two lanes for cars and widening sidewalks. The Manhattan Community Board 5 called this move not a "real solution" to safety, urging a return to the 2021 plan with protected bike lanes and faster bus service. "We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue," said CB 5 Vice Chair Samir Lavingia. The board warns that without bike lanes, cyclists will ride sidewalks, risking conflict. The plan, shaped with business interests, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and delays safer changes until at least 2028.

• Fifth Avenue Redesign Cuts Bike, Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-14

A car struck a 66-year-old woman on Second Avenue. She suffered arm abrasions. Police cite unsafe speed and driver distraction. The street failed her. The city failed her.

A 66-year-old pedestrian was hit and injured on Second Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver was traveling at unsafe speed and was inattentive or distracted. The woman suffered abrasions to her arm and was in shock. The crash did not occur at an intersection. Driver errors listed in the report include 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other contributing factors were noted. The data does not specify the type of vehicle involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi hit a 70-year-old woman crossing with the signal on E 50th. She suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed loud. The pain stayed real.

A taxi making a left turn on E 50th Street in Manhattan struck a 70-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and was in shock. The driver was cited for inattention and distraction. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a cyclist on Lexington Avenue. The cyclist was ejected and suffered arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left the cyclist hurt, the car’s bumper dented.

A sedan making a left turn on Lexington Avenue at E 43rd Street struck a southbound cyclist. The 28-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper hit the bike’s back end. The cyclist was injured; the driver was not. No other factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

A cyclist struck an electric unicycle rider in Central Park. The rider was left in critical condition. Police say the cyclist fled but later turned herself in. Details remain sparse. The street stays dangerous.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-02) reports a crash on Central Park's West Drive. Carolyn Backus, a cyclist, faces charges for leaving the scene after colliding with a 40-year-old electric unicycle rider, who suffered critical injuries. NYPD says Backus turned herself in after her photo was circulated. The article notes, 'EMS transported the critically injured one-wheeler to New York-Presbyterian with serious injuries.' Electric unicycles can exceed 40 mph and are illegal in New York City. The incident highlights risks from high-speed devices and gaps in enforcement on shared paths.

• Cyclist Charged After Unicycle Collision, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Two SUVs crashed at E 46th and 3rd. One passenger suffered back injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Metal struck metal. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

Two SUVs collided at E 46th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. A 25-year-old male passenger was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way. Both vehicles were traveling north, one going straight, the other turning right. The impact hit the left front bumper of one SUV and the right front quarter panel of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist riding south on E 56th Street struck and hurt. Arm scraped. No vehicle damage. Police list cause as unspecified. Night in Manhattan, danger in the dark.

A 21-year-old male bicyclist was injured on E 56th Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered an abrasion to his arm. The crash involved a bike and an unspecified vehicle making a left turn. Police list the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No vehicle damage was reported. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. No further details on driver actions or safety equipment were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04