Crash Count for Upper West Side (Central)
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,246
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 523
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 155
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 6
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 6
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jun 7, 2025
Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Upper West Side (Central)?
SUVs/Cars 27 2 3 Bikes 5 1 0 Motos/Mopeds 4 0 0 Trucks/Buses 4 0 0
Three Dead. Four Broken. How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

Three Dead. Four Broken. How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

Upper West Side (Central): Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025

The Toll on the Street

Three people killed. Four seriously hurt. In the past year, 290 crashes tore through Upper West Side (Central). The dead: a 69-year-old woman, a 75-year-old man, a 55-year-old neighbor. The injured: children, elders, cyclists, walkers. The numbers do not flinch—134 injured, 4 left with wounds that will not heal.

A left turn, a crosswalk, a moment. Miriam Reinharth, 69, was crossing Amsterdam at 96th. An ambulance turned left. She died in the hospital. Her husband remembers her smile as they wheeled her away. “The police officer said the accident was not Miriam’s fault at all” (NY Daily News).

Who Bears the Weight?

SUVs killed three pedestrians here in the last three years. Cars and trucks did the rest. Bikes and mopeds injured, but they did not kill. The street is a gauntlet. A man crossing Broadway at dawn. A cyclist clipped by a turning truck. A child struck on the way to school. Each crash is a family broken, a name erased from the block.

Darnell Sealy-McCrorey stands with other families. He says, “This epidemic is preventable. It doesn’t have to be this way” (Streetsblog NYC).

Leadership: Promises and Delays

City leaders talk of Vision Zero. They tout new speed cameras, lower limits, intersection redesigns. But the deaths keep coming. Sammy’s Law passed. The city can lower the speed limit to 20 mph. They have not done it. Cameras that catch speeders may go dark if Albany does not act. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program lapsed. The council debates e-bike rules while the real killers—cars and trucks—roll on.

What Now?

This is not fate. It is policy. Call your council member. Demand a 20 mph limit. Demand cameras stay on. Demand streets where a child can cross and come home. The dead cannot speak. You must. Take action now.

Citations

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Other Geographies

Upper West Side (Central) Upper West Side (Central) sits in Manhattan, Precinct 20, District 6, AD 67, SD 47, Manhattan CB7.

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Traffic Safety Timeline for Upper West Side (Central)

2
Distracted Drivers Collide on Henry Hudson Parkway

Two sedans crashed late at night. A woman and a child inside suffered head and leg injuries. Both drivers failed to pay attention. The force left marks on bumpers and bodies. The road stayed dangerous. The city counted more hurt.

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and were parked before the crash. A 35-year-old woman driving one sedan and her 10-year-old passenger were injured. The driver suffered a head injury and whiplash. The child sustained abrasions to the leg and was in shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for both drivers. The report notes lap belts were used. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left visible damage to the front bumpers of both cars. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to vehicle occupants when drivers lose focus, even for a moment.


SUV Ignores Signal, Strikes Teen Cyclist on Broadway

A 13-year-old boy on a bike took a hit to the head on Broadway. An SUV driver blew past traffic control. The boy was left bruised. The street stayed loud. The system failed to protect the young rider.

A crash on West 78th Street at Broadway in Manhattan left a 13-year-old bicyclist injured. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV disregarded traffic control and struck the cyclist, who suffered a head injury and was partially ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. Several vehicle occupants were involved but did not report injuries. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to young cyclists when drivers ignore signals and rules.


SUV Collision on West 77th Kills Driver

Two SUVs collided on West 77th. Metal slammed metal. One driver, a man, died. Three others, including another driver and two passengers, were hurt. Police cited driver inattention. The street stayed quiet after the crash. The danger was clear.

A deadly crash unfolded at 152 West 77th Street in Manhattan. Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided. According to the police report, four people were involved. One driver, a 79-year-old man, was killed. Three others, including a 62-year-old woman driver and two passengers aged 62 and 79, suffered unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were parked before the crash, and both sustained damage to the right side doors. The police report makes no mention of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus, as documented by the official report.


NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes

An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.


Sedan Strikes Elderly Pedestrian at Amsterdam

A sedan hit a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal on West 97th Street. She suffered leg and internal injuries. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed busy. Metal met flesh. The system failed to protect her.

A 74-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing West 97th Street at Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a left turn, failed to yield the right-of-way. The woman sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, foot, and internal injuries. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians, even when following traffic signals.


Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets

A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.


Van Strikes Elderly Pedestrian at Broadway Intersection

A van hit a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal at Broadway and West 79th. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. The van’s front end struck her. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed busy. Danger lingered.

A Ford van traveling east on West 79th Street struck a 74-year-old woman as she crossed Broadway with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a contusion to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was not injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The report states the van’s center front end hit the pedestrian at the intersection. No other injuries were reported. The pedestrian was following the signal when she was struck. The data does not mention any helmet or signaling issues for the pedestrian. The crash highlights the ongoing danger for people crossing Manhattan’s wide, busy streets.


Taxi Turns Improperly, Injures Pedestrian at W 97 St

A taxi struck a 62-year-old woman crossing with the signal at the intersection of W 97 St and Amsterdam Ave. The impact left her with a bruised lower leg. Sirens echoed as she remained conscious, pain radiating from her knee.

According to the police report, a taxi making a right turn at W 97 St and Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan struck a 62-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The collision resulted in a contusion to her knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to execute a safe turn. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were cited in the report. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The incident highlights the persistent danger faced by people walking at intersections, especially when drivers disregard proper turning protocols.


SUV Door Flung Open, Cyclist Injured on W 83rd

A cyclist pedaled west on W 83rd Street when an SUV’s door swung open. Metal struck flesh. The rider, a 30-year-old woman, crashed hard and suffered a concussion. Sirens echoed as she lay conscious, clutching her head on the pavement.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on W 83rd Street at West End Avenue involving a westbound cyclist and a parked SUV. The SUV’s left side doors were the point of impact. The cyclist, a 30-year-old woman, was injured and diagnosed with a concussion after striking her head. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, are mentioned in the data. The incident highlights the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers or passengers fail to check for approaching bikes before opening vehicle doors.


SUV Strikes and Kills Pedestrian on West 86th

A Ford SUV moved east on West 86th. A man crossed Broadway. The front of the vehicle hit him. His body broke beneath the wheels. The street was quiet. The man, age 57, died at the scene. The driver remained unharmed.

A fatal collision unfolded at West 86th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 2012 Ford SUV traveling east struck a 57-year-old man as he crossed the intersection. The narrative states, 'The SUV moved east. A man, 57, crossed against the signal. The front of the Ford struck him. His body broke beneath the wheels.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but does not cite any specific driver errors or violations. The driver, a woman licensed in New York, wore her seatbelt and was uninjured. The quiet street and lack of additional contributing factors highlight the stark impact of the collision.


Taxi Turns Improperly, Strikes Pedestrian on Amsterdam

A taxi making a left turn on Amsterdam Avenue hit a 33-year-old man at the intersection with West 75th Street. The impact left the pedestrian conscious but with a bruised lower leg. Sirens echoed as the streetlights glared overhead.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on Amsterdam Avenue struck a 33-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with West 75th Street. The pedestrian was injured, sustaining a contusion to his lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to execute a safe turn. No vehicle damage was reported. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.


Pedestrian Struck Crossing With Signal on Broadway

A 50-year-old man crossing Broadway at West 77th Street was hit and injured. Sirens echoed as he lay bruised, shocked, and hurt across his entire body. The intersection filled with flashing lights and hurried voices. Blood marked the crosswalk.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was struck while crossing Broadway at West 77th Street in Manhattan. The 50-year-old man, who was crossing with the signal at the intersection, suffered contusions and injuries to his entire body, and was reported in shock. The report does not specify the type of vehicle involved or any contributing driver errors. No information is provided about vehicle actions, driver behavior, or helmet and signal use. The incident highlights the vulnerability of people crossing with the right of way in city intersections.


Box Truck Driver Distracted, Cyclist Injured on W 95 St

A box truck struck a cyclist on West 95th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. The crash left the cyclist with abrasions on his arm. Sirens echoed as first responders arrived. The street fell silent except for the hum of idling engines and the scrape of metal on pavement.

According to the police report, a box truck and a cyclist collided on West 95th Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The 30-year-old male cyclist was injured, suffering abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors in the crash. These driver errors highlight the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when motorists fail to maintain attention or proper distance. No mention was made of helmet use or signaling as contributing factors.


Rear-End Crash Injures Passenger on Parkway

Metal screeches on Henry Hudson Parkway. The Ford’s rear quarter crumples under the Toyota’s front. A woman in the passenger seat clutches her knee, conscious but dazed. Her head throbs. The two sedans sit battered on the southbound road.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on the southbound Henry Hudson Parkway when a Toyota struck the rear quarter of a Ford. A forty-year-old woman riding as a front passenger in the Ford suffered a knee injury and reported a concussion. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor, indicating that the driver of the striking vehicle failed to maintain adequate distance. No other driver errors or contributing factors are specified. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report.


Cyclist Injured in Columbus Avenue Collision

A 34-year-old man riding south on Columbus Avenue was struck while going straight. The crash left him conscious but hurt, with a concussion and injuries to his arm. Police and emergency crews responded to the scene in late afternoon light.

A collision occurred at West 81st Street and Columbus Avenue in Manhattan involving a bicyclist and an unspecified vehicle. According to the police report, the bicyclist, a 34-year-old man, was traveling straight southbound when he was injured, sustaining a concussion and arm injuries. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The crash happened as the other vehicle was making a right turn. No driver errors were specifically identified in the data. Helmet use was noted, but it was not cited as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the vulnerability of cyclists navigating city intersections.


Alcohol-Fueled Sedan Crash Leaves Driver Bleeding

Two sedans collide on Riverside Drive. Metal screams. A 37-year-old man suffers a head wound, blood pooling in the night. The air reeks of alcohol and gasoline. A 71-year-old sits silent. The street absorbs the violence and moves on.

On Riverside Drive at West 82nd in Manhattan, two sedans collided, resulting in severe injury to a 37-year-old male driver, according to the police report. The report describes 'metal splits' and notes the injured man 'bleeds from the head.' Alcohol was cited as a contributing factor, with the report stating 'the night smells of alcohol and gasoline.' The crash involved a Ford and a Mercedes sedan, with both vehicles sustaining significant front-end damage. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a primary contributing factor, underscoring the role of impaired driving in this violent collision. No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior by the injured driver beyond the systemic danger posed by alcohol use behind the wheel. The incident left one driver severely wounded and another occupant, a 71-year-old, unresponsive at the scene.


Sedan Strikes Teen Cyclist on Columbus Ave

A 13-year-old boy on a bike was ejected after colliding with a sedan on Columbus Avenue near West 78th Street. He suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and was in shock. The crash exposed dangers when vehicles and young cyclists intersect.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a sedan at Columbus Avenue and West 78th Street in Manhattan at 8:55 a.m. The boy was ejected from his bicycle and sustained injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, with complaints of pain and nausea. The report attributes the crash to 'Other Vehicular' contributing factors, indicating driver error related to the sedan. The bicyclist was unlicensed and not using any safety equipment, but these details are secondary to the vehicle-related cause. The incident underscores the risks posed by motor vehicles to young cyclists on city streets.


Sedan Hits Bicyclist on W 78th Street

A sedan traveling south struck a bicyclist also heading south on W 78th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan showed no damage despite impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:18 on W 78th Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan. A sedan traveling straight ahead southbound collided with a bicyclist also traveling straight ahead southbound. The point of impact was the sedan's right front bumper and the center back end of the bicycle. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand and was conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan, carrying two occupants, sustained no damage despite the collision. The bicyclist was not ejected and was wearing unspecified safety equipment. The data highlights a collision with no explicit driver fault cited but resulting in injury to a vulnerable road user.


SUV Left Turn Strikes Southbound Bicyclist

A southbound bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV made a left turn on Columbus Ave. The collision impacted the bike's front and the SUV's left side doors. Driver inattention was cited as the cause.

According to the police report, at 13:25 on Columbus Ave near W 77 St in Manhattan, a 2019 Ford SUV making a left turn struck a southbound bicyclist traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the SUV's left side doors and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 57-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and occupied the vehicle alone. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers, placing vulnerable bicyclists at risk.


SUV Strikes Bicyclist Merging on Columbus Ave

A 24-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with an SUV traveling south on Columbus Avenue. The SUV hit the bike at its center front end. The bicyclist was semiconscious and suffered serious injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Columbus Avenue near West 81st Street in Manhattan at 3:20 p.m. The involved vehicles were a 2023 Chrysler SUV traveling south and a bicycle merging east. The SUV struck the bicyclist at the center front end, causing the 24-year-old female bicyclist to be ejected and sustain serious injuries. The bicyclist was semiconscious following the impact. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. Vehicle damage was limited to the SUV's center front end, while the bike had no damage.