Three Dead, No Charges: Blood on York Avenue, Silence at City Hall

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

A rabbi crossing Third Avenue was struck by a wrong-way e-bike. His leg broke. The driver fled. Assemblywoman Seawright demanded stricter laws, registration, and penalties for reckless e-bike and moped use. City leaders promised a summer crackdown on illegal vehicles.

On June 5, 2024, Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright (District 76) called for increased regulation and enforcement of e-bikes and mopeds after Rabbi Michael Miller was hit and injured by a hit-and-run e-bike driver on Third Avenue. The incident sparked public outcry. Seawright visited Miller and advocated for a legislative package to increase penalties for leaving crash scenes and to require registration, inspection, insurance, and license plates for e-bikes. The matter summary states: 'No New Yorker should have to fear suffering collisions while walking in their own neighborhood from the epidemic of e-vehicles causing horrible injuries and even fatalities.' Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD announced a summer enforcement blitz to seize illegal, unregistered vehicles. Seawright’s push centers on holding reckless drivers accountable and removing dangerous, unlicensed vehicles from city streets.

• NYC rabbi suffers broken leg after being run over by rogue e-bike driver: ‘Lucky to be alive’, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-05

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A pick-up truck traveling south struck the left rear bumper of a parked Sprinter van on 2 Avenue in Manhattan. The van’s driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited the truck driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:55 on 2 Avenue near East 66 Street in Manhattan. A Ford Sprinter van was parked when a southbound Chevrolet pick-up truck collided with its left rear bumper. The van’s 39-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining back trauma and shock, and was not ejected. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the truck driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the parked vehicle. The truck driver’s pre-crash action was "Going Straight Ahead," while the van was "Parked." No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage to the left rear bumper of the van and the front center end of the truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729861 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A northbound SUV merging on FDR Drive struck a taxi traveling straight ahead. The impact injured three occupants with whiplash and neck and back pain. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and following too closely as contributing factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on FDR Drive at 17:15. A 2014 SUV merging northbound collided with a 2020 taxi traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the SUV and the right front bumper of the taxi. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors to the collision. Three occupants were injured: a 59-year-old male driver of the SUV, a 42-year-old female right rear passenger, and a 12-year-old female middle rear passenger, all suffering whiplash and neck or back injuries. All occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts. The data highlights driver errors without attributing fault to the injured passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727070 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 43-year-old man riding an unlicensed e-scooter was ejected and suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The crash occurred on 2 Avenue near East 65 Street in Manhattan. The vehicle showed no damage despite the driver’s serious injuries.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male driver on an e-scooter traveling south on 2 Avenue was ejected from his vehicle, sustaining abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report notes the driver was unlicensed, a critical factor in the crash. Despite the driver’s injuries, the e-scooter showed no damage and the point of impact was recorded as "No Damage." The driver was conscious after the crash but suffered significant bodily injury. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the unlicensed status of the driver as a key error. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A GMC SUV struck a northbound moped making a left turn on York Avenue in Manhattan. The moped driver was ejected and suffered whole-body injuries with minor bleeding. The SUV sustained damage to its right rear bumper. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 2023 GMC SUV traveling southbound on York Avenue collided with a 2023 moped traveling northbound that was making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV's right rear bumper and the moped's center front end. The moped driver, a 20-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered injuries to his entire body, including minor bleeding, and was in shock. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash occurred near East 78 Street in Manhattan's 5th Council District.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723873 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A distracted driver rear-ended a stopped sedan on 1st Avenue, triggering a multi-vehicle collision. Two drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The impact exposed dangers of inattention and close following in heavy traffic.

According to the police report, at 8:06 AM on Manhattan's 1st Avenue near East 76 Street, a chain-reaction crash occurred involving a station wagon/SUV and a sedan. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the driver of the SUV. The SUV struck the rear of a sedan that was stopped in traffic, causing damage to the sedan's center back end and the SUV's right rear bumper. Two female drivers, aged 46 and 60, were injured with neck injuries and complaints of whiplash. Both were restrained with lap belts and were not ejected. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and tailgating—as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victims. This crash underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving and insufficient following distance in congested urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 53-year-old female bicyclist was injured and ejected after an e-bike collided with her on 1 Avenue in Manhattan. The crash caused knee and lower leg injuries, with driver inattention cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 1 Avenue near East 60 Street in Manhattan at 16:05. A 53-year-old female bicyclist was riding north when she was struck by an e-bike also traveling north. The point of impact was the right rear quarter panel of the bicyclist's bike and the left front quarter panel of the e-bike. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was noted on the bicyclist's right side doors, while the e-bike showed no damage. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 33-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after an SUV struck his e-bike at night on East 67th Street. The collision caused bruising and full-body injuries. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:56 on East 67th Street in Manhattan. A 33-year-old male bicyclist riding a Citi Bike e-bike was traveling south when a Ford SUV, traveling west, struck him with its right front bumper. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the SUV driver as the contributing factor. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The SUV had two occupants, and the driver was licensed. Damage to both vehicles was centered on their front ends. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717508 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Taxi struck a man crossing East 68th at 2nd Avenue. Impact crushed his knee and leg. He stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a taxi heading south on East 68th Street at 2nd Avenue struck a male pedestrian who was crossing against the signal. The impact hit the pedestrian’s knee, lower leg, and foot, causing fractures and dislocations. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The collision underscores the severe harm that can result when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, even when no explicit driver error is recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two SUVs crashed at East 69th Street and York Avenue in Manhattan. The driver of one SUV suffered head injuries and whiplash, experiencing shock. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained damage to front and side panels.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:05 on East 69th Street near York Avenue in Manhattan. Two station wagons/SUVs collided: one traveling north going straight ahead, the other making a left turn westbound. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the northbound SUV and the left side doors of the westbound SUV. The driver of the northbound vehicle, a 47-year-old man wearing a lap belt, suffered head injuries and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both vehicles were registered in New York and driven by licensed male drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 25-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk with the light. An e-scooter rider, inattentive and inexperienced, struck her head-on. Blood pooled on East 78th Street. The rider fled. The woman’s leg split open, pain pulsing through the city’s grid.

A 25-year-old woman was seriously injured on East 78th Street when an e-scooter rider struck her head-on as she crossed with the signal, according to the police report. The impact left her with severe lacerations to her lower leg, and blood pooled at the scene. The report states the e-scooter’s front end was damaged and the rider did not stop. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the light in the marked crosswalk—are noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failures. The collision underscores the consequences of inattentive and unskilled operation of motorized vehicles in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A 77-year-old man crossing East 60 Street away from an intersection was struck by a westbound vehicle. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the victim injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on East 60 Street in Manhattan at 10:16 a.m. A 77-year-old male pedestrian was crossing outside of a crosswalk or signal when he was hit by a vehicle traveling westbound. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor, cited twice, indicating the driver failed to maintain focus. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries including a fracture and dislocation to the knee and lower leg, with injury severity rated at level 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The vehicle showed no damage and was going straight ahead prior to impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712273 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

A Tesla sedan backing on East 70 Street was struck in the rear by an SUV stopped in traffic. The sedan’s driver, 61, and front passenger, 25, suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash exposed dangers of unsafe backing and driver distraction.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:40 on East 70 Street in Manhattan. A 2023 Tesla sedan was backing when it was hit in the right rear bumper by a 2020 SUV traveling east that was stopped in traffic. The sedan’s driver, a 61-year-old woman, was cited for "Backing Unsafely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Both the driver and a 25-year-old male front passenger were injured, suffering neck injuries and shock; the passenger was partially ejected. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the primary contributing factor, highlighting driver error in the sedan. The SUV driver was not cited with contributing factors. The crash underscores the systemic danger posed by unsafe backing maneuvers and distracted driving in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05