Morningside Heights: Drivers Keep Hitting. Officials Keep Waiting.

Jul 27 - 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

Jul 24 - A firefighter died on FDR Drive. The driver fled. At Port Authority, a bus crash left over two dozen hurt. No arrests. The city’s streets remain brutal for those on foot and in transit.

Patch reported on July 24, 2025, that an FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run on FDR Drive. The driver left the scene. No arrests have been made. The article also notes, 'More Than 2 Dozen Injured In Bus Crash At Port Authority Bus Terminal.' Both incidents highlight ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and point to gaps in enforcement and street safety. Investigations continue, but the city’s traffic violence persists.

• Firefighter Killed, Dozens Hurt In Crashes, Patch, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 24 - After two die at Canal Street, Kevin Duggan and advocates demand the city end car dominance. They call for fewer lanes, slower speeds, and space for people. The city stalls. Danger remains.

""We urge the DOT not to wait for more crashes and deaths on Canal Street to act."" -- Mark Levine

On July 24, 2025, Kevin Duggan issued a policy statement after a double fatal crash at the Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street entrance. The matter urges, "the city to redesign Canal Street to be less car-centric after decades of studies and delays." Duggan, joined by advocates and politicians, calls for lane reductions, speed cuts, and pedestrian-first changes. The Department of Transportation faces a 30-day deadline to release plans. The safety analyst notes the event text is too vague for a clear safety impact, as no concrete intervention is described. The push is loud, but action is uncertain.

• Fixing Canal Street Means Rethinking the Manhattan Bridge Itself: Experts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - 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

Jul 21 - 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

Jul 17 - 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

Jul 14 - 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

Jul 13 - Council moves to shield delivery workers. Wage floors, tipping rules, and safety gear on the line. Workers face street danger daily. New rules aim to cut risk and boost dignity.

On July 14, 2025, the NYC Council will vote on bills to protect delivery workers. The agenda includes wage floors, tipping requirements, and safety measures. Council Members Shaun Abreu, Jennifer Gutierrez, and Sandy Nurse sponsor key bills. Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the package. The matter summary states: 'Council members will vote on a list of legislative items that would benefit delivery app workers.' These protections can improve worker well-being and bargaining power, reducing pressure to take unsafe risks. The council’s action targets the daily hazards faced by delivery workers on city streets.

• NYC Council expected to vote Monday on wage and workplace protections for delivery workers, AMNY, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 10 - Council ends Instacart loophole. All app delivery workers get minimum wage. Bills target pay, tips, and safety. Workers risk streets for every order. Law brings fairer pay, not safer roads.

On July 10, 2025, the City Council advanced Intro 1133 and 1135 to close the Instacart loophole and regulate app-based delivery. The bills, led by Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, and Shaun Abreu, require all apps to pay minimum wage and restore upfront tipping. The matter summary: 'regulate the app-based delivery industry.' Sophia Lebowitz supported the action. Advocates say the package strengthens 2023's pay law. A safety analyst notes: mandating minimum wage improves labor conditions but does not directly affect safety, mode shift, or street equity for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council To Close Instacart Loophole, Pass Delivery Industry Regulation Bills, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 6 - A fast electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in the hospital. The cyclist, bruised, faced wrongful charges. Chaos thrives where speed meets congestion.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, near West 60th Street. An illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist, sending its operator to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The cyclist, Carolyn Backus, was wrongly charged with leaving the scene, though she "remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics." The Manhattan D.A. dismissed the charge, noting Backus rode a non-motorized bike. The article highlights the risk of high-speed e-vehicles in crowded park zones, where "unpredictable congestion makes it the last place...anyone should be speeding."

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jun 30 - 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

Jun 28 - A taxi struck a garbage truck’s rear on Amsterdam Ave. Two passengers suffered face and neck injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Metal, glass, pain. The city keeps moving.

A taxi crashed into the back of a parked garbage truck on Amsterdam Avenue at West 121st Street. Two taxi passengers, a 58-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman, were injured—one with neck abrasions, the other with facial bleeding. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The report lists no other contributing factors. The impact left the taxi’s front end and the truck’s rear damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The city’s streets remain dangerous for those inside and outside vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823921 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 27 - A 53-year-old cyclist struck on Riverside Drive. He suffered arm abrasions. The crash left him conscious but hurt. Police list the cause as unspecified. No other injuries reported.

A 53-year-old man riding a bike north on Riverside Drive at West 111th Street was injured in a crash. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered abrasions to his arm and remained conscious after the impact. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were reported injured. The crash damaged the left side of the cyclist's bike. No driver errors were specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 26 - A sedan struck three pedestrians crossing with the signal on Broadway. All suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the cause.

Three pedestrians, ages 31, 46, and 48, were hit by a sedan while crossing Broadway at W 125th Street in Manhattan. All were crossing with the signal and suffered injuries, including leg and body trauma. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The sedan, a BMW, was traveling east with two occupants. No other causes were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 22 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Amsterdam Avenue. The crash left the cyclist bruised and hurt. Aggressive driving and a bad turn caused the impact. The street stayed dangerous. No one walked away unchanged.

A sedan collided with a cyclist on Amsterdam Avenue near West 122nd Street in Manhattan. The 33-year-old cyclist suffered a contusion and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Turning Improperly' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan struck the back of the bike with its right front bumper. The data shows no helmet or signal issues for the cyclist. The crash highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers act aggressively and fail to turn safely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822547 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 19 - An e-bike rider struck a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk. The rider flew from the bike, hit the curb, and died. The pedestrian suffered a minor hand injury. Police are investigating. No arrests. The park remains dangerous for all.

West Side Spirit reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk near East 97th Street and East Drive. The article states, "Nico-Garcia was then flung from his bike and struck his head on the curb, the NYPD said." The pedestrian, 41, had a minor hand injury and refused treatment. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident; no arrests have been made. City data shows e-bike and e-scooter deaths have dropped citywide in 2025, but Central Park crash numbers remain steady. The report notes, "more people crash on regular bikes in the park than on e-bikes or e-scooters, while the opposite is true for NYC overall." The crash highlights ongoing risks at crossings and the persistent threat to vulnerable road users.

• E-Biker Killed After Central Park Crash, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - A woman tried to climb from the tracks. The L train struck her. She died at the scene. The platform offered no barrier. Safety reforms came too late. The train ran again after three hours. Her name is not yet known.

West Side Spirit reported on June 17, 2025, that a 24-year-old woman was killed by an L train at Union Square station. According to the article, 'witnesses said the woman stepped onto the tracks shortly before the collision, but then attempted to climb back onto the platform.' She could not escape in time. Police found no suspected criminality. The incident occurred months after a state initiative promised new platform barriers at over 100 stations, but these had not yet been installed at Union Square. The tragedy highlights the ongoing risk to subway riders in stations without protective infrastructure. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed by L Train at Union Square, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16