Broadway to the Parkway: West Harlem’s Slow-Motion Crash Scene

Sep 11 - A late-night Riverside Drive crash at West 135th threw a motorcyclist. He was semiconscious with a head wound and minor bleeding. Police listed contributing factors as “Unspecified.”

On Riverside Drive at West 135th Street in Manhattan, a late-night crash left a motorcyclist injured. The 40-year-old driver was ejected. He was semiconscious, with a head injury and minor bleeding. Another 40-year-old male is listed as an occupant and registrant; his injury is “Unspecified.” "According to the police report, the motorcycle was traveling west and going straight before the crash." The report records contributing factors as “Unspecified.” No other vehicles or pedestrians are listed. Police noted a left-front point of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841687 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 22 - Three southbound vehicles collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. A 39-year-old driver suffered neck injuries. A 38-year-old woman and two teenage girls were also hurt. Police cited distracted driving and an unsafe lane change.

According to the police report, three southbound vehicles collided on Henry Hudson Parkway and multiple occupants were injured. A 39-year-old male driver complained of whiplash and neck injury. The report also identifies a 38-year-old female rear-seat passenger, a 15-year-old rear passenger, and a 14-year-old front passenger as injured. Police listed "Driver Inattention/Distraction" for multiple drivers and "Unsafe Lane Changing" as contributing factors. Damage descriptions include the Honda sedan’s right rear bumper and front-end damage to the SUV and the Kia, consistent with a lane-change conflict. The report records driver inattention and an unsafe lane change as the causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - Southbound cyclist hits taxi on Amsterdam. Right front bumper marks the strike. Head injury. Ejected. Night air, hard street. Police cite driver distraction. The rider bleeds while traffic hums past.

A southbound bicyclist on Amsterdam Ave at W 133 St collided with a taxi and suffered a head injury and was ejected. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” The cyclist was listed as injured; the taxi driver as an occupant with unspecified injury. Records show the taxi was parked before the crash, and the car’s right front bumper was the point of impact, consistent with a dooring or pull-out. Driver inattention stands out as the harmful act. Safety equipment for the cyclist was recorded as unknown, noted after driver error as required.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835365 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - A westbound SUV struck a parked SUV at 415 W 127th in Harlem. A 62-year-old man died at the scene; another person was injured. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely. Both front bumpers were crushed.

Two sport-utility vehicles collided at 415 W 127th Street in Manhattan. A 62-year-old male occupant suffered apparent death at the scene; another person sustained injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The persons data also lists "Following Too Closely" alongside driver inattention for the injured driver. The crash involved one SUV going straight westbound and another recorded as parked and struck on its left front. Impact damaged the right front of the moving SUV and the left front of the parked SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - A driver in an SUV passed too closely on Henry Hudson Parkway and hit a motorcycle. The 39-year-old rider was partially ejected and suffered a head injury. Police recorded improper passing as the cause.

A driver in an SUV passed too closely and struck a motorcycle on Henry Hudson Parkway at W 135 St. The motorcyclist, a 39-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered a head injury and contusion. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Passing Too Closely" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." Both vehicles were traveling south. Police noted the SUV's right rear bumper impacted the motorcycle's center back end. The report lists the improper passing and lane-use errors by the driver as the contributing factors to the collision; no other serious injuries were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 7 - A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.

• Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades, NY1, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A motorcycle and an SUV collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. A 20-year-old male motorcyclist suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police listed driver inexperience and unsafe speed as contributing factors.

A motorcycle and a driver in an SUV, both traveling south on Henry Hudson Parkway, collided. According to the police report, a 20-year-old male motorcyclist was injured and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Police listed "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor and recorded "Unsafe Speed" for the motorcyclist. The motorcycle showed center-front impact damage; the SUV showed damage to its right rear quarter panel. No other injured parties were specified in the report. The police narrative names driver errors rather than roadway conditions or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 29 - 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

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 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

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 24 - Two buses collided on a ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - The driver of a northbound taxi rear-ended a 14-year-old riding an e-bike near 3320 Broadway. The taxi hit the bike from behind. The teen suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the driver of a northbound taxi struck the center back of a northbound e-bike near 3320 Broadway. A 14-year-old male e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Following Too Closely." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The taxi sustained center front-end damage and the e-bike was struck in its center back end. The report lists the rider's contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite rider error as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly 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, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

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