Hamilton Heights: Three Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Why Won’t the City Act?

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 motorcycle and sedan collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. The rider was ejected and injured. Center-front and back-end impacts marked the crash. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed on Henry Hudson Parkway. The motorcycle rider, a 43-year-old man, was ejected and suffered back injuries and abrasions. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and collided, with the sedan striking the center front and the motorcycle hit at the center back. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The rider was wearing a helmet. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830761 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus and sedan crashed on Broadway. Metal twisted. A 62-year-old passenger suffered arm injuries. Sirens cut through Manhattan. Another day, another wound in the city’s grid.

A bus and a sedan collided at Broadway and West 145th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash left a 62-year-old male passenger injured, suffering trauma to his arm. Both vehicles were going straight before impact. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The bus was struck on its left rear, the sedan on its right front. The injured passenger was in shock but not visibly bleeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

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

SUV struck a cyclist on Broadway. The rider took a hard hit to the shoulder. Police cite failure to yield and blocked view. The street stayed busy. The cyclist was left bruised but conscious.

A cyclist riding northwest on Broadway at W 155th Street was hit by an SUV. The cyclist, a 40-year-old man, suffered a shoulder contusion but remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited.' The cyclist was not ejected. The report also lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a factor. No helmet use was cited as a cause. The impact left the cyclist hurt, highlighting the dangers faced by riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driverless SUV rolled down West 139th, smashing into stopped cars. One woman suffered a head injury. Shock rippled through the scene. Metal crumpled. The street held its breath.

A driverless SUV rolled into traffic on West 139th Street in Manhattan, striking several stopped vehicles. According to the police report, the crash was caused by a 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle.' One woman, a driver, suffered a head injury and whiplash. She was not ejected and wore a lap belt. Other occupants and drivers reported unspecified injuries or shock. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no driver errors beyond the runaway vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

A car hit a woman crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 143rd. She had the signal. Her leg took the blow. She was left in shock and pain.

A 25-year-old woman was injured while crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 143rd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal, when a vehicle traveling north struck her with its center front end. The impact caused injury to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and left her in shock. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle type or driver details were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen box truck crashed into a Midtown building. The front awning buckled under the force. No injuries. Police detained a person of interest. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. The city watched, unblinking.

CBS New York reported on June 23, 2025, that a stolen box truck struck a building in Midtown Manhattan, damaging the front awning. According to police, 'no one was hurt and a person of interest was taken into custody.' The incident highlights the risk posed by unauthorized drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles. The crash did not result in injuries, but the impact damaged property and disrupted the area. The report underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and the potential for harm in dense urban environments, where even a single reckless act can threaten public safety.

• Stolen Truck Slams Midtown Building, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-23

A man walking at St Nicholas Ave and W 150 St was struck. His arm fractured. The crash left him conscious but hurt. No driver errors listed. The street stayed dangerous.

A 32-year-old man was injured while walking at the intersection of St Nicholas Ave and W 150 St in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a fractured arm and remained conscious after the crash. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the data. The vehicle was traveling east and going straight ahead. The report does not specify vehicle type or further details about the driver. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04