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

A 75-year-old man driving a station wagon sport utility vehicle suffered elbow and lower arm injuries after his SUV backed unsafely in Manhattan. The crash caused pain and shock, with damage to the vehicle’s right rear bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:55 PM near West 154th Street in Manhattan. The driver, a 75-year-old male occupant of a 2014 Honda SUV, was injured when the vehicle backed unsafely, striking an object or surface with the right rear bumper. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. The driver sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, experienced shock, and complained of pain or nausea. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle damage was limited to the right rear bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported involved. The incident highlights the dangers posed by unsafe backing maneuvers in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788560, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with an SUV on Broadway. Both vehicles were traveling southbound. The SUV struck the bike’s left front quarter panel with its right front bumper. No driver errors were specified.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broadway near 3495 Broadway in Manhattan at 17:12. A 20-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the bike. Both the SUV and the bike were traveling straight ahead southbound when the SUV’s right front bumper impacted the bike’s left front quarter panel. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Vehicle damage was reported as none for both the SUV and the bike. The bicyclist’s safety equipment status is unknown, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788551, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A northbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Henry Hudson Parkway. The sedan’s female driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan around midnight. A northbound station wagon/SUV collided with the center back end of a northbound sedan. The sedan’s 39-year-old female driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained back injuries and complained of whiplash. The police report identifies driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the SUV struck the sedan’s left rear bumper with its right front bumper. No ejections occurred, and the sedan driver was conscious at the scene. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787602, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway at 1 p.m. The front passenger suffered hip and upper leg injuries, experiencing shock and pain. Police cited improper lane usage as the cause. Both drivers were licensed, traveling southbound during the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Henry Hudson Parkway at 13:00 involving two sedans traveling south. One vehicle was going straight ahead, while the other was making a right turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the first sedan and the center back end of the second. The contributing factor was identified as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' indicating driver error in lane management. The front passenger in one sedan, a 48-year-old woman, sustained hip and upper leg injuries, was not ejected, and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. Safety equipment such as air bags and lap belts deployed. Both drivers held valid licenses from NY and NJ respectively. The report does not attribute fault to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785487, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A police car crossed the line. Metal struck flesh. Samuel Williams, riding his dirt bike, was thrown and killed. Body cam footage shows the officer’s move. Another NYPD car tried the same. The city sent Williams’ family a bill.

NY Daily News (2024-12-23) reports that NYPD body camera footage shows an officer veering into the path of Samuel Williams, a 36-year-old dirt bike rider, during a pursuit on the University Heights Bridge. Williams was struck, thrown, and died from his injuries. The article states, “An officer pursuing dirt bikers suddenly crossed the double yellow line into Williams' path, causing a collision.” Another NYPD vehicle attempted a similar maneuver. The family’s attorney called it a “deadly maneuver” for a minor violation. The city later billed Williams’ family for police vehicle damages. The NYPD has not commented, citing litigation. The case raises questions about police pursuit tactics and accountability.

• NYPD Officer Veers Into Dirt Biker’s Path, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-23

A 37-year-old man suffered serious leg injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at a Manhattan intersection when the vehicle struck him with its left front bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:01 AM on West 151st Street near Convent Avenue in Manhattan. A Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn traveling south when it struck a 37-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the driver did not yield to the pedestrian legally crossing. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact to its left front bumper. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779990, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 65-year-old woman suffered a hip and upper leg contusion after an SUV hit her while crossing West 145 Street outside an intersection. The driver, traveling westbound, struck the pedestrian with the vehicle’s center front end. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2023 Nissan SUV traveling westbound on West 145 Street struck her. The pedestrian was crossing outside an intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The impact occurred at the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to her hip and upper leg, with injury severity rated at level 3. The driver, a licensed female from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors explicitly. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report does not indicate any pedestrian behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779980, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 44-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg bruises after emerging from near a parked SUV on West 145th Street in Manhattan. The SUV, traveling west, struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian remained conscious despite injuries.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male pedestrian was injured while emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle at an intersection on West 145th Street and Convent Avenue in Manhattan. The vehicle involved was a 2020 Lincoln SUV traveling westbound, which struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No damage was reported to the vehicle, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The report focuses on the collision impact and injuries without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778205, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected after a taxi struck him during a right turn on W 152 St. The crash caused chest injuries and shock. Police cite the taxi driver’s failure to yield and the cyclist’s improper turning as factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:51 on W 152 St near St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan. A taxi, traveling southwest and starting in traffic, struck a bicyclist traveling east who was making a right turn. The point of impact was the taxi’s right front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist, a 65-year-old male, was ejected and suffered chest injuries and shock, with a severity rating of 3. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors for the bicyclist, and 'Starting in Traffic' for the taxi. The taxi driver was licensed in New York. The police report highlights the bicyclist’s improper turning and the taxi driver’s failure to yield as key driver errors leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778168, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on West 148th Street in Manhattan. A 60-year-old female driver suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front quarter panel damage in the eastbound lanes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:43 AM near West 148th Street in Manhattan. Two sedans traveling eastbound were involved. One driver, a 60-year-old woman, was injured with neck trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from her vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. The first vehicle, a 2022 Ford sedan driven by a licensed male driver, was going straight ahead and sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The second vehicle, a 2018 Toyota sedan, was parked before the crash and received damage to its left front quarter panel. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775615, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 19-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck at an intersection while crossing with the signal. The vehicle, traveling north, impacted the pedestrian with its front center, causing contusions but no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of W 147 St and St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan at 9:50 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck by a vehicle traveling north, which was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No driver details or vehicle type were provided. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but no further details on driver fault or violations are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771908, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A northbound bicyclist was ejected and injured when a sedan making a left turn struck him on Manhattan’s W 145 St near Amsterdam Ave. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver failure to yield right-of-way.

According to the police report, at 2:45 AM on W 145 St near Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan, a sedan traveling east made a left turn and collided with a northbound bicyclist. The impact occurred at the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's left front bumper. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver did not yield to the bicyclist traveling straight. There is no indication of any contributing factors from the bicyclist. The sedan driver was licensed and operating a 2017 BMW. The collision caused center front-end damage to the sedan, while the bike showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771299, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan making a U-turn hit a northbound bicyclist on West 140th Street in Manhattan. The 78-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered full-body injuries with minor bleeding. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on West 140th Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan at 5:07 p.m. A sedan traveling north was making a U-turn when it struck a northbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 78-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his entire body, including minor bleeding and shock. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, specifically attributed to the driver of the sedan. The sedan's point of impact was its center front end, while the bicyclist was hit on his left side doors. The driver error of failing to yield during the U-turn created a hazardous situation that led to the cyclist's severe injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Four occupants suffered hip and neck injuries in a crash involving a sedan and a taxi on Henry Hudson Parkway. Both vehicles were traveling south when they collided, causing shock and minor bleeding among the injured. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:45 on Henry Hudson Parkway involving a sedan and a taxi, both traveling south. The sedan impacted the taxi's right rear bumper with its left front bumper, while the taxi sustained damage to its center back end. Four occupants were injured: a 44-year-old female passenger and three male drivers aged 25, 38, and 43. Injuries included hip and upper leg trauma and neck injury, with one occupant experiencing minor bleeding. All occupants were not ejected and were in shock. The drivers of the sedan and taxi were all wearing lap belts except the passenger who had no safety equipment. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The crash highlights systemic danger on this roadway segment without clear driver fault identified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771885, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV slammed head-on into an e-bike on W 155th Street. The rider flew from his bike, struck the pavement, and died from head trauma. Police cite driver distraction. The crash left a man lifeless on Manhattan asphalt.

According to the police report, an SUV collided head-on with an e-bike at W 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV struck the e-bike directly, throwing the male rider from his bike. The report states the victim suffered fatal head trauma and was found with no pulse. The narrative specifies, 'The driver was distracted.' The only contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The e-bike rider was ejected and killed on impact. The police report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is not cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, with the SUV's actions directly leading to the cyclist's death.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768346, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan collided with a bicyclist traveling south on Broadway in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered an upper arm contusion and remained conscious. The sedan, moving southwest, impacted the bike with its left front bumper. Driver errors remain unspecified in the report.

According to the police report, at 12:20 PM on Broadway near 3445 in Manhattan, a 2017 Ford sedan traveling southwest struck a bicyclist going straight ahead southbound. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male, sustained an upper arm contusion and bruising but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed in New Jersey. Vehicle damage was limited to the sedan's left front bumper. The crash highlights the dangers cyclists face from motor vehicles even when no explicit driver fault is recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769812, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A male pedestrian suffered injuries and shock after a collision with a northbound bike on West 151 Street in Manhattan. The bike showed no damage, and the pedestrian’s injury severity was recorded as moderate. Contributing factors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured in a collision involving a northbound bike on West 151 Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan at 13:24. The pedestrian sustained injuries classified as severity level 3 and was reported to be in shock. The bike, operated by a licensed male driver from New Jersey, was traveling straight ahead and showed no damage or point of impact. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors or contributing factors were identified in the data. The absence of vehicle damage suggests a low-impact collision, but the pedestrian still suffered injuries. The report does not assign fault or blame to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766591, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 24-year-old man was struck by a northbound tractor truck on Broadway near West 145th Street. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries crossing against the signal. The truck showed no damage, indicating impact on the vehicle's left rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured at 2:08 AM on Broadway near West 145th Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when he was struck by a northbound 2022 diesel tractor truck. The point of impact was the truck's left rear quarter panel, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The focus remains on the pedestrian crossing against the signal, with no driver violations explicitly noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766589, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck making a right turn struck a bicyclist and his young passenger on West 145 Street in Manhattan. Both suffered full-body injuries and shock. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing partial ejection of the adult cyclist.

According to the police report, at 16:05 on West 145 Street near Amsterdam Avenue, a 2013 Ford box truck was making a right turn when it collided with a bike traveling eastbound. The adult bicyclist, aged 43, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his entire body, entering shock. His 3-year-old passenger, secured by a harness, also suffered full-body injuries and shock. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the truck driver as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, alongside 'Other Vehicular' factors. The truck's center front end impacted the bike's left front quarter panel. Both victims were injured but no contributing victim behaviors were noted. The truck driver was licensed and operating the vehicle westbound. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769043, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 53-year-old man crossing against the signal was struck by a southbound pick-up truck on West 145 Street. The pedestrian suffered upper leg injuries and shock. The driver faced limited visibility due to obstructed views, contributing to the collision.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2021 RAM pick-up truck traveling south on West 145 Street near Broadway in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a role in the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his hip and upper leg and was in shock at the scene. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report. This crash highlights the dangers posed by obstructed views for vehicle operators in busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14