May 23 - A sedan slammed into a parked car on Broadway near West 152nd. Two people in the sedan suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash left the front of the BMW mangled and the back of the Lexus smashed. No pedestrians were involved.

A BMW sedan traveling south on Broadway struck the center back end of a parked Lexus near West 152nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, two occupants of the BMW—a 33-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat and a 37-year-old male driver—were injured, both suffering neck injuries and shock. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The Lexus was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The BMW sustained heavy front-end damage, while the Lexus was hit at the rear. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A sedan hit a woman crossing St Nicholas Avenue. She suffered leg injuries. Glare was listed as a factor. The crash left her hurt in the intersection.

A sedan making a left turn struck a 43-year-old woman crossing St Nicholas Avenue at West 148th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Glare' as a contributing factor in the crash. The driver, a 23-year-old man, was not reported injured. The impact occurred at the intersection, leaving the pedestrian with internal and leg injuries. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

May 19 - Police handcuff cyclists. Judges toss tickets. Lawmakers protest. NYPD issues criminal summonses for minor bike infractions. Riders face court for actions once legal. Anger grows. The city’s crackdown targets the vulnerable, not the dangerous.

West Side Spirit reported on May 19, 2025, that opposition is mounting against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists for minor traffic violations. Council Member Gale Brewer criticized the move, stating, "A civil summons is a more appropriate response and thrusting people into the criminal justice system unnecessarily is bad public policy." The article notes that some officers issued summonses for actions legalized in 2019, such as cyclists proceeding with a pedestrian walk signal. Many tickets were dismissed in court due to errors by police. A class action lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist ticketed for a legal maneuver. The crackdown raises questions about enforcement priorities and the risk of criminalizing vulnerable road users instead of addressing systemic dangers.

• NYPD Faces Backlash Over Bike Summonses, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-19

May 17 - A van turned left at unsafe speed. The driver struck a man on an e-scooter. The rider suffered head injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.

A refrigerated van making a left turn on West 145th Street collided with a 39-year-old man riding an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider suffered head injuries and crush wounds. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The van’s left front bumper struck the rider. The report does not list any errors by the e-scooter operator. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

May 12 - Two cars collided on Broadway. Drivers distracted. Three passengers suffered back injuries. Metal twisted. Whiplash followed. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, collided on Broadway at West 139th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers were inattentive and distracted. Three passengers, all riding in the rear seats, sustained back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal bent and passengers hurt, underscoring the risks when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - A sedan hit a cyclist at St Nicholas Avenue. The rider suffered leg injuries. Metal met flesh. The street stayed loud. No driver errors listed. The city moved on.

A sedan collided with a cyclist at St Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The 39-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering abrasions and lower leg trauma. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead. The sedan's left front bumper struck the bike. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The cyclist was unlicensed, but this was not cited as a cause. The crash left the cyclist hurt and the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - SUV reversed on Amsterdam Avenue. Elderly woman, 78, hurt. Infant and another occupant involved. Center rear of vehicle struck. Police list factors as unspecified.

A station wagon SUV reversed on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 78-year-old woman driving the SUV was injured, suffering shock and pain across her body. An infant and another occupant were also involved, with injuries listed as unspecified. The vehicle was damaged at the center back end. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810025 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 24 - Two cars slammed together on Riverside Drive. Metal twisted. Two passengers hurt, bodies aching. Shock followed. Night air thick with sirens. No clear cause. System failed the vulnerable again.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, collided on Riverside Drive at West 145th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both cars were going straight ahead when they crashed. Two passengers, a 42-year-old man and a 47-year-old man, suffered injuries to their entire bodies and were in shock. Three other occupants reported unspecified injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were recorded. The crash left passengers hurt, underscoring the danger inside cars when systems fail.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808390 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - Motorcycle struck SUV from behind. Two drivers hurt. Passenger shaken. Police cite following too closely and distraction.

A motorcycle crashed into the back of an SUV on St Nicholas Place in Manhattan. The SUV driver, a 51-year-old woman, suffered back injuries. The motorcycle driver, a 45-year-old man, was partially ejected and injured his head. A 48-year-old woman riding as a passenger in the SUV was also involved. According to the police report, both drivers were cited for 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808389 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 23 - Two SUVs collided on West 145th and Broadway. One driver suffered neck injury. Police cite improper turning. Steel met steel. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed at West 145th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. One driver, a 53-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact. The report lists no pedestrian or cyclist injuries. The police note that the injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors are mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 22 - Two passengers hurt as SUV and sedan collide on Broadway at West 145th. Metal crunches. Shock and pain. Streets run red with risk. No clear cause named. The city grinds on.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, collided at Broadway and West 145th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, two passengers—a 43-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man—suffered injuries, including neck and arm trauma. Both were in shock. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are named. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash underscores the danger faced by passengers in New York City traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808373 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. Three men hurt. Police cite unsafe speed and lane changes. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The road did not forgive mistakes.

Two sedans crashed on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan. Three men, including both drivers and a front passenger, suffered injuries to the neck, back, and shoulder. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south when unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing led to the collision. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors for both drivers. No other factors are cited. The crash left metal bent and people in pain. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 15 - A sedan struck a teenage cyclist at Broadway and West 143rd. The crash left the rider injured and in shock. Police cite improper turning. The street saw pain, metal, and error.

A sedan collided with a 17-year-old bicyclist at Broadway and West 143rd Street in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered arm injuries and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' The driver and a passenger in the sedan were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists no cyclist errors. The impact left the young rider hurt and the street marked by another preventable crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19