Who Bleeds Next? Harlem’s Streets Won’t Wait

Dec 19 - A 32-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing with the signal at a Manhattan intersection. The driver, making a right turn, showed inattention and inexperience. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 20th Street and Morningside Avenue in Manhattan at 17:20. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2011 Honda SUV, traveling north and making a right turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 18 - A BMW SUV making a U-turn struck a 39-year-old male bicyclist traveling east on W 116 St. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was in shock. Police cited driver inattention as a key factor in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:50 on W 116 St in Manhattan. A BMW SUV, driven by a licensed female driver from Pennsylvania, was making a U-turn when it collided with a 39-year-old male bicyclist traveling eastbound. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for both the SUV driver and the bicyclist. The cyclist was not ejected and was wearing no specified helmet. The SUV driver’s maneuver and inattention created a hazardous situation leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 7 - A distracted driver struck a parked sedan on East 121st Street in Manhattan. The SUV's right front bumper hit the sedan's left rear. The driver, wearing a lap belt, suffered a bruised elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, at 10:15 AM on East 121st Street in Manhattan, a 39-year-old male driver operating a 2021 SUV traveling east collided with a parked 2018 sedan. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper striking the sedan's left rear bumper. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and sustained a contusion to the elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity 3. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The sedan was unoccupied at the time of the crash. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper of the SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the sedan. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779334 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 2 - A 46-year-old female skater was ejected and injured after a collision involving a sedan and an electric scooter in Manhattan. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused the crash, resulting in abrasions and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:17 in Manhattan near 111 Central Park North. The collision involved a sedan and an electric scooter traveling west. The electric scooter driver, a 46-year-old female occupant, was ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the electric scooter driver. The sedan was parked before the crash and impacted on its left side doors, while the electric scooter struck with its center front end. The electric scooter driver was wearing a helmet, but the primary cause was the driver’s distraction and inexperience, highlighting systemic dangers related to driver attentiveness in vehicle interactions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775703 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A taxi making a right turn struck an 18-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal on St Nicholas Ave. The pedestrian suffered full-body injuries and shock. Driver failure to yield and distraction caused the collision at a busy Manhattan intersection.

According to the police report, a 2024 Chevrolet taxi was making a right turn westbound on St Nicholas Ave near W 115 St in Manhattan at 12:20 PM when it struck an 18-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian was injured across her entire body and experienced shock. The report identifies the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The taxi’s point of impact was the center front end, yet the vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was at an intersection and had the crossing signal, emphasizing the driver’s errors as the cause. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but his failure to yield and distraction led to this serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774746 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A taxi traveling east on W 125 St struck a 35-year-old male pedestrian crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered bruises over his entire body. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, highlighting dangers of distracted driving in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a taxi driven by a licensed male driver was traveling straight ahead eastbound on W 125 St near Lenox Ave in Manhattan at 7:25 AM. The vehicle struck a 35-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street without a signal or crosswalk. The point of impact was the taxi’s right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruising over his entire body but remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. Additionally, the pedestrian’s crossing without a signal was noted as a secondary factor but does not mitigate the driver’s responsibility. The taxi showed no vehicle damage, indicating a low-speed impact. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A taxi driver fell asleep and rear-ended a stopped sedan on St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan. Three men in the sedan suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash caused left rear bumper damage to the sedan and front-end damage to the taxi.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:00 PM on St Nicholas Ave near W 125 St in Manhattan. A taxi traveling southbound struck the left rear bumper of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The taxi driver was cited for falling asleep, a critical driver error leading to the collision. The sedan carried three male occupants, all injured with back pain and whiplash but none ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the sedan wore a lap belt; the front passenger also wore a lap belt, while the rear passenger used no safety equipment. The taxi sustained front-end damage, and the sedan's left rear bumper was damaged. The report lists no contributing factors from the victims, focusing on the taxi driver's failure to maintain control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A distracted SUV driver struck a 25-year-old bicyclist on Frederick Douglass Blvd in Manhattan. The cyclist was partially ejected, suffering head abrasions. The SUV showed no damage despite the impact. Driver inattention was cited as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:40 on Frederick Douglass Blvd near W 120 St in Manhattan. A 25-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained head abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The SUV, occupied by two males, was parked before the crash and impacted on the right side doors, yet showed no damage. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the SUV driver. The bicyclist also had 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passenger Distraction' listed as contributing factors. No other victim behaviors were noted as contributing. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772278 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 12 - A sedan traveling west collided head-on with a bicyclist making a left turn eastbound on W 116 St. The 19-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered severe leg fractures. Driver inattention and inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on W 116 St struck a bicyclist who was making a left turn eastbound. The collision occurred at the center front ends of both vehicles. The bicyclist, a 19-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, as well as the bicyclist's inexperience. The cyclist was conscious at the scene but seriously injured. The sedan driver was operating the vehicle straight ahead but failed to maintain attention, leading to the collision. The bicyclist was unlicensed and not noted to have any contributing fault beyond inexperience. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and the vulnerability of cyclists in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - Taxi hit a 17-year-old cyclist from behind on West 125th. The teen was ejected, left with leg and foot injuries. Police cite the taxi for following too closely. The street turned violent in a moment.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on West 125th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd struck a 17-year-old male bicyclist who was changing lanes. The impact came from the taxi's right rear quarter panel to the bike's center front end. The cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor by the taxi driver. No other contributing factors are cited for the cyclist. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to maintain safe distance from vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771167 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - A 68-year-old woman crossing outside a crosswalk was struck by an eastbound e-scooter in Manhattan. She suffered bruises and lower leg injuries. The scooter showed no damage, highlighting the impact on the vulnerable pedestrian amid debris obstruction.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing the street outside a crosswalk in Manhattan near West 125th Street. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The collision involved a male driver operating an eastbound e-scooter, who was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-scooter. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists contributing factors including 'Unspecified' and 'Obstruction/Debris,' indicating environmental hazards may have played a role. No driver errors such as failure to yield were explicitly cited, but the presence of debris and the pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk created a hazardous situation. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report does not attribute fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771162 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - An SUV traveling east on W 125 St hit a male pedestrian playing in the roadway at an intersection. The pedestrian was injured and incoherent after impact. The vehicle sustained damage to its left front bumper. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 2018 SUV driven by a licensed male driver was traveling straight ahead eastbound on W 125 St in Manhattan at 17:50 when it struck a male pedestrian playing in the roadway at an intersection near St Nicholas Ave. The pedestrian was injured and found incoherent at the scene, with injury severity rated as serious (level 3). The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, which sustained damage. The report lists contributing factors for the pedestrian as unspecified and does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger posed by vehicles striking vulnerable road users in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770588 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - A northbound SUV struck by a westbound taxi on W 116 St caused injuries to the SUV driver. The impact hit the SUV’s right side doors and the taxi’s left front bumper. Driver distraction and inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the collision occurred at 16:57 on W 116 St in Manhattan. A 46-year-old male SUV driver, wearing a lap belt, suffered an eye injury and contusion. The SUV was traveling north and was impacted on the right side doors. The taxi, traveling west, struck the SUV with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for both vehicles and adds 'Driver Inexperience' for the SUV driver as contributing factors. The SUV driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant. Vehicle damage included the SUV’s right front quarter panel and the taxi’s center front end. The crash highlights driver errors as the critical cause, with no victim fault noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - A distracted driver making a left turn struck a 36-year-old man crossing Saint Nicholas Avenue with the signal. The pedestrian suffered hip and upper leg contusions. The crash exposed failure to yield and driver inattention at a busy intersection.

According to the police report, at 7:40 p.m. on Saint Nicholas Avenue near West 114 Street in Manhattan, a vehicle traveling north made a left turn and struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal. The 36-year-old male pedestrian sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its left front bumper, indicating the collision occurred during the turning maneuver. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 13 - A 25-year-old man crossing with the signal on 8 Avenue at West 125 Street suffered knee and leg injuries. No driver errors listed. The crash exposes danger even when pedestrians follow the law.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing 8 Avenue at West 125 Street in Manhattan. He crossed with the signal and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle type is unspecified. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signal violations are noted. The absence of cited driver fault in the report underscores systemic risk at this intersection, even when pedestrians act lawfully.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755661 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - A 24-year-old e-scooter driver suffered upper arm injuries after a collision with a sedan turning improperly on West 111 Street in Manhattan. The impact struck the scooter’s front and the sedan’s right side, highlighting dangerous turning maneuvers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:58 PM on West 111 Street near 7 Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan traveling north and an e-scooter traveling west both made right turns when the collision happened. The e-scooter driver, a 24-year-old male, was injured with upper arm trauma but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report cites 'Turning Improperly' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating driver error on the part of the sedan. The point of impact was the e-scooter’s center front end and the sedan’s right side doors, with damage to the sedan’s right front quarter panel. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash underscores the risks posed by improper vehicle turning in shared traffic spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 29 - A teenage boy riding east on West 125th struck broken pavement and was hurled headfirst onto concrete. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious, bleeding from the head. Sirens wailed. The city’s fractured streets claimed another young rider.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old boy riding a bike eastbound on West 125th Street in Harlem struck defective pavement. The report states the cyclist was ejected and landed headfirst, suffering severe bleeding and a head injury. He was found semiconscious, blood pooling on the concrete. The only listed contributing factors are 'Pavement Defective' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' underscoring the role of hazardous street conditions and lack of focus. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by neglected infrastructure and the systemic risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19