East Harlem Bleeds: How Many More Lives Before Action?

Aug 9 - A cab driver died after an SUV, moving at 77 mph in a 25 zone, struck his car in the Bronx. The driver ran. DNA on the airbag led to charges. The street stayed silent. The loss remains.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-09), Imani Williams was charged after her SUV hit a livery cab at 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, killing driver Robert Godwin. Prosecutors say Williams used a bus lane, ran a red light, and fled on foot. DNA from the airbag identified her. District Attorney Darcel Clark said, 'This defendant was allegedly driving three times the speed limit when her SUV slammed into a livery cab.' The case highlights the deadly risk of speeding and reckless driving in city streets.

• Speeding SUV Kills Bronx Cab Driver, New York Post, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 8 - A driver sped at 109 mph. Concrete barriers now ring the crash site. DOT will shrink lanes and cut speed limits. Change comes slow. Pedestrians and cyclists paid the price.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports DOT will install concrete barriers and narrow lanes at Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street exit after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian at 109 mph. DOT plans to lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, pending public comment. The article notes, 'the bridge currently functions like a Mario Kart-style speed boost.' DOT will also 'fast-track community engagement on a full redesign.' The crash highlights the danger of wide lanes and high speeds at a busy pedestrian crossing. Policy changes lagged until tragedy forced action.

• DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

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 man lay on Harlem tracks. The northbound 5 train struck him. He died at the scene. Police found no crime. His name remains unknown. Subway lines stalled. The system moved on.

NY Daily News (2025-08-06) reports a 47-year-old man was killed by a northbound 5 train at 125th St. station in Harlem. Police said, "The man was unconscious and unresponsive on the tracks." No arrests were made. The cause of his presence on the tracks is unclear. Police stated, "There was no criminality." The incident halted 4 and 5 trains. The case highlights ongoing dangers for people in subway spaces and the lack of platform barriers.

• Man Killed By Train At Harlem Station, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-06

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 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A driver in a sedan turned left at East 106th Street and hit a westbound e-bike rider. The 23-year-old was ejected and hurt. Police recorded failure to yield and unsafe speed by the driver.

A driver in a Ford sedan turned left at East 106th Street and Third Avenue and hit a westbound e-bike rider going straight. The 23-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered leg and foot injuries. The 61-year-old driver was not reported injured. According to the police report, the crash involved "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Unsafe Speed." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver while turning across the cyclist’s path. The impact damaged the sedan’s front end and the bike’s front end. No pedestrians were reported hurt. This was in the 23rd Precinct in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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 24 - A bus hit a cyclist on Fifth Avenue. The rider suffered a head injury. Police list no clear cause. Streets remain dangerous for those outside steel.

A bus and a cyclist collided at 1184 5th Avenue in Manhattan. The 32-year-old woman riding the bike suffered a head injury and concussion. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and going straight ahead. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment, as noted after the lack of driver error. The crash left the cyclist injured while the bus driver was unhurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 24 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him and fled. He died at Bellevue. The driver did not stop. Police are investigating. No arrests. The city lost a rescuer. The road remains dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports that Matthew Goicochea, 31, fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive near East 25th Street and was struck by a vehicle that left the scene. Police said, "an unknown vehicle hit his motorcycle moments later and left the scene." The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The driver’s failure to remain highlights persistent hit-and-run risks on city highways. The incident underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the need for systemic safety improvements.

• Firefighter Killed After FDR Drive Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two sedans collided on FDR Drive. One driver suffered leg and whiplash injuries. Police cite driver inexperience. Metal hit metal. Passengers shaken. System failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on FDR Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, the northbound Mercedes sedan was stopped in traffic when a northbound Dodge sedan struck it from behind. One driver, a 26-year-old man, suffered knee, lower leg, foot injuries, and whiplash. Three other occupants, including a 21-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and an infant, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police cite 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 23 - A driver in an SUV hit a motorized scooter on East 106th in Manhattan. The 38-year-old scooter driver was ejected and suffered bruises to his entire body. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

A driver in an SUV struck a motorized scooter on East 106th Street in Manhattan. The scooter driver, a 38-year-old man, was ejected and suffered contusions and bruises to his entire body. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was a contributing factor. Police noted the SUV and the scooter were both going straight ahead and that the point of impact was the center front end. The SUV was registered in New Jersey. The scooter driver was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signal issues are listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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 stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. It struck Kevin Cruickshank, a cyclist, and May Kwok, seated on a bench. Both died. The driver fled. Canal Street remains a deadly corridor for walkers and riders.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevy Malibu sped through a median at Bowery and Canal, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok, who sat on a bench. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article quotes Families for Safe Streets: 'Canal Street is one of the most dangerous streets in all of Manhattan—notorious for pedestrian and cyclist fatalities—and a comprehensive redesign is needed to prioritize safety.' The crash highlights ongoing risks from reckless driving and the urgent need for safer street design.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - 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

Jul 19 - A stolen car vaulted off the Manhattan Bridge, crushed a woman on a bench, hurled a cyclist into a storefront. The driver and passenger fled on foot. Police caught them a block away.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-19), a 23-year-old woman driving a stolen Chevrolet Malibu lost control exiting the Manhattan Bridge, slamming into a Chinatown pedestrian island at Bowery and Canal. The crash killed May Kwok, 63, who was sitting on a bench, and a 55-year-old cyclist. Witnesses described the scene as 'crumpled...like a piece of tinfoil.' The driver and passenger tried to flee but were stopped by bystanders and arrested nearby. The article highlights the deadly risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of people on city streets.

• Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A 54-year-old man crashed on Park Avenue. He lost consciousness. Head injury. Blood on the street. Police cite driver inexperience. Helmet noted. The city moves on.

A 54-year-old male operator of a motorized vehicle suffered a head injury and minor bleeding after crashing on Park Avenue at East 111th Street. According to the police report, the driver lost consciousness and was described as incoherent at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. Helmet use is noted in the report. No other road users were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 14 - A sedan hit a standing scooter on Park Ave. One man suffered facial injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Three car occupants were also involved. The street saw chaos in a moment’s lapse.

A sedan traveling south on Park Ave collided with a standing motorized scooter at E 110 St in Manhattan. According to the police report, one 34-year-old man driving the scooter was injured, suffering a facial contusion. Three occupants in the sedan, including the driver and two passengers, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828556 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 12 - A taxi and an SUV collided at 1760 Lexington Ave in Manhattan. The taxi driver, 43, suffered neck pain and whiplash. Police recorded "Turning Improperly" as the cause. Metal and glass met. One man injured.

A taxi and an SUV collided at 1760 Lexington Ave in Manhattan. The taxi driver, a 43-year-old man, was injured and complained of neck pain and whiplash. According to the police report, "Turning Improperly" was listed as the contributing factor. The taxi was traveling south, going straight ahead. The driver in the SUV hit the taxi at its left front bumper. The SUV showed damage to its right front quarter panel and point of impact at its right front bumper. The taxi driver was conscious, not ejected, and reported neck injury. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827082 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 8 - A sedan and an SUV collided on FDR Drive. A 55-year-old woman riding as a front passenger suffered whiplash and back pain. Police listed no driver errors.

A sedan and an SUV collided on FDR Drive. According to the police report, a 55-year-old woman riding as a front passenger was injured, suffering whiplash and back pain and remained conscious. The sedan was traveling northeast and is listed as “Going Straight Ahead”; the sedan’s right front quarter panel carried the point of impact and damage. Both vehicles were registered in Connecticut. Police recorded no contributing factors or driver errors in the report. The injured passenger was recorded as using a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827043 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02