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 22 - Three new microhubs now stand on Upper West Side streets. Trucks unload cargo. E-cargo bikes and hand carts finish the job. Fewer trucks double-park. Streets clear. Council Member Gale Brewer backs the move. The city tests safer, cleaner delivery.

On April 22, 2025, the NYC Department of Transportation launched a microhub pilot on the Upper West Side. The program opened three delivery hubs at Amsterdam Avenue at 85th Street, Amsterdam at 73rd Street, and Broadway at 77th Street. According to the DOT, these hubs are part of a three-year pilot under the Curb Management Action Plan. The official matter summary states: 'The DOT unveiled three new microhubs to promote cleaner, greener, last-mile deliveries.' Council Member Gale A. Brewer, representing District 6, applauded the initiative, saying, 'It is incredibly important to have these hubs where we can pull the trucks off the streets and get the delivery via bicycle.' The pilot aims to cut truck congestion, reduce double parking, and shift deliveries to low-emission modes. Delivery giants like Amazon and UPS will use the hubs. The city hopes to make streets safer for everyone.

• Three new microhubs now allocated for delivery drop off on Upper West Side streets, amny.com, Published 2025-04-22

Apr 12 - A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Apr 11 - Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 11 - Council passed two bills forcing DOT to show its work. Lawmakers demand public trackers for street safety projects. DOT resists, citing complexity. Advocates want more than data—they want action. Transparency is a start, but not the finish.

"[DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez] knows very well that no Council Member votes on where a bike lane is placed or where a rapid bus lane is going to be placed... it is [the DOT's] responsibility to take their capital plan and implement it." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On April 11, 2025, the City Council passed Intro 1105 and Intro 1114. Both bills require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create public trackers for capital projects tied to the Streets Master Plan. Intro 1105, sponsored by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, mandates a tracker for projects that count toward safety benchmarks. Intro 1114, sponsored by Council Member Julie Won, calls for a broader capital projects tracker. The bills respond to the Adams administration's failure to meet legal targets for bus and bike lanes. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said, 'Today’s legislation will advance greater transparency.' DOT officials pushed back, arguing project work is not linear and trackers have limited use. Won countered, 'It is [the DOT's] responsibility to take their capital plan and implement it.' Advocates and council members agree: tracking is only a first step. Without real follow-through, data alone will not save lives.

• Council To DOT: Do Better At Tracking Projects (So We Can See When You Fail), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 10 - Two vehicles collided on 9th Avenue. Neck injuries for driver and passenger. Police cite driver inexperience. Metal and bodies jolted. System failed to protect.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided on 9th Avenue at West 206th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' was listed as a contributing factor. Two people, a 45-year-old male driver and a 29-year-old female passenger, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Other occupants, including a 19-year-old, a 3-year-old, and two unspecified individuals, were involved but not reported as injured. Both vehicles were traveling south; the sedan was going straight, the SUV was starting from parking. The crash highlights the risks when drivers lack experience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 7 - A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

Apr 3 - Brooklyn’s Ashland Place stays deadly. DOT delays a promised bike lane. Elected officials and residents demand action. Private interests block progress. Cyclists face crashes and fear. The city shrugs. The gap remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 3, 2025, a coalition of Brooklyn officials—including Council Members Crystal Hudson, Shahana Hanif, Lincoln Restler, Assembly Members Andrew Gounardes, Jo Anne Simon, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso—sent a letter urging DOT to finish the protected bike lane on Ashland Place. The letter called the block a 'missing link in Brooklyn’s protected bike lane network.' Brooklyn Community Board 2 backed the demand. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Borough Commissioner Keith Bray offered only vague replies. The block’s exclusion traces to a mayoral advisor’s intervention for developer Two Trees. Advocates like Kathy Park Price slammed the city: 'Private interests are able to redesign our streets, prioritizing vehicles over safety at a critical corridor.' Despite unanimous support, DOT keeps the street dangerous. The city’s inaction leaves cyclists exposed and the community frustrated.

• ‘Crashland’: As Demand Grows, DOT Still Won’t Finish Bike Lane on Dangerous Brooklyn Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-03

Apr 1 - After a crash killed a mother and two daughters in Gravesend, advocates and Council Member Shahana Hanif rallied for the Stop Super Speeders bill. The law would force repeat reckless drivers to use speed-limiting tech. Survivors demand action. Lawmakers promise change.

On April 1, 2025, Council Member Shahana Hanif joined a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall demanding passage of the Stop Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored in Albany by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would require drivers with repeated violations to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These devices cap speed at 5 mph over the limit for those with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six camera tickets in a year. The rally followed a fatal Gravesend crash that killed a mother and her two daughters. Hanif and other lawmakers called current enforcement—ticketing, suspensions, fines, jail—ineffective. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, 'The speed limiter technology is available to us. Let’s use it. It will save lives.' The bill is modeled on EU and Virginia laws. Some opposition remains, but supporters say the measure is urgent and practical.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Street safety advocates demand passage of ‘Stop Super Speeders’ bill after tragic Gravesend crash, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 27 - Cuomo backs e-bike registration. Critics say it targets families, seniors, and delivery workers. DOT calls it costly, unproven. Advocates demand safer streets, not new hurdles. Motor vehicles, not e-bikes, remain the real threat. The fight over who belongs on city roads rages on.

On March 27, 2025, mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo supported a Republican-backed proposal to require registration and license plates for all e-bikes in New York City. The plan, not yet introduced as a formal bill, would cost $20 million, according to the Department of Transportation. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from e-bike users, advocates, and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The matter centers on Cuomo's claim that registration will address 'chaos and promote safety.' Critics, including Queens cycling advocate Jim Burke and safe streets organizer Noel Hidalgo, argue the measure 'demonizes' e-bike users and ignores the real danger: reckless driving by motorists. Advocates say the plan would harm families, seniors, and delivery workers who rely on e-bikes, especially in transit deserts. They urge lawmakers to focus on street design and car enforcement, not new restrictions. The proposal has not advanced to committee or vote.

• Candidate Cuomo’s E-Bike Restrictions ‘Demonize’ Those Who Need Them, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-27

Mar 24 - An SUV executing an improper U-turn struck two sedans traveling north on Sherman Avenue in Manhattan. Both drivers suffered chest and head contusions. The SUV’s center front end and one sedan’s right front bumper bore the brunt of the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Sherman Avenue in Manhattan at 2:30 PM. A 2021 Nissan SUV was making a U-turn when it collided with two sedans traveling straight northbound. The report cites "Turning Improperly" as a contributing factor for the SUV driver. The SUV sustained center front end damage, while one sedan suffered right front bumper damage. Both sedan drivers, ages 31 and 61, were injured with contusions to the head and chest respectively. Neither occupant was ejected, and both remained conscious. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the sedans or their drivers. This collision highlights the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in busy urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 24 - Council Transportation Chair Brooks-Powers wants the Beach 20th Street protected bike lane gone. She blames illegal parking, not enforcement. Cyclists lose space. The city risks more danger. DOT says it will look at hardening the lane and boosting enforcement.

On March 24, 2025, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for the removal of the protected bike lane on Beach 20th Street in Arverne, Queens. At a community meeting, Brooks-Powers said, "We’ve been trying to get [the bike lane] removed for three years. It wasn’t supported by the community. ... In effect it’s not a bike lane quite honestly; no one uses it, they [drivers] park there. We would like to see the hard infrastructure removed." Instead of demanding enforcement against illegal parking, she wants the lane ripped out, returning the street to a more dangerous state for cyclists and pedestrians. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez replied that building safe bike lanes requires support from local leaders. DOT spokesperson Will Livingston said the agency remains committed to safety and will explore hardening the lane and increasing enforcement.

• Council Transportation Chair Asks DOT To Rip Up a Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-24

Mar 22 - A black Mercedes struck a southbound driver from behind on the Major Deegan. The Mercedes driver fled on foot. The victim died at St. Barnabas. Police closed lanes to investigate. The search for the fleeing driver continues.

ABC7 reported on March 22, 2025, that a deadly hit-and-run occurred around 3:45 a.m. on the Major Deegan Expressway near West Fordham Road in the Bronx. According to the NYPD, 'a 39-year-old man was driving southbound on the expressway when he was struck by a black Mercedes Benz sedan from behind.' The Mercedes driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving the victim critically injured. First responders took the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. All southbound lanes were closed for the investigation. The incident highlights the ongoing danger of hit-and-run crashes and the challenges police face in holding fleeing drivers accountable.

• Hit-and-Run Kills Driver on Deegan, ABC7, Published 2025-03-22

Mar 21 - A westbound sedan plowed into cars halted on W 207 St. Alcohol and speed drove the crash. Two men inside the sedan were hurt. Metal twisted. Faces bruised. Necks snapped back. The street bore the scars.

According to the police report, a 2023 Chevrolet sedan heading west on W 207 St in Manhattan struck several vehicles stopped in traffic, including a 2019 Hyundai, a 2021 Toyota, and a 2018 Ford pick-up. The Chevrolet's front end and the Hyundai's left side were damaged. The crash happened at 12:22 a.m. Two men in the Chevrolet were injured: the 36-year-old driver suffered whiplash, and the 43-year-old front passenger had facial contusions. The report lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed as driver errors. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors. The crash left a chain of battered vehicles and injured occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 19 - Dumbo’s speed limit drops to 20 mph. Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone targets crowded streets. Ten severe injuries and one death in five years haunt the area. Council Member Restler and DOT push for slower traffic. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 19, 2025, Council Member Lincoln Restler announced the lowering of Dumbo’s speed limit to 20 mph, making it Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone. The measure follows the passage of Sammy’s Law, which lets the city set its own speed limits. The Department of Transportation cited ten severe injuries and one death in Dumbo over five years. The new zone covers streets packed with pedestrians, from Furman to Navy and Hudson, and John to Sands and the BQE. Restler said, 'Data has shown that a one mile per hour increase in speed results in a nearly three percent increase in mortality.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added, 'Lowering vehicle speed limits by even a few miles per hour could be the difference between life or death in a traffic crash.' The change will take effect after a public comment period. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for more slow zones in high-crash neighborhoods. The city plans to expand 20 mph limits to over 250 locations by the end of 2025.

• Speed limit in Dumbo to be lowered to 20 mph as nabe becomes Brooklyn’s first ‘Regional Slow Zone’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-19

Mar 18 - A 2023 Chevrolet SUV made an improper left turn on West 207th Street in Manhattan. The driver and front passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite failure to yield and improper turning as contributing factors to the crash.

According to the police report, a 2023 Chevrolet SUV traveling west on West 207th Street in Manhattan was making a left turn when the crash occurred. The driver, a 30-year-old male, and the front passenger, a 38-year-old male, were both injured, sustaining back injuries and whiplash. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the crash. The impact was to the vehicle's left front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported injured. The data highlights driver errors as the primary cause of the crash, with no victim behaviors cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803627 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 13 - Two occupants suffered serious injuries when a sedan struck the rear of another sedan on Broadway in Manhattan. The driver’s failure to maintain safe distance caused the collision. Both victims experienced shock and head or back injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broadway near W 204 St in Manhattan at 6:30 pm. A 58-year-old female driver, licensed in New York, was cited for 'Following Too Closely,' which led her sedan to collide with the rear of another sedan traveling northbound. The impact caused injuries to both vehicle occupants: a 23-year-old male front passenger sustained head injuries, and the driver suffered back injuries. Both victims were not ejected but experienced shock. The report highlights the driver error of failing to maintain a safe following distance as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 13 - City will let mopeds use Brooklyn and Queensboro bridge roadways. Mopeds banned from bike lanes. Cyclists and pedestrians get relief. DOT will not lower speed limits. Mopeds must be registered. Advocates want safer roads. Public hearing set for April 14.

On March 13, 2025, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a new policy permitting mopeds on the Brooklyn Bridge and the lower roadway of the Queensboro Bridge. The policy aims to move mopeds out of bike lanes and onto motor vehicle lanes, addressing hazardous mixing of modes. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, “This proposed rule change is about expanding safe, practical options for moped users.” The change responds to rising moped use, especially among delivery workers, and ongoing conflicts with cyclists and pedestrians. Advocates like Jon Orcutt of Bike New York support removing mopeds from bikeways but urge DOT to do more for moped safety. The DOT will not lower speed limits as part of the policy. Mopeds remain banned from the Queensboro’s upper roadway. A public hearing is scheduled for April 14. The city recorded 1,496 injury-causing moped crashes in 2024, with only one on an East River Bridge.

• EXCLUSIVE: City Will Let Mopeds Use Queensboro and Brooklyn Bridge Roadways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-13