Astoria (North)–Ditmars: Three Dead at Daybreak

Feb 13 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Lawmakers want $90 million for more buses as congestion pricing nears. Gianaris and Mamdani lead the charge. Critics say it’s late. Riders on free bus lines surged. The plan faces union warnings and legal threats. Streets wait for relief.

On February 8, 2024, State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani called for $90 million to expand MTA bus service before the $15 congestion pricing toll begins. Their proposal seeks $45 million in this year’s budget to boost bus frequency, with another $45 million to triple free buses citywide. The lawmakers’ push follows a successful fare-free pilot, which Mamdani says increased ridership by over 20%. Gianaris admitted, 'It should have been done sooner.' Critics argue the move is too late, as congestion pricing was approved in 2019. Some unions warn of possible driver shortages, but Mamdani insists existing buses and operators can handle the expansion. The funding proposal comes as the congestion toll faces lawsuits and could launch by mid-June. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers ripped over push for $90M bus service expansion as $15 congestion pricing looms: ‘Covering their a—s’, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-08

Jan 23 - A 14-year-old boy suffered a head injury and concussion after a motorcycle struck him at an intersection in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the motorcycle, traveling south, failed to yield right-of-way, causing severe trauma.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:13 on 45 Street near Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. A 14-year-old male pedestrian, crossing with the signal at the intersection, was struck by a southbound motorcycle. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was semiconscious with a concussion, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, indicating the motorcycle driver did not yield to the pedestrian who had the right-of-way. The motorcycle's center front end was the point of impact, confirming the collision with the pedestrian. No pedestrian errors or safety equipment issues were noted. The crash highlights driver error and systemic danger at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698452 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

Jan 19 - A station wagon/SUV struck a sedan from behind on Grand Central Parkway. Two passengers in the SUV suffered whiplash and lower leg injuries. Police cited following too closely and improper lane usage as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Grand Central Parkway around 3:00 PM. A 2013 Dodge SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling west and changing lanes, rear-ended a 2012 Mercedes sedan traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The report identifies driver errors including "Following Too Closely" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors. Two female occupants in the SUV, aged 24 and 27, were injured with complaints of whiplash and lower leg injuries. Both were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing instead on driver errors that led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 7 - A driver hit Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas in a Jackson Heights crosswalk. She broke her arm. The driver failed to yield. The intersection lacked daylighting. González-Rojas vows to fight for lower speed limits and more protected bike lanes. Danger remains for all.

On January 7, 2024, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas was struck by a driver while crossing 78th Street near 35th Avenue in Jackson Heights. She suffered a broken arm and bruises. The driver received a summons for failure to yield. González-Rojas called the intersection dangerous, citing poor visibility and lack of daylighting. She stated, "If we had universal daylighting—he could have seen me." González-Rojas renewed her push for Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph, and called for more protected bike lanes. She said, "I absolutely had the right of way. He just turned right into me—and the next thing you know I was on the floor." The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians and the urgent need for systemic street safety reforms.

• Queens Pol Recovering From Broken Arm, Bruises After Driver Strikes Her in Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-07

Jan 4 - A sedan struck a van from behind on Queens' 21 Avenue, injuring the sedan driver. The impact caused neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite the sedan driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 21 Avenue in Queens at 6:15 a.m. A 37-year-old male sedan driver was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. The report states the contributing factor was "Following Too Closely," indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the van. The sedan was stopped in traffic before the collision, while the van was traveling straight west. The point of impact was the center back end of the van and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of tailgating and the resulting injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 30 - A crash on Grand Central Parkway injured two occupants. Both were conscious but suffered significant bruises. The impact was severe. Speed was a factor. The road remains dangerous.

A collision occurred on Grand Central Parkway involving two sedans. Two occupants were injured: a 58-year-old male passenger with a neck contusion and a 45-year-old male driver with knee and lower leg injuries. According to the police report, the crash was attributed to 'Unsafe Speed.' Both drivers were merging and slowing or stopping prior to the impact. No ejections were reported, and both were wearing lap belts and harnesses. The injuries sustained were serious, highlighting the risks present on this roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691289 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - A 44-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered back injuries and whiplash after an SUV struck her vehicle from behind on Astoria Boulevard. The crash involved driver distraction and disregard for traffic control. Both vehicles traveled eastbound.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old female driver in a 2022 sedan was injured when a 2022 SUV rear-ended her on Astoria Boulevard. The sedan driver sustained back injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with disregard for traffic control. The SUV was stopped in traffic before impact, while the sedan was going straight ahead. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the sedan and the center back end of the SUV. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 6 - A 43-year-old woman driving a sedan was injured in a crash on Grand Central Parkway. The collision happened during an improper lane change. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries but was not ejected. The driver was wearing a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old female driver was injured when her vehicle collided with another car on Grand Central Parkway. The crash occurred as one vehicle was changing lanes improperly, with contributing factors listed as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Passing Too Closely." The injured driver sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was not ejected from the vehicle and was wearing a lap belt at the time. The report notes the point of impact was the right front bumper of one vehicle and the left rear bumper of the other. Driver errors involving improper lane usage and close passing led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686099 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - Republicans attack Democrats for backing Manhattan’s $15 congestion toll. Michael Gianaris shrugs off GOP outrage. The fight centers on drivers, but the city’s streets remain deadly for those on foot and bike. The toll’s impact on safety goes unmentioned.

On December 3, 2023, partisan lines hardened over New York’s congestion pricing law. The $15 toll, set to hit drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, became a political weapon. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, mentioned in the debate, dismissed Republican attacks as ineffective. The measure, approved in 2019 by Democrats, aims to raise $1 billion for mass transit and reduce traffic. GOP figures like Nicole Malliotakis and Michael Lawler call it a 'burdensome tax' and 'outrageous cash grab.' Mayor Eric Adams seeks exemptions for medical trips. The bill’s matter title frames it as a major election issue: 'NY GOP eager to pin $15 congestion tax on Democrats in 2024 elections.' No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The debate centers on drivers and politics, not on the lives at risk in city crosswalks.

• NY GOP eager to pin $15 congestion tax on Democrats in 2024 elections, nypost.com, Published 2023-12-03

Dec 2 - A sedan rear-ended another on Grand Central Parkway. The front passenger suffered a concussion and head injury. The driver’s inattention and following too closely caused the crash. The passenger was restrained and conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old female front passenger was injured in a rear-end collision on Grand Central Parkway. The crash involved two sedans traveling westbound. The BMW sedan struck the rear center of the vehicle ahead. The passenger suffered a head injury and concussion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely." The vehicle damage was centered on the back end of the BMW and the front end of the other vehicle. No ejection occurred. The driver of the BMW was licensed in New Jersey. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving and tailgating.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685222 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 28 - A motorcycle rider was ejected after a collision with an SUV making a left turn on 41 Street in Queens. The rider suffered full-body injuries and was semiconscious at the scene. The SUV struck the motorcycle’s left side, causing severe damage.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and injured when his motorcycle collided with a Jeep SUV making a left turn on 41 Street in Queens. The motorcycle was traveling west, and the SUV was turning left from the opposite direction. The point of impact was the left side doors of the motorcycle and the left front bumper of the SUV. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet but was semiconscious with injuries to his entire body. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but notes the SUV was making a left turn, indicating a failure to yield or improper turn as the likely driver error. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683030 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 24 - A sedan struck a motorcycle’s left side on 31 Street. The rider flew off, suffering neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite traffic control disregard and unsafe speed. The rider wore a helmet and stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 31 Street collided with a westbound motorcycle at 24 Avenue in Queens. The motorcycle driver, a 21-year-old man, was ejected and suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, highlighting driver errors. The sedan hit the motorcycle’s left side, damaging its center front end. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and speed limits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681980 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 10 - A Ford SUV slammed into the back of a Subaru sedan on Steinway Street in Queens. The sedan’s driver, 55, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The SUV driver followed too closely and drove at unsafe speed. Both vehicles traveled southbound.

According to the police report, a 2010 Ford SUV rear-ended a 2019 Subaru sedan on Steinway Street in Queens. The sedan’s 55-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining back pain and whiplash. The report lists the SUV driver’s errors as "Following Too Closely" and "Unsafe Speed." Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead southbound at the time of the crash. The sedan’s driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The impact occurred at the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. The crash caused injuries but no mention of pedestrian or cyclist involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 3 - A female driver in a 2021 SUV rear-ended a slowing pickup truck on Grand Central Parkway. The SUV was stopped in traffic when the crash occurred. The SUV driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old female driver in a 2021 Ford SUV was stopped in traffic on Grand Central Parkway when she rear-ended a 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck that was slowing or stopping. The collision caused center back end damage to the SUV and center front end damage to the pickup. The SUV driver sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a harness at the time of the crash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the pickup truck. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676301 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - A moped sped south on 20 Avenue in Queens. It struck a 36-year-old male pedestrian working in the roadway. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The driver was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south on 20 Avenue in Queens struck a 36-year-old male pedestrian who was working in the roadway. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The moped driver was unlicensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The collision occurred at the moped's left front quarter panel. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The report highlights the driver's unsafe speed and lack of a valid license as key errors leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - A BMW turned right on Astoria Boulevard before dawn. The street was empty. A man walked outside the crosswalk. The car struck him. His body lay broken in the dark. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. One life ended. The city kept moving.

A 50-year-old man was killed when a BMW sedan, making a right turn on Astoria Boulevard near Steinway Street, struck and crushed him at 4:02 a.m. According to the police report, 'A 50-year-old man crushed beneath a turning BMW at 4:02 a.m. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. No intersection. The street was empty. Then it wasn’t. His body lay broken in the dark.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' The BMW’s right front bumper was the point of impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The second vehicle, a Nissan sedan, was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet or signal use is included.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 6 - A 1-year-old girl was struck by a sedan on Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. The child suffered bruises and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The driver faced limited visibility. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Ditmars Boulevard struck a 1-year-old pedestrian who was not in the roadway. The child sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a role. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead at the time of impact. The vehicle showed no damage. The toddler was conscious and injured but not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19