Astoria (North)–Ditmars: Three Dead at Daybreak

Aug 12 - A speeding 84-year-old driver killed himself and two pedestrians in Astoria. Elected officials demanded 20 mph limits, protected bike lanes, universal daylighting, and more automated enforcement. Analysts say systemwide changes reduce traffic violence and protect pedestrians and cyclists.

Matter: "UPDATE: Speeding Senior Driver Kills Self and Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Pols Call for 20 MPH Limit." Date: August 12, 2025. Bill number: none — no bill filed. Status: advocacy and public calls; Committee: N/A. Council Member Tiffany Cabán publicly demanded a 20 mph city limit, protected bike lanes, universal daylighting, and full street safety plans. Zohran Mamdani pushed acceleration of Sammy’s Law, limits on car traffic near schools, and expanded automated enforcement. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas voiced support. Transportation Alternatives urged using Sammy’s Law to lower limits. Safety analysts note the focus is on system-wide interventions such as lower speed limits, protected lanes, and automated enforcement, proven to cut traffic violence and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

• UPDATE: Speeding Senior Driver Kills Self and Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Pols Call for 20 MPH Limit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A southbound driver turned left at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue and blew the signal. The westbound cyclist rode straight. Metal met flesh. The rider went down with head wounds and deep cuts. The street failed him. The driver failed the law.

A crash at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue in Queens injured a 31-year-old male bicyclist. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Traffic Control Disregarded.” The southbound turning vehicle was making a left while the cyclist was traveling west, straight ahead. The cyclist suffered head injuries and severe lacerations and was listed as injured and conscious. Driver error led the sequence: Traffic Control Disregarded during a left turn. Only after that does equipment appear: the report notes “None” for the cyclist’s safety equipment. No other factors are cited beyond the listed driver violation and unspecified factors for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Aug 8 - DOT will install protected bike lanes and traffic calming on 31st Street in Astoria. Business owners sued to stop it. The corridor has 190 injuries, 12 severe, 2 deaths since 2020. DOT vows to defend the redesign.

"DOT Stands By Astoria Safety Project Despite Foes’ Anti-Bike Lawsuit." No bill number; not before the City Council or any committee. DOT reaffirmed the redesign on August 8, 2025 after business owners sued following a heated June community board meeting. The plan adds protected bike lanes on both sides of 31st Street and painted pedestrian islands. DOT spokesman Will Livingston said, "We stand firmly behind this project and will defend our work in court." Council Member Tiffany Caban, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas signed a letter supporting the project in June. Implementing protected bike lanes and traffic calming measures is proven to reduce injuries for all road users, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity in this high-crash corridor.

• DOT Stands By Astoria Safety Project Despite Foes’ Anti-Bike Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 5 - Police car struck at Beach 35th and Rockaway. Three hurt. Sirens cut through Edgemere. Cause unknown. Streets stained. Investigation begins.

CBS New York reported on August 5, 2025, that an NYPD cruiser crashed at Beach 35th Street and Rockaway Freeway in Edgemere, Queens. Three people were injured. The article states, 'Police are now trying to determine the cause of the crash.' No details on driver actions or contributing factors were released. The incident highlights risks at busy intersections and the need for thorough investigation when emergency vehicles are involved.

• NYPD Cruiser Crash Injures Three In Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-05

Aug 4 - Gianaris backs Mamdani for mayor. Both pushed for subway funding and fare-free buses. Their alliance signals power in transit fights. No direct safety change yet for walkers or riders.

On August 4, 2025, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor. The two worked together on the 'Fix the MTA Act,' which invested in subways and piloted fare-free buses. Gianaris said Mamdani 'provides the energy and ideas' New Yorkers need. Mamdani thanked Gianaris for helping secure 'historic investments in subway and bus services.' This event, reported by City & State NY, shows political unity on transit. However, as no specific policy action or outcome is detailed, analysts find no direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Mike Gianaris backs Zohran Mamdani for mayor, City & State NY, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 1 - A driver in an SUV hit a motorcycle at 24 Ave and 27 St in Queens. The 32-year-old rider suffered elbow and lower-arm injuries and shock. Police listed "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper."

A driver in an SUV and a motorcycle collided at 24 Ave and 27 St in Queens. The motorcycle rider, a 32-year-old man, was injured — elbow and lower-arm trauma — and reported shock and pain. According to the police report, officers listed "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors. The report records the motorcycle driver was making a left turn on red and the SUV driver was going straight ahead. Both drivers were licensed. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as the report notes. Police flagged the listed driver errors in the crash record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Aug 1 - A teen drove a BMW at 100 mph without a license. He lost control. The car hit a truck. Fourteen-year-old Fortune Williams was ejected and killed. The driver now faces prison. Parents faced charges too.

Gothamist (2025-08-01) reports an 18-year-old Queens resident was sentenced to up to four years for a 2023 crash that killed 14-year-old Fortune Williams. The teen, unlicensed and speeding at over 100 mph in a 30-mph zone, lost control and struck a parked UPS truck. Prosecutors said he only had a learner's permit and had been previously ticketed for unlicensed driving. His parents, who gave him the BMW, were convicted of child endangerment. DA Melinda Katz called it 'a landmark case where both an unlicensed teenage driver and his parents were held responsible.' The case highlights failures in supervision and enforcement.

• Unlicensed Teen Driver Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 31 - A Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider flew to the pavement. The driver fled. The bike’s red light blinked in the dark. Police arrested the unlicensed driver two hours later. The rider remains critical.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-31) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver in a Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-bike rider on Second Ave. near 15th St., leaving the cyclist with serious head trauma. The driver fled, drove on the sidewalk, and later took the SUV to a car wash. He confessed to police after turning himself in two hours later, saying he fled because he lacked a license. The article notes, 'He now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license.' The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The crash highlights persistent dangers from unlicensed drivers and gaps in enforcement.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 18 - The driver of an SUV struck a 36-year-old woman on a bicycle on 20 Ave. She suffered whole-body injury, pain and shock. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic control disregarded by the driver.

The driver of an SUV traveling north on 20 Ave struck a 36‑year‑old woman riding east on a bicycle. She was injured and reported pain and shock with whole‑body injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. Each vehicle had one occupant; the report lists the bicyclist as injured and does not specify injuries to the SUV driver. Point of impact on the SUV was the center front end; the bike showed right-front bumper damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 15 - Two SUVs collided at 21st Street and 21st Avenue. Both drivers suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper turning. Metal and glass, sudden pain, sirens in Queens.

Two station wagons collided at the intersection of 21st Street and 21st Avenue in Queens. Both male drivers, aged 48 and 54, were injured with neck trauma. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. Helmet use or signaling is not mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 13 - Two SUVs collided on Grand Central Parkway after repeated unsafe lane changes. Three women passengers were hurt with back, neck, and head injuries; one was in shock. Metal buckled as doors and bumpers were damaged.

Two SUVs collided on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. Three passengers, all women, were injured with reported back, neck and head injuries; one was in shock. According to the police report, "Unsafe Lane Changing" was the main contributing factor. Police recorded unsafe lane changing by the drivers. Vehicle records show two SUVs changing lanes westbound; impacts logged at the center back end, right front quarter panel and left front bumper. Drivers were licensed in New York. Reported vehicle damage included right rear bumper and right side doors. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 11 - A pick-up and a motorcycle collided on Crescent Street in Queens. The 39-year-old motorcyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fractured arm. Police recorded improper lane use by both drivers.

Two drivers traveling south on Crescent Street at Hoyt Avenue North in Queens collided. The driver of a pick-up truck struck the center-front of a motorcycle with the pick-up’s left front quarter panel. The 39-year-old male motorcyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fracture to the elbow/lower arm/hand. According to the police report, both drivers engaged in "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." Police noted the motorcyclist wore a helmet. No other injuries were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - The driver of an SUV ran traffic control and struck a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The 39-year-old moped driver was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. Police cite driver inattention and traffic-control disregard.

A driver in an SUV collided with a moped on 37 St at 23 Ave in Queens. The moped driver, 39, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved a station wagon/SUV and a moped. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The moped’s record shows the rider was unlicensed and was riding east when struck. Police recorded the point of impact on both vehicles as left front quarter panels. The crash ended with the moped driver killed. No pedestrians were reported involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 2 - Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - SUV hit cyclist in Queens. Rider ejected. Suffered leg injury. Police cite confusion. Streets left another body bruised.

A station wagon SUV hit a 41-year-old cyclist at 24th Avenue and 32nd Street in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a contusion to the lower leg. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The SUV struck the cyclist's bike at the center back end with its front. No driver errors were listed in the data. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 28 - A sedan hit a young woman on Ditmars Boulevard. She suffered a leg injury. The driver and passenger were unhurt. Police list no clear cause. The street remains dangerous.

A 23-year-old woman walking on Ditmars Boulevard at 38th Street in Queens was struck by a sedan. She suffered a contusion and injury to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the driver and a passenger, both 47-year-old men, were not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. The impact was to the right rear bumper of the sedan. The crash highlights the ongoing risks pedestrians face on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04