Astoria (North)–Ditmars: Three Dead at Daybreak

Jun 29 - A moped slammed head-on on Astoria Boulevard. Both rider and passenger were thrown hard. Shoulder and leg injuries. Aggressive driving and ignored signals fueled the crash.

According to the police report, a 2023 JIA JUE moped heading south on Astoria Boulevard struck an object with its center front end. The impact ejected both occupants. The 32-year-old male driver, wearing a helmet, suffered shoulder abrasions. The 28-year-old female passenger, unprotected, sustained lower leg injuries. Both were conscious but hurt. The report cites 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as causes. The driver held only a permit license. The crash shows how reckless driving and ignoring traffic controls put vulnerable riders at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737374 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 20 - A 23-year-old male driver suffered upper arm injuries and shock after a late-night collision on Steinway Street. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged. Police cited improper passing and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:20 PM on Steinway Street in Queens. The sole occupant, a 23-year-old male driver, was injured with upper arm trauma and was in shock. The vehicle, a 2015 Hyundai sedan, sustained damage to its right front bumper. The report explicitly identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors to the collision. The driver was properly licensed and restrained with a lap belt and harness. There is no indication of pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The crash narrative and data focus on driver errors related to lane usage, highlighting systemic dangers posed by improper vehicle maneuvers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735504 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 20 - A Porsche, chased by police, smashed into two sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 17-year-old boy, unbelted in the front seat, died instantly. The street, once roaring, fell silent in the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Porsche sedan fleeing police at unsafe speed crashed into two other sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. The report states the Porsche's 'right front crumpled' on impact. A 17-year-old boy, riding as a front passenger in the Porsche, died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Porsche was engaged in a 'Police Pursuit' at the time of the crash. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the street in silence, underscoring the lethal consequences of reckless driving and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734553 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - Defective brakes sent a sedan into the back of an SUV on Astoria Boulevard. The young driver was partially ejected, left bleeding and in shock. System failure turned routine travel into trauma.

According to the police report, a 2010 sedan rear-ended a 2021 SUV on Astoria Boulevard, both vehicles heading east. The sedan's 21-year-old driver was partially ejected and suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, with minor bleeding and shock. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor. The sedan struck the SUV's center back end, showing a clear rear-end impact. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight. The crash stemmed from mechanical failure, not driver error, exposing a systemic danger that led directly to the injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - An 86-year-old woman suffered facial contusions after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Ditmars Boulevard. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The driver’s failure to yield caused the collision at 8:50 a.m.

According to the police report, a 2017 Nissan sedan traveling north on Ditmars Boulevard in Queens struck an 86-year-old female pedestrian at 8:50 a.m. The driver was making a left turn and impacted the pedestrian at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The pedestrian sustained a facial contusion and was conscious at the scene. There was no vehicle damage reported. This crash highlights the critical danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733566 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A 15-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a taxi made a left turn and struck him head-on. The crash happened at 21:05 on 21 Street near Hoyt Avenue North. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way by the taxi driver.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling southwest on 21 Street was making a left turn when it collided with a 15-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight south. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor attributed to the taxi driver. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist was not ejected and was not wearing any safety equipment. The police report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior, focusing instead on the driver's failure to yield during the left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - A motorcycle collided with a sedan making a right turn on Astoria Boulevard. The motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries. Police cite improper lane usage by the motorcycle as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 16:20 on Astoria Boulevard, a sedan was making a right turn when it was struck by a motorcycle traveling straight westbound. The motorcycle impacted the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The motorcycle driver, a 51-year-old male occupant, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor, indicating the motorcycle driver failed to maintain proper lane discipline. The sedan driver was licensed and making a lawful turn. The motorcycle driver was not wearing any safety equipment. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behavior was cited as contributing. The crash underscores dangers posed by improper lane usage during vehicle maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732070 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called out the surge of reckless mopeds and e-bikes on 34th Avenue. Residents spoke of fear, injury, and death. City officials promised enforcement and education. Advocates demanded safer streets, not criminalization. The crisis rolls on. Action lags.

On June 11, 2024, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (District 25) convened a town hall in Jackson Heights to address what he called a 'moped crisis.' The meeting followed a deadly year: a 75-year-old man killed by an e-bike, two injured in a dirt bike crash. Residents described near-misses and constant danger on the 34th Avenue open street. The matter, titled 'On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle,' drew city officials, including DOT and Mayor Adams, who backed enforcement and moped registration. Krishnan slammed DOT’s reliance on signage, pushing instead for a dedicated micromobility lane. Delivery worker advocates opposed criminalization, demanding labor protections and safe infrastructure. Despite new signs and vehicle seizures, mopeds still speed through. The call for urgent, systemic change grows louder.

• On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-11

Jun 11 - Council Member Shekar Krishnan blasted DOT for chaos on 34th Avenue’s Paseo Park. He called it a ‘moped highway’ and demanded a redesign. Pedestrians dodge speeding mopeds. Painted bike lanes fail. DOT touts safety, but danger remains for those on foot.

On June 11, 2024, Council Member Shekar Krishnan publicly condemned the Department of Transportation’s design of Paseo Park, also known as the 34th Avenue open street. At a 'Moped Crisis' town hall, Krishnan called the area a 'moped highway' and said, 'The biggest problem that we have is poor design by the DOT.' He demanded a redesign that separates speeding vehicles from people and creates safe corridors for mopeds away from recreational spaces. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas echoed the call for engineering solutions, stating, 'We must design the roads to ensure that mopeds are not getting on [Paseo Park], and are not driving recklessly.' DOT staff highlighted enforcement efforts, but Krishnan and others insisted that design, not enforcement, must come first. DOT claims a drop in pedestrian crashes, but the current layout leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed to danger.

• Queens Pol: DOT Needs to Solve ‘Moped Crisis’ in Paseo Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11

Jun 7 - Albany scrambles after Governor Hochul kills congestion pricing. Lawmakers float a $1 billion IOU for the MTA. No clear funding. Transit riders left in limbo. Streets stay clogged. Subways wait for repairs. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On June 7, 2024, state lawmakers, led by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, responded to Governor Hochul’s sudden suspension of Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan. The Legislature rejected Hochul’s push for a payroll tax hike, then considered a vague $1 billion IOU for the MTA, with no funding source. Gianaris told reporters the proposal would simply promise a billion dollars for the next year’s budget, but offered no details. The bill has not been introduced or assigned to committee. Betsy Plum of the Riders Alliance warned, 'The proposal on the table will not fix the subway. A billion dollar IOU is not nearly enough money nor is it nearly secure enough to build trust and rebuild our critical infrastructure.' With no new revenue, the MTA’s ability to fund repairs and upgrades remains in doubt. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders—face continued danger as safe, reliable alternatives to driving are left unfunded.

• NY lawmakers considering $1B IOU after Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing flip-flop, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Albany scrambles after Hochul kills congestion pricing. Lawmakers float a $1 billion-a-year promise for the MTA. No details. No guarantees. Michael Gianaris calls it a stopgap. Riders and streets hang in the balance. The future stays uncertain.

On June 7, 2024, Albany lawmakers responded to Governor Hochul’s cancellation of NYC congestion pricing. The proposed measure, still without a bill number or final language, would guarantee $1 billion annually for the MTA over 15 years. State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris explained, “It’s very simply something that just says there will be a billion dollars for the MTA in the following year’s budget, but without any specifics as to what that means.” Gianaris and others are working with Hochul and the MTA to keep capital projects alive. The bill’s fate is unclear, with some lawmakers already planning to vote no. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The measure’s details and its effect on street safety remain unknown.

• Albany lawmakers considering last-minute bailout for lost congestion toll revenue, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - A tractor truck struck the rear of an SUV traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway. Both female occupants of the SUV suffered back and head injuries with whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors.

According to the police report, at 7:25 a.m., a tractor truck traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway collided with the center back end of a 2019 SUV also heading west. The truck's right front bumper impacted the SUV's rear, indicating a rear-end collision. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the truck driver's contributing factors. The SUV driver, a 42-year-old woman, sustained back injuries and whiplash while remaining conscious and restrained by a harness. The front passenger, a 34-year-old woman, also suffered head injuries and whiplash, wearing both lap belt and harness. Neither occupant was ejected. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victims. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction and tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06