Sep 12 - In Queens, the driver of a GMC SUV backed and hit an 89-year-old man near 25-23 31 Ave. Police recorded Backing Unsafely. The man suffered a head injury and was conscious.

An 89-year-old man was hit by a driver backing a 2010 GMC SUV near 25-23 31 Ave in Queens at 2:23 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2025. He sustained a head injury and was conscious. According to the police report, police recorded Backing Unsafely by the driver. The report notes the vehicle was backing and lists the point of impact at the center rear. The driver was licensed. The pedestrian location is recorded as not at an intersection and as emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle. The dataset lists unspecified outcomes for vehicle occupants and no vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841983 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - Driver hit the back of a bike on 29 ST at 30 AVE. The rider, 29, was ejected and hurt. Police recorded Following Too Closely.

At 19:51, a driver going straight hit the back of a bike on 29 ST at 30 AVE. The bike’s center rear was damaged; the other vehicle’s center front was damaged. The cyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a lower-leg injury and a bruise but was conscious. According to the police report, “Following Too Closely” was recorded as a contributing factor. Both operators were listed as going straight before impact. The type of the other vehicle was not specified. The report lists no contributing factor for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 21 - A GMC SUV driver turned left from Newtown Ave onto Crescent St and hit a southbound bicyclist. The 40-year-old woman was ejected and suffered back trauma and a contusion. Police cited failure to yield.

A GMC SUV driver made a left from Newtown Ave onto Crescent St and struck a southbound bicyclist who was traveling straight. The bicyclist, a 40-year-old woman, was ejected and sustained back trauma and a contusion. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Other Vehicular." The SUV’s left-side doors and the bicycle’s front end were damaged. The SUV driver was licensed. The record lists the bicyclist as conscious at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - The driver in an SUV made a left turn at 31 Street and Astoria Boulevard. The vehicle's center front end took the impact. The 61-year-old driver suffered a leg injury and a contusion. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction.

A 2022 Mercedes SUV, driven north, made a left turn at 31 Street and Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The vehicle's center front end took the impact. The driver, a 61-year-old woman and sole occupant, was injured — knee/lower leg/foot injury and a contusion. She was conscious and not ejected. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded that as the driver error. The record lists no other contributing road-user factors. The vehicle showed center front-end damage and the driver was reported wearing a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Int 1353-2025 forces DOT to move fast near schools. When a traffic study finds a calming or control device is needed, installation must finish within 60 days. The bill was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure committee on Aug. 14, 2025.

Int. No. 1353 (status: Committee) was introduced and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Aug. 14, 2025 (agenda and first vote listed Aug. 14, 2025). The matter is titled: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the time permitted for the installation of a traffic calming device or traffic control device on any street adjacent to a school." It was introduced by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez and cosponsored by Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler and Farah N. Louis. The bill would "complete the installation... by no later than 60 days after the department issues such traffic study determination." It takes effect immediately.

• File Int 1353-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 13 - A northbound taxi hit a man in the crosswalk at Broadway and 31st. Night street. Hard steel. Head bruise. He stayed conscious. The cab kept straight. The city bled another corner.

A taxi traveling north on 31st Street, going straight, struck a 48-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with Broadway in Queens. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious. According to the police report, the pedestrian was at the intersection and “Crossing Against Signal.” The report lists driver factors as “Unspecified,” and the vehicle showed right-front bumper impact. No passenger injuries were reported; the 74-year-old male driver is listed as licensed. The data does not cite specific driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Unsafe Speed. It does, however, record the pedestrian signal status after noting no driver contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The car sped off. Medics rushed the victim to the hospital. He died. Police searched for footage. No arrests. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th St. at South Conduit Ave. near JFK Airport around 2:30 a.m. The driver hit the man and fled. Police said, "The driver sped off without stopping. No arrests have been made." Officers searched for surveillance footage to identify the vehicle. The article notes 68 pedestrians have died in city crashes this year. The hit-and-run highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the challenge of holding drivers accountable.

• Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - A speeding driver killed himself and two pedestrians in Astoria. Politicians demand lower speed limits, protected lanes, and daylighting. Slower speeds save lives. The city holds the power. Action is overdue.

""I also strongly support the 31st Street Safety Plan, Council Member [Julie] Won’s Universal Daylighting legislation, and the full implementation of Sammy’s Law and other traffic calming measures,"" -- Tiffany Cabán

On August 12, 2025, after a deadly Astoria crash, Council Member Tiffany Caban, Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, and Zohran Mamdani called for urgent street safety reforms. Caban demanded a 20 mph limit, protected bike lanes, and universal daylighting. Mamdani backed Sammy’s Law and curbs on car traffic near schools. Transportation Alternatives urged the city to use its new authority to lower speed limits, stating, "Slower speeds are proven to reduce crashes dramatically." Safety analysts confirm: lowering limits cuts crash severity and frequency, protecting pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. No bill was filed, but the call is clear—speed kills, and the city can stop it.

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

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.

• Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two, New York Post, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.

• Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 8 - DOT stands firm on Astoria’s protected bike lanes. Businesses sue. Misinformation clouds facts. Cyclists and pedestrians face delay. Safety waits while lawsuits drag on.

On August 8, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its commitment to protected bike lanes and traffic calming on 31st Street in Astoria, despite a lawsuit from local businesses. The project, not tied to a council bill or committee, aims to cut injuries on a deadly corridor. 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 Gonzalez-Rojas backed the redesign in June. The safety analyst warns: opposition and misinformation from businesses can stall proven safety measures, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

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

Aug 3 - A driver struck an e-bike rider in Queens. A scooter rider crashed in Brooklyn. Both died. Streets claimed them. Police investigate. Lives ended fast. Metal and speed left no room for error.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports two fatal e-vehicle crashes. On July 31, a 62-year-old Nissan Rogue driver hit Zhao Feng Zhen, 55, on Hollis Court Blvd in Queens. The driver remained at the scene; police continue to investigate. On July 12, Eusebio Quinones, 60, lost control of his electric scooter on Union Ave in Brooklyn and died from his injuries days later. The article notes, 'police are still investigating the crash.' These deaths highlight ongoing risks for vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

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 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - Two drivers struck at 30 Ave and 33 St. Both hurt. Alcohol and ignored signals marked the scene. Metal twisted. Pain followed. System failed to protect.

Two vehicles collided at 30 Ave and 33 St in Queens. Both drivers, a 62-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, suffered injuries. According to the police report, 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' were listed as contributing factors for both drivers. The crash involved a sedan and an SUV, each traveling straight. The impact left one driver bruised and in shock, the other in pain and incoherent. The report highlights driver errors—alcohol use and ignoring traffic controls—as key causes. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The system allowed danger to reach the vulnerable.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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

Jul 2 - Mamdani fights for fast, free buses. He builds coalitions. He wins a pilot. More buses, fewer cars. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

This review, published July 2, 2025 by Streetsblog NYC, examines Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s record on MTA policy. There is no formal bill number or committee, but the focus is his push for 'fast and free buses,' fare freezes, and bus lane enforcement. Mamdani led efforts in Albany for a fare-free bus pilot and more frequent service. Sen. Mike Gianaris credits Mamdani for getting free buses done. Safety analysts note: 'Policies promoting fast and free buses encourage mode shift from private vehicles to public transit, reducing traffic volumes and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists through lower exposure to motor vehicle risk.'

• How Will Mamdani Govern? His Earlier MTA Advocacy Gives Some Hints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02