Astoria Bleeds While Leaders Talk—Demand Safe Streets Now

Sep 5 - On Steinway Street in Queens, a driver starting from parking hit a 21-year-old woman. Police recorded aggressive driving and failure to yield. She had a bruised lower leg.

A driver in a 2019 Toyota sedan, traveling north and starting from parking, hit a 21-year-old woman on Steinway Street near 31-14 in Queens. She was conscious and suffered a bruised lower leg. “According to the police report, police recorded Aggressive Driving/Road Rage and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver.” The listed point of impact was the sedan’s right rear bumper. The report noted no damage to the vehicle. The crash was logged at 1:00 a.m. in ZIP code 11103.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - An SUV driver swung into a rider on 31 Avenue at 54 Street. The bike hit hard. The cyclist suffered a head injury. Failure to Yield led the crash. Queens pavement took the rest.

A Nissan SUV and a bicycle collided at 54 St and 31 Ave in Queens. The bicyclist, a 22-year-old woman, was injured in the head. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The SUV driver and vehicle registrant were listed with the same violation. The SUV was parked pre-crash with damage to the left side doors, and the bike showed front-end damage, consistent with a dooring impact. Driver failures to yield are central in this crash. The bicyclist was recorded with no safety equipment only after the driver errors already noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835459 - 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 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 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.

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 - A northbound driver making a left turn hit a westbound motorized rider at 49 St and 31 Ave in Queens. The 44-year-old rider suffered a shoulder fracture and dislocation. Police noted failure to yield by the driver.

According to the police report, the crash involved a northbound vehicle making a left turn and a westbound vehicle going straight, with Failure to Yield Right-of-Way listed as a contributing factor. The driver making the left turn struck the center front end of the westbound machine. A 44-year-old man operating the motorized vehicle was injured; police list shoulder fracture and dislocation. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The rider's contributing factors are marked Unspecified in the report. No other contributing factors are listed in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835734 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 5 - A left-turning Chevy cut across 54 St and 32 Ave and struck a 66-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. The car’s left front bumper took her down. Failure to yield put her in the ambulance.

A northbound Chevy sedan making a left at 54 St and 32 Ave in Queens struck a 66-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The driver’s left front bumper was the point of impact, injuring the pedestrian’s leg; she was conscious and reported internal pain. Multiple entries in the report list Failure to Yield as the driver’s contributing factor. The driver was licensed. The data lists no other driver errors before impact. The pedestrian’s action—Crossing With Signal—is noted only after the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 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 31 - A driver in a BMW sedan hit a motorcycle stopped in traffic on Steinway Street near 30 Avenue. The 26-year-old rider suffered a leg injury. Police recorded unsafe speed and traffic control disregarded.

A driver in a 2007 BMW sedan, traveling east on Steinway Street, hit the rear of a 2020 Yamaha motorcycle that was stopped in traffic near 30 Avenue in Queens at 10:20 p.m. One person was hurt: the 26-year-old motorcycle driver, with a leg injury. According to the police report, unsafe speed and traffic control disregarded were contributing factors. The driver hit the motorcycle's rear with the sedan's left front bumper. Both vehicles were eastbound. Police recorded the crash under collision ID 4833517 in the 114th Precinct. The report lists one injured person and two damaged vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 28 - A driver in an SUV rear-ended a stopped 38-year-old cyclist on Broadway at 42nd Street in Queens. The cyclist suffered a back injury. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely."

A driver in an SUV struck the rear of a stopped bicycle on Broadway at 42nd Street in Queens. The 38-year-old bicyclist suffered a back injury and complained of whiplash. The SUV’s center front end struck the bike’s center back end. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely" contributed to the crash. The bicyclist was not ejected. The report also lists two SUV occupants, ages 38 and 80, with unspecified injuries. Helmet use is not listed as a contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 28 - Two eastbound SUVs crashed at 45th Street and 25th Avenue in Queens. A 71-year-old woman driver suffered back pain and whiplash. Police recorded Following Too Closely.

Two sport utility vehicles, both eastbound, crashed at 45th Street and 25th Avenue in Queens. A 71-year-old woman driving one SUV was injured, reporting back pain and whiplash. Two other occupants and the male driver of the second SUV were involved. According to the police report, the cause was "Following Too Closely." Police listed impact points as center front for the Kia and center back for the Audi. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831693 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 28 - On the BQE in Queens, a driver changing lanes collided with a moped going straight. Both men were thrown. The passenger suffered fractures and dislocation. The driver bled. Police recorded unsafe speed and improper lane usage.

A crash on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Queens involved a driver changing lanes and a moped driver traveling straight ahead. Both moped riders, 37, were ejected. The passenger sustained fractures and dislocation. The driver reported minor bleeding. According to the police report, officers recorded Unsafe Speed and Passing or Lane Usage Improper as contributing factors. Impact notes list damage to a right front quarter panel on the other vehicle and side damage on the moped. The record shows the moped carried two people and was going straight before impact. Vulnerable riders paid the price for driver errors on a high-speed corridor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831242 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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