Mar 4 - A 31-year-old man suffered neck injuries and shock after a Ford SUV making a left turn hit him at a Queens intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. Driver inattention caused the crash, leaving the victim in pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling south on Jackson Ave was making a left turn when it struck a 31-year-old male pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end, causing neck injuries and shock to the pedestrian, who complained of pain and nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally. The driver, licensed in New York, was alone in the vehicle. Vehicle damage was noted at the center front end, consistent with the collision dynamics. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in Queens intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 4 - A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

Feb 27 - Delivery workers rallied against Hochul’s e-bike crackdown. Council weighs bills to license e-bikes, raise pay, and study conditions. DOT opposes registration. Advocates warn of criminalization. City Hall silent. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot and bike.

On February 27, 2025, the City Council considered three bills: Intro 606 (register and license all e-bikes), Intro 1133 (expand minimum wage, study delivery worker conditions), and Intro 1135 (set minimum pay for grocery delivery). Intro 606 faces opposition from DOT, which says, 'there is no evidence that registration improves safety.' The matter’s summary warns that Hochul’s plan would let NYPD enforce bike lane speed limits and reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds, requiring licenses and registration. Council members are split: Brad Lander supports regulation targeting app companies, not workers; Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani call for better street design; Michael Blake urges targeted safety solutions and more infrastructure. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa say these measures would criminalize delivery workers and create a 'ticketing-to-deportation pipeline.' The Council press office did not comment. The debate exposes a city divided on how to protect its most vulnerable road users.

• Leadership Vacuum: Delivery Workers Oppose Hochul’s E-Bike Plan as Adams Goes AWOL, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 27 - A firefighter ran a red. Metal struck metal. A young man died. The street echoed with sirens. Two more rode to the hospital. The city keeps count. The danger stays.

According to the New York Post (February 27, 2025), off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena drove through a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens, striking Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance video captured Pena’s Mercedes “passing a red light on Northern Boulevard and T-boning Diaz’s 2022 BMW.” Diaz, 23, died at Elmhurst Hospital. Pena faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breath test. Two passengers in Pena’s car were hospitalized. The FDNY suspended Pena for 28 days without pay. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of red-light running and impaired driving, raising questions about enforcement and accountability on city streets.

• Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 26 - Assembly bill A 6044 launches a one-year fare-free bus pilot. Riders board without paying. Streets shift. Council members Mamdani and Gonzalez-Rojas back the move. The city waits for impact.

Assembly bill A 6044, now in sponsorship, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani (District 36, primary sponsor) and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (District 34, co-sponsor) lead the charge. The measure was introduced on February 26, 2025. No safety analyst has assessed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot aims to change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File A 6044, Open States, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 26 - A Mercedes ran a red. It hit a BMW broadside at 107th and Northern. The BMW’s driver died. The Mercedes driver, a firefighter, faces charges. Two passengers hurt. The street stayed quiet, but the damage was done.

According to NY Daily News (2025-02-26), a Mercedes-Benz driver allegedly ran a red light and struck a BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. in Queens, killing 23-year-old Justin Diaz. The Mercedes, driven by FDNY firefighter Michael Pena, T-boned Diaz’s car. Surveillance footage showed Diaz entering the intersection as the pedestrian signal allowed crossing. Pena was arrested at the scene and charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusing a breath test. The FDNY suspended Pena without pay. Two Mercedes passengers were hospitalized. The article quotes a local shop owner: "It was terrible." The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and impaired driving at city intersections.

• Red Light Crash Kills BMW Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 8 - Two sedans collided on Queens Plaza. Pavement was slick. A rear passenger took a blow to the head and suffered whiplash. Metal twisted. The street showed no mercy.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling straight ahead collided on 28 Street near Queens Plaza. The crash involved a 2020 Volkswagen and a 2024 Toyota. Slippery pavement was listed as a contributing factor. A 28-year-old male rear passenger in the Toyota suffered head injuries and whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected. Both vehicles took heavy damage at the center ends. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report highlights hazardous road conditions and the resulting loss of control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 8 - A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Feb 6 - Lawmakers and advocates clashed over how to fill the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No clear plan emerged. Councilmember Claire Valdez called for details. Riders face risk as funding stalls. Outside groups pitched taxes. The capital plan hangs in limbo.

"I think that would be helpful so we can all see the details and make sure that we're allocating resources most effectively. But these are all moving targets, and we need input from all sides." -- Claire Valdez

On February 6, 2025, Councilmember Claire Valdez of District 37 joined the heated debate over the MTA’s $33 billion budget shortfall. The matter, titled 'MTA honcho Janno Leiber quiet on plan to fill $33B budget hole — but outside group pitches longshot taxes, fees,' was discussed after the Capital Plan Review Board rejected the MTA’s $68 billion five-year capital plan due to a lack of funding. Valdez said, 'I think that would be helpful so we can all see the details and make sure that we're allocating resources most effectively.' She pressed for transparency and input from all sides. Outside groups proposed new taxes and fees, but lawmakers and the governor have not endorsed any. Rider advocates stressed the urgent need for full funding, warning that delay means a more unreliable system for New Yorkers. The council has yet to reach consensus or action.

• MTA honcho Janno Leiber quiet on plan to fill $33B budget hole — but outside group pitches longshot taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 5 - A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Jan 30 - Senate bill S 3832 orders advanced safety tech in all New York vehicles. DMV must set rules. Sponsors push for stricter standards. No direct safety impact analysis for pedestrians or cyclists yet.

Senate bill S 3832, now in sponsorship, demands advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill instructs the DMV commissioner to create new rules. Filed January 30, 2025. The matter: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state.' Sponsors are Brad Hoylman-Sigal (primary), Michael Gianaris, and Kristen Gonzalez. No safety analyst has reviewed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users. The measure aims to raise standards but leaves details to future regulations.

• File S 3832, Open States, Published 2025-01-30

Jan 22 - Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Pulaski Bridge. A 24-year-old front-seat passenger suffered neck abrasions. The crash was caused by one driver following too closely. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when impact occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Pulaski Bridge involving two sedans traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the lead vehicle and the center back end of the trailing vehicle. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error by the trailing vehicle. A 24-year-old female front passenger was injured, sustaining neck abrasions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The driver of the trailing vehicle was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of insufficient following distance on city bridges.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 22 - A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 10 - A 27-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a limousine making a left turn on Jackson Ave in Queens. The limo driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing head injuries and shock to the pedestrian. Alcohol involvement noted.

According to the police report, a limousine traveling south on Jackson Ave in Queens struck a 27-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the limo, making a left turn, impacted her on the left front quarter panel. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the limo driver as a contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and was in shock but had no visible complaints. Additionally, alcohol involvement is noted as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally but failed to yield to the pedestrian, resulting in serious injury. The incident occurred at 18:01, highlighting systemic dangers posed by driver errors in yielding to pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785414 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04