Crash Count for Sunnyside
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 2,549
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 1,577
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 236
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 22
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 6
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025
Carnage in Sunnyside
Killed 6
Crush Injuries 6
Lower leg/foot 3
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Back 1
Whole body 1
Amputation 1
Lower arm/hand 1
Severe Bleeding 5
Head 3
Face 1
Whole body 1
Severe Lacerations 8
Head 5
Lower leg/foot 4
Concussion 2
Back 1
Head 1
Whiplash 22
Neck 12
+7
Head 5
Whole body 5
Back 3
Lower arm/hand 1
Contusion/Bruise 63
Lower leg/foot 23
+18
Lower arm/hand 14
+9
Head 9
+4
Whole body 4
Chest 3
Neck 3
Shoulder/upper arm 3
Back 2
Face 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Abrasion 29
Lower leg/foot 9
+4
Lower arm/hand 8
+3
Whole body 4
Head 3
Shoulder/upper arm 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Eye 1
Hip/upper leg 1
Pain/Nausea 22
Back 6
+1
Lower leg/foot 4
Neck 4
Head 3
Abdomen/pelvis 2
Chest 2
Hip/upper leg 2
Shoulder/upper arm 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Whole body 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Sunnyside?

Preventable Speeding in Sunnyside School Zones

(since 2022)

Sunnyside Bleeds While City Sleeps: Drop the Speed, Save a Life

Sunnyside: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025

The Numbers Behind the Names

Five dead. Seventeen seriously hurt. In Sunnyside, from 2022 to June 2025, the numbers keep coming. They do not slow. They do not care. In the last twelve months alone, three people died. Four were left with injuries that will not heal. One was a child. One was old enough to remember the city before cars ruled it. See the data.

Over 1,000 people injured. The wounds are not just numbers. They are broken legs, crushed skulls, lives split open on the street. The youngest was under 18. The oldest was over 75. No one is spared.

The Machines That Kill

Cars and trucks did most of the damage. They killed. They maimed. They left families to pick up what was left. Motorcycles and mopeds tore through flesh and bone. Bikes, too, left their mark, but the weight of steel and speed falls hardest from the biggest machines.

What Has Been Done—And What Hasn’t

The city talks of Vision Zero. They say every life matters. They point to new laws—like Sammy’s Law, which lets the city lower speed limits. But in Sunnyside, the speed stays the same. The city has the power to drop the limit to 20 mph. They have not used it. demand action.

Speed cameras work. They cut speeding by more than half where installed. But the law that keeps them running is always at risk. Albany drags its feet. The city waits. People die.

The Cost of Delay

Every day without action is another day someone does not come home. The city has the tools. The leaders have the power. What they lack is urgency.

Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand more cameras. Demand streets that do not bleed. Take action now.

Citations

Citations
  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04

Other Representatives

Claire Valdez
Assembly Member Claire Valdez
District 37
District Office:
45-10 Skillman Ave. 1st Floor, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Legislative Office:
Room 427, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Julie Won
Council Member Julie Won
District 26
District Office:
37-04 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205, Long Island City, NY 11101
718-383-9566
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1749, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6975
Twitter: @CMJulieWon
Michael Gianaris
State Senator Michael Gianaris
District 12
District Office:
22-07 45th St. Suite 1008, Astoria, NY 11105
Legislative Office:
Albany, NY 12247
Twitter: @SenGianaris
Other Geographies

Sunnyside Sunnyside sits in Queens, Precinct 108, District 26, AD 37, SD 12, Queens CB2.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Sunnyside

16
Man struck and killed by two vehicles while trying to cross Belt Parkway in South Ozone Park: NYPD
14
Maniac NYC driver who mowed down teen girl after she rejected lewd advances had suspended license: docs
13
16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens

11

  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842261 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
10
Cyclist hits boy at 44 St, 48 Ave

Sep 10 - A person on a bike hit a 7-year-old boy crossing with the signal at 44 St and 48 Ave in Queens. The child suffered arm and hand injuries and abrasions. He was conscious.

A cyclist hit a 7-year-old boy at 44 St and 48 Ave in Queens. The child was crossing at the intersection and got arm and hand injuries with abrasions. He was conscious. According to the police report, the child was “Crossing With Signal” and listed as “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian at Intersection.” The report classifies the striking vehicle as “Bike.” The crash time was 6:50 p.m. Police list the victim as Injured. The police report lists no contributing factor for the cyclist. No other injuries are indicated in the data.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841363 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
3
Distracted driver hits parked sedan, injures woman

Sep 3 - Driver going straight hit a parked sedan on 47 Ave in Queens. Impact to the left side doors. A 36-year-old woman in the parked car was hurt. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

On 47-14 47 Ave in Queens, a driver in a 1998 car drove straight and hit a parked 2020 sedan. Impact landed on the parked car’s left side doors and the other car’s front. A 36-year-old woman in the parked vehicle was injured, with arm trauma and internal complaints, and was in shock. According to the police report, the moving driver was “Going Straight Ahead” and the other car was “Parked.” The report lists “Driver Inattention/Distraction” as a contributing factor. Police recorded driver inattention by the driver.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
20
Improper turn crash injures three

Aug 20 - Two cars met wrong on Queens Blvd at Roosevelt. A bad turn and a lane swipe. Metal screamed. An elderly passenger clutched his chest. Two drivers hurt. Sirens cut through traffic’s roar.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided at Queens Blvd and Roosevelt Ave in Queens. Three people were injured: a 79-year-old male passenger with chest injuries, a 64-year-old female driver with back injuries, and a 26-year-old male driver with abdominal injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factors were “Turning Improperly” and “Unsafe Lane Changing.” Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the SUV struck at the center front and the sedan at the left front quarter. The listed driver errors—Turning Improperly and Unsafe Lane Changing—define the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was reported involved.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836295 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
17
Taxi Driver Clips Southbound Cyclist in Sunnyside

Aug 17 - A taxi driver clipped a southbound cyclist at 42 St and 50 Ave. The 26-year-old rider crashed, suffered leg abrasions and remained conscious. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction as a contributing factor.

A taxi driver traveling west hit a southbound bicyclist at 42 St and 50 Ave in Queens. The cyclist, 26, was partially ejected and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. He remained conscious and complained of an abrasion. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The taxi's right front bumper and the bike's center front end were damaged. The report lists no bicyclist error. Safety equipment for the cyclist was recorded as None. Police recorded driver inattention as the cited cause in the crash data.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
13
Motorcyclist Thrown In Review Avenue Crash

Aug 13 - A motorcycle hit a Honda on Review Ave at 37 St. The rider was ejected and hurt. Both drivers drew blood with bad moves. Improper lane use. Distraction. Steel met bone. Queens paid the price.

A 2021 Honda motorcycle traveling west on Review Avenue struck a 2012 Honda sedan moving north toward a parked position near 37 Street. The motorcyclist was ejected and injured with lower‑leg trauma. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Passing or Lane Usage Improper.” Person records also list “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” These driver errors preceded the crash and injury. The sedan showed center‑front damage; the motorcycle took a center‑front hit. Roles recorded identify both operators as licensed male drivers. The data cites driver mistakes first; safety equipment for the rider is listed as unknown.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
13
Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK

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.


12
Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two

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.


11
Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock

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.


9
Left-Turn on Van Dam Injures Woman

Aug 9 - Two SUV drivers crashed at Van Dam Street and Hunters Point Avenue. A 46-year-old woman suffered neck pain and whiplash. Police recorded failure to yield and driver inattention. Metal bent. Morning jarred in Queens.

Two SUV drivers crashed at Van Dam Street and Hunters Point Avenue in Queens at 8:50 a.m. A southbound Jeep driver turned left. A northbound Chevy driver was going straight. The driver of the Jeep hit the right side of the Chevy. One driver, a 46-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. "According to the police report, driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way were contributing factors." Both drivers were licensed. Police recorded damage to the Jeep’s right front bumper and the Chevy’s right side doors. A child was listed among those involved. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
8
Won Urges Safety‑Boosting Universal Daylighting Investments

Aug 8 - DOT sides with car-first politicians. Daylighting stalls. Corners stay blind. Pedestrians and cyclists lose. Safety takes a back seat. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price.

""It isn’t unreasonable to invest under $10k to save the lives of children and all pedestrians with daylighting?"" -- Julie Won

On August 8, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the clash over universal daylighting. No bill number or committee listed. DOT’s report claimed high costs and little safety gain, fueling opposition from Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Vito Fossella. Council Member Julie Won and Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report a scare tactic, urging citywide daylighting to save lives. DOT’s compromise with pro-car officials weakens protections. As safety analyst notes, this shift prioritizes cars over people, undermining vulnerable road user safety and citywide mode shift goals.


4
Unsafe Speed, Distraction Injure Queens Rider

Aug 4 - A sedan driver and a motorcycle rider crashed at 51-34 48th Street in Queens. The 22-year-old rider was ejected and hurt in the leg and internally. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

At 51-34 48th Street in Queens, a motorcycle rider and the driver of a sedan crashed. The 22-year-old rider was ejected. He suffered leg and internal injuries. He was conscious. The sedan driver, 28, was listed in the file with “Unspecified” injury status. Two others tied to the vehicles were also marked “Unspecified.” According to the police report, “Unsafe Speed” and “Driver Inattention/Distraction” contributed to the crash. Police recorded these as driver errors. Records note front-end impact to both machines. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed as involved.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
4
Gianaris Backs Mamdani and Safety‑Boosting Fix the MTA Act

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.


3
Julie Won Backs Safety-Boosting Universal Daylighting at Intersections

Aug 3 - Council weighs a 20-foot parking ban at crosswalks. Supporters say it saves lives. Critics warn of lost parking and risk. Streets stand at a crossroads.

""Universal daylighting and hardening at intersections will keep all New Yorkers safe whether they are driving, walking or biking,"" -- Julie Won

Intro. 1138, now before the City Council as of August 3, 2025, targets cars parked within 20 feet of crosswalks. The transportation committee leads the review. The bill's summary: 'ban vehicles from parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to improve visibility and street safety.' Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the measure. Council Member Julie Won and advocates back it. DOT officials and some lawmakers oppose, citing cost and risk. The bill could cut 300,000 parking spots. Banning parking near intersections improves visibility for all road users, reducing collisions and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, even if it reduces parking.


3
Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes

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.


1
Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street

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.


30
Won Calls Report Deeply Flawed Backs Safety‑Boosting Daylighting

Jul 30 - Council moves to ban parking near corners. Sightlines clear. Crashes drop. Pedestrians and cyclists breathe easier. DOT doubts linger. Advocates press on. Streets could change fast.

"Won criticized the report as "deeply flawed" at a Transportation Committee hearing in April." -- Julie Won

On July 30, 2025, the NYC Council Progressive Caucus made a major push for Intro 1138, a bill to ban parking within 20 feet of intersections. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. Council Member Julie Won introduced it after deadly crashes in her district. Eighteen caucus members back the bill, aiming to force a vote this year. The matter: 'eliminate parking within 20 feet of an intersection.' Council Member Sandy Nurse called daylighting 'a proven, effective way to make our streets safer.' DOT raised doubts about non-hardened daylighting, but safety analysts say restricting parking near intersections improves visibility, reduces collisions, and protects people on foot and bike.