Four Dead in Woodside—Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Water rose fast. Cars stranded. People climbed roofs to escape. Rescue teams pulled them out. Rain hammered Queens. The road drowned, then cleared. Danger came quick. Relief came late.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that flash flooding trapped drivers on the Clearview Expressway in Queens. Video showed people perched atop cars, waiting for rescue. A witness described, "10 feet deep, people sitting on top of cars, 6 or 7." Mayor Eric Adams declared a localized State of Emergency. The flooding left vehicles stranded and forced emergency response. The article highlights the risk of sudden, severe weather overwhelming city infrastructure, stranding vulnerable road users in harm’s way.

• Flash Flood Traps Cars On Expressway, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Sedan struck SUV on Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Passenger suffered head injury. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely. Metal and glass, sharp and sudden.

A sedan collided with an SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, the crash left a 61-year-old front passenger in the SUV injured, with head trauma and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were merging eastbound when the sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's left rear quarter panel. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830853 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Box truck and sedan collided on 67th Street in Queens. One driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper lane usage. Streets remain unforgiving for those inside vehicles.

A box truck and a sedan crashed on 67th Street near Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. One driver, a 40-year-old man, was injured with neck bruises. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was listed as the contributing factor. The crash involved a sedan traveling east and a box truck heading west. The report notes no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt. The streets saw another injury as a result of improper lane use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a 67-year-old woman at 51st Street and Northern Blvd. She suffered leg injuries and shock. The driver held a permit. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A sedan struck a 67-year-old woman at the intersection of 51st Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens. She suffered injuries to her leg and was in shock. According to the police report, the driver was operating with a permit. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No vehicle damage was noted. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s actions leading up to the crash remain unclear in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs crashed on the BQE in Queens. Three people suffered neck and chest injuries. The impact left drivers and a passenger hurt. No cause listed. The road stayed dangerous.

Two station wagons—both SUVs—collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway near 58th Street in Queens. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 44-year-old male driver with chest injuries, a 29-year-old female passenger with neck injuries, and a 37-year-old female driver with neck injuries. All were conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling east and struck each other, with damage to the front of one SUV and the rear of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not assign blame or detail the crash's cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus and sedan collided on 37th Avenue. One driver suffered chest injuries. Both vehicles took damage. The crash left one man hurt, others shaken, and metal twisted in the night.

A bus and a sedan crashed on 37th Avenue at 59th Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were heading west when they collided. The sedan's right rear and the bus's left front took the impact. One 40-year-old male driver was injured, suffering chest trauma and whiplash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828613 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Candles flickered in Queens. Workers mourned the dead. Portraits lined the park. Grief and anger mixed. Demands for safety echoed. Fatigue and risk shadow every shift. The toll grows. The city listens.

amny reported on July 11, 2025, that rideshare and delivery workers gathered in Little Bay Park to honor colleagues killed on the job. The Justice for App Workers coalition demanded safety reforms, including panic buttons and limits on shift lengths. 'These deaths were not inevitable; they happened because billion-dollar companies chose profit over safety,' said Adaligisa Payero. Speakers highlighted long hours and fatigue as key dangers. The coalition called for tech companies and lawmakers to act, noting that app-based workers face higher injury and death rates than many traditional employees.

• Memorial Honors Fallen App-Based Workers, amny, Published 2025-07-11

Sedan struck on left side. Two inside, both hurt. Shoulder and leg injuries. Night crash on Queens Boulevard. Police list cause as unspecified.

A sedan traveling south on Queens Boulevard was struck on its left side. Inside were a 26-year-old male driver and a 24-year-old female passenger. Both suffered injuries—shoulder and upper arm for the driver, knee and lower leg for the passenger. According to the police report, the contributing factor was listed as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were cited in the data. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a cyclist on Queens Blvd. The cyclist suffered a bruised leg. Police cite improper lane use by both drivers. The crash left the street scarred and the cyclist hurt.

A sedan and a bicycle collided on Queens Blvd at 69th Street in Queens. The 22-year-old cyclist suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, both the sedan driver and the cyclist were traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor for both parties. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were specified for the sedan occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825995 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW flew over a Belt Parkway barrier at dawn. Metal twisted. Six hurt. Two critical. Flames rose. Police say speed may have played a role. The crash left wreckage and questions in its wake.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), a BMW traveling east on the Belt Parkway in Queens struck a concrete median, vaulted over it, and hit two oncoming vehicles. The article states, "Six people were injured—two critically—in a fiery crash." Police noted, "speed may have been an issue." The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The incident highlights the dangers of high speeds and highway design where barriers failed to contain a vehicle, putting multiple road users at risk.

• BMW Vaults Median, Six Injured In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

A cyclist lay unconscious on 115th Avenue. The driver fled. Police searched the dark street for clues. The victim’s fate hung in the balance. Another night, another crash. The city’s danger pressed down, silent and heavy.

According to ABC7 (published June 15, 2025), a bicyclist was struck in a hit-and-run on 115th Avenue near 134th Street in South Ozone Park, Queens, just after 11:30 p.m. Friday. Police found the victim unconscious and in critical condition. The article states, 'They are now looking for evidence to help them track down the driver.' No details were given about the cyclist’s age or destination. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene highlights ongoing risks for vulnerable road users and underscores the persistent problem of hit-and-run crashes in New York City.

• Cyclist Left Critical After Queens Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13