Four Dead in Woodside—Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

Two sedans collided on 49 Ave in Queens at night. Both drivers suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited unsafe speed and driver inattention as causes. Vehicles struck front to rear, leaving damage and pain in their wake.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:20 on 49 Ave in Queens involving two sedans traveling north. The first vehicle was going straight ahead when it struck the rear of a parked sedan. Both drivers, men aged 31 and 43, were injured with back pain and shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Neither driver was ejected, and safety equipment such as airbags and lap belts were deployed or used. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the moving sedan and the center back end of the parked vehicle. This crash highlights the dangers of speeding and distracted driving in urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 42-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a pick-up truck driver, distracted and inattentive, hit her while she crossed with the signal at a Queens intersection. The truck made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 69 St and 51 Ave in Queens at 8:37 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 Ford pick-up truck, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report emphasizes the driver's failure to maintain attention during the maneuver, directly causing the collision. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

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

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

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

A taxi making a right turn struck a sedan traveling straight on 63rd Street in Queens. The sedan driver suffered a concussion and upper arm injury. The crash was caused by driver inattention, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:04 on 63rd Street near Woodside Avenue in Queens. A taxi, traveling west and making a right turn, collided with a sedan traveling east and going straight ahead. The point of impact was the taxi's left front bumper and the sedan's right rear quarter panel. The sedan's 24-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a concussion and upper arm injury. The driver was conscious and not ejected, with an airbag deployed. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified. The report does not indicate any fault or error on the part of the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, 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.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

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

A 78-year-old woman suffered a head contusion after an SUV struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, hitting the pedestrian on the left side doors. The victim was conscious but injured crossing against the signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:56 on 69 Street near Garfield Avenue in Queens. A 2016 Ford SUV traveling north struck a 78-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian on its left side doors. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of impact. She sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No vehicle damage was reported. The collision highlights the critical role of driver distraction in causing harm to vulnerable road users at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Assembly bill A 2642 orders new safety tech in every car. The DMV must set rules. Lawmakers push for change. Streets could see fewer crashes. The fight for safer roads moves to Albany.

Assembly Bill A 2642, now in sponsorship, would require advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill, introduced January 21, 2025, directs the DMV commissioner to set rules and regulations. The matter reads: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate certain rules and regulations.' Brian Cunningham leads as primary sponsor, joined by Steven Raga, Chris Burdick, Tony Simone, Manny De Los Santos, Jen Lunsford, and Jo Anne Simon. The bill aims to force carmakers and drivers to adopt life-saving tech. No safety analyst has yet assessed its direct impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 2642, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

A sedan struck an e-scooter on Woodside Ave in Queens, ejecting the 60-year-old rider. The rider suffered neck abrasions but remained conscious. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:42 on Woodside Ave in Queens. A sedan, traveling east and starting from parking, collided with an eastbound e-scooter. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the e-scooter's center front end. The e-scooter driver, a 60-year-old male, was ejected and sustained neck abrasions but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The sedan driver was licensed in New York and driving a 2015 Acura. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and close following distances in interactions with vulnerable e-scooter riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 19-year-old woman suffered neck contusions when a box truck making a left turn hit her at an intersection in Queens. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, causing the collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on Queens Boulevard was making a left turn on 69 Street around 9:22 AM when it struck a 19-year-old female pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained neck contusions and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the crash. The truck's point of impact was the center front end, and notably, the vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was not at fault; the driver’s failure to yield and distraction directly led to the injury. This incident highlights the dangers posed by inattentive drivers failing to respect pedestrian right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787767 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Governor Hochul pledged more police and brighter lights in the subway. Barriers and new fare gates will come to a few stations. Critics called the plans symbolic, lacking funding and detail. Andrea Stewart-Cousins stood with Hochul as the city waits for real change.

On January 14, 2025, during the State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul announced new subway safety measures. The proposals include NYPD officers on every overnight train, LED lighting in all stations, and limited installation of platform barriers and modern fare gates. The matter summary states: 'Hochul finally acknowledges NYC subway crime in State of the State speech—but proposals slammed as largely symbolic.' Andrea Stewart-Cousins, mentioned in the announcement, stood with Hochul. Critics, including State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, called the measures 'symbolic.' The Working Families Party warned that tax cuts without new revenue could threaten transit funding. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided, but advocates and lawmakers questioned whether these steps will protect riders or simply signal action.

• Hochul finally acknowledges NYC subway crime in ‘State of the State’ speech — but proposals slammed as largely ‘symbolic’, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-14

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08