Red Lights Run, Childhood Stolen—Demand Safe Streets Now

Sep 13 - A driver in a sedan turned right at 84 St and 35 Ave in Queens and hit a 57-year-old man in a marked crosswalk. He suffered a head wound with severe bleeding and was conscious. Police cited Turning Improperly and distraction by the driver.

At 84 St and 35 Ave in Queens, a driver in a sedan made a right turn and hit a 57-year-old man who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The man suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the driver’s actions included "Turning Improperly" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded these driver errors in the crash file. The vehicle’s right front bumper was the point of impact, consistent with a turning strike. The pedestrian location was listed as an intersection crosswalk. No contributing factor is assigned to the pedestrian in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842268 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 10 - A sedan driver turned right at 74 St and 31 Ave in Queens. He hit a cyclist riding straight. The cyclist, 45, suffered crush injuries to his lower leg. Police listed no contributing factors.

At 74 St and 31 Ave in Queens, a sedan driver turned right and hit a bicyclist who was riding straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 45-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. According to the police report, the sedan was making a right turn and the bicyclist was going straight when they collided. Police recorded no contributing factors or specific driver errors in the dataset for this crash. The driver is listed as a 74-year-old man. Injury information for the driver is noted as unspecified. Vehicle data lists a 2008 Nissan sedan with impact at the right front bumper. The bike shows impact at the left front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 8 - Two people on a bike and a driver in a sedan collided at 73 St and 31 Ave in Queens. Impact damaged the sedan's right-side doors. A 25-year-old bike passenger suffered an arm bruise. Police recorded driver inattention and inexperience.

At 73 St and 31 Ave in Queens, a driver in a sedan and two people on a bike collided while heading east. A 25-year-old woman riding as a passenger on the bike was injured with an arm contusion. The 29-year-old male rider was listed with an unspecified injury. According to the police report, contributing factors included Driver Inattention/Distraction and Driver Inexperience. Police recorded driver inattention. The sedan showed impact to the right-side doors. The crash occurred around 6:15 p.m. in zip code 11370.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841239 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 8 - On 31 Ave at 73 St, a Ford sedan driver turned left and hit a 45-year-old man on a bike going straight. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver. The rider suffered arm abrasions and stayed conscious.

At 6:12 p.m. in Queens, at 31 Ave and 73 St, a Ford sedan driver making a left turn hit a 45-year-old man riding east on 31 Ave. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his arm and hand and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the bicyclist was traveling straight east and the driver was making a left turn. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver. The sedan showed front-end damage. No other injuries were reported in the data. The crash involved two vehicles: a bike and a 2016 Ford sedan registered in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840981 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 3 - Two westbound drivers collided on 35 Ave at 95 St in Queens. A 14-year-old rear-seat passenger took a neck injury. He was conscious. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

A driver in a Toyota SUV and a driver in a sedan, both heading west on 35 Ave at 95 St in Queens, collided while going straight. The impact hit the SUV’s right front and the sedan’s left front. A 14-year-old boy riding in the right rear seat was injured with neck pain, reported as whiplash, and remained conscious. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight ahead and Driver Inattention/Distraction was a contributing factor. No other injuries are listed in the data. The crash was logged at 3:25 p.m., zip code 11372. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction; no other driver errors were noted in the file.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840393 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 26 - Sedan east on Astoria Boulevard met pickup north on 80th Street. Both blew the signal. Steel met steel. The sedan driver was hurt. Blood on the arm. Sirens cut the heat. Queens held its breath at the light they ignored.

A Nissan sedan traveling east on Astoria Boulevard collided with a GMC pickup heading north on 80th Street. One person was injured: the 34-year-old female sedan driver suffered an arm abrasion. According to the police report, the contributing factors were “Traffic Control Disregarded” for both drivers. The data lists driver errors as Traffic Control Disregarded for each vehicle and multiple occupants. The sedan’s front end struck; the pickup showed damage to its right rear quarter. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed, but the crash shows how disregard for the signal harms people inside and outside cars alike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - A driver making a left turn hit a 34-year-old man crossing Northern Boulevard near 88th Street. He suffered a lower-leg contusion and remained conscious. Police recorded driver distraction and failure to yield as causes.

The driver of a sedan made a left turn on Northern Boulevard near 88th Street and hit a 34-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a lower-leg contusion and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report also notes the pedestrian was crossing with no signal or crosswalk, mentioned after the driver errors. Damage and point of impact were listed at the vehicle's center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 17 - Two cars met nose to nose on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. Metal screamed. A woman driver hurt her neck. Police flagged failure to yield and alcohol. Streets gave no mercy.

Two vehicles collided head-on at 95-22 37th Avenue in Queens. A female driver in an SUV was injured, reporting neck pain. Other occupants were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” and “Alcohol Involvement.” Driver errors led the crash, with failure to yield named first. Alcohol involvement was recorded for multiple parties. The report also notes “View Obstructed/Limited.” No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured in the data provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 - Westbound SUV slammed a stopped taxi on Northern Boulevard at 71st Street in Queens. The cab took the hit in the back. The SUV’s nose crumpled. One driver was hurt. Police cite distraction. Traffic turned to metal and pain.

A westbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped taxi on Northern Boulevard at 71st Street in Queens. The taxi was stopped in traffic; the SUV was going straight. One driver, a 32-year-old man, was injured with back pain and internal complaints. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” The crash profile shows classic rear-end impact: center front of the SUV into the center back of the taxi. Driver error led the list. Only after that does equipment appear in the record, including seat belts noted for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834556 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 12 - A right‑turning Tesla struck a westbound cyclist at 68 St and 32 Ave in Queens. The rider went down hard. Arm fractured. Conscious at the scene. Police cite Failure to Yield. Another day, same corner danger.

A Tesla sedan making a right turn collided with a westbound cyclist at 68 St and 32 Ave in Queens. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old woman, suffered an arm fracture and was conscious after the crash. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The sedan struck the bike’s left front, and the car showed damage to its right-front quarter panel, consistent with a turn into a rider’s path. Driver errors include Failure to Yield. Only after those actions does equipment appear in the data: the report lists “Helmet (Motorcycle Only)” under safety equipment for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 - The driver of an SUV turned left and hit a motorcycle on Roosevelt Avenue. A 31-year-old woman riding as a motorcycle passenger suffered hip and leg contusions. Police listed driver inattention/distraction for both drivers.

The driver of an SUV made a left turn and collided with a motorcycle that was going straight at 77-01 Roosevelt Avenue. A 31-year-old woman riding as a passenger on the motorcycle suffered contusions to her hip and upper leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both vehicles. Police records list the SUV point of impact at the right front quarter panel and the motorcycle at the center front end. The accident summaries note the crash left four others with unspecified injuries. The report attributes the crash to driver inattention rather than roadway or victim actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834525 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 8 - A sedan driver and a dirt bike rider collided on Roosevelt Ave at 2:45 a.m. The 25-year-old rider was thrown and suffered a leg fracture. Police recorded driver inattention and unsafe speed.

A sedan driver and a dirt bike rider collided at 78-01 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens at 2:45 a.m. The 25-year-old rider was partially ejected and sustained a fractured lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' contributed to the crash. Both operators were recorded as going straight ahead. Police noted impact to the sedan’s right front bumper and the dirt bike’s front end. No other serious injuries were reported. The data identifies the injured person as the rider; the sedan driver was not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833521 - 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 4 - Two eastbound sedans collided on Junction Boulevard at Northern Boulevard. A 57-year-old right rear passenger suffered whiplash and back injuries. Police recorded driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors.

Two drivers headed east on Junction Boulevard collided at Northern Boulevard. According to the police report, a 57-year-old right rear passenger was injured and complained of whiplash and back pain. The report notes center front impact on one vehicle and center back impact on the other. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Driver Inexperience" as contributing factors. The injured occupant was conscious, not ejected, and listed as wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash damaged both vehicles at their center ends and left one passenger hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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