Five Dead in East Elmhurst—City Stalls, Families Grieve, Speed Kills

A man on a bike hit the street hard. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious. The bike flipped. The cause: failure to yield. Queens fell silent. The crash left pain and questions. The city moved on. The wound stayed.

A 40-year-old man riding a bike on 84th Street near 25th Avenue in Queens was ejected and severely injured. According to the police report, 'A 40-year-old man was thrown from his bike, bleeding and semiconscious. His body struck the pavement. The bike overturned. The cause: failure to yield.' The crash data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and was left semiconscious with severe bleeding. No other vehicle damage was reported. The report does not specify helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4533435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

A sedan struck a parked taxi on Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The taxi’s left rear bumper took the hit. The sedan driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. No one was ejected. The crash happened at 4:55 a.m.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Astoria Boulevard rear-ended a parked taxi, impacting its left rear bumper. The sedan driver, a 30-year-old man, sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists the contributing factor as "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle," indicating the driver’s response to another vehicle not involved in the crash played a role. Both vehicles were stationary or moving straight ahead before the collision. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The taxi was unoccupied at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4528014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

An e-scooter and a sedan crashed head-on on 95 Street in Queens. The e-scooter driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The rider was left in shock.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 95 Street in Queens involving an e-scooter and a sedan. The e-scooter driver, a 37-year-old male, was injured with a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided front-to-front, causing center front-end damage to each vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The e-scooter driver was not ejected and was wearing unspecified safety equipment. The sedan was driven by a licensed female driver. No pedestrian involvement or helmet use was noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4522294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

Two sedans collided on 99 Street near Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The impact struck the center front end of one car and the right rear quarter panel of the other. A 44-year-old female passenger suffered shoulder and upper arm abrasions.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling straight ahead collided at the intersection of 99 Street and Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The impact occurred at the center front end of one vehicle and the right rear quarter panel of the other. A 44-year-old female occupant seated in the middle front seat of one sedan was injured, sustaining abrasions to her shoulder and upper arm. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

A 47-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on Astoria Boulevard in Queens. He suffered upper arm and shoulder contusions. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way. The rider wore a helmet but was still hurt in the impact.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male bicyclist riding west on Astoria Boulevard was ejected during a crash. He sustained injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, including contusions and bruises. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor to the collision. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The impact occurred at the left front quarter panel of the bike. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The rider was conscious after the crash but suffered significant injuries from the ejection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516961 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

Queens residents and officials clashed over 14 transit plans for LaGuardia. Subway, bus, light rail, and ferry all on the table. Council Member Larinda Hooks backed the AirTrain and ferry. No decision. The city waits. Danger and delay remain.

"The original plan is still the best plan. If you look at all the options, it’s the only one that doesn’t go near anybody’s house. It doesn’t go into anyone’s community. Won’t be issues with taking away parking spots, taking away a lane so there’s the most traffic. It makes the most sense for homeowners or renters or people who just live in the community." -- Larinda Hooks

On March 27, 2022, a public consultation in Queens reviewed 14 alternatives for LaGuardia Airport transit access. The session followed Governor Hochul’s cancellation of the Willets Point AirTrain. The event, covered by the media and led by a panel including Janette Sadik-Khan, drew strong opinions. The matter summary: 'In Astoria, Queens, 14 possible transit options for connecting to LaGuardia Airport were presented at a public comment session.' Council Member Larinda Hooks (District 35) voiced support for the original AirTrain, ferry service, and other mass transit options, but opposed removing parking or traffic lanes. Hooks said, 'The original plan is still the best plan... It doesn’t go near anybody’s house.' The process continues. No final plan. Vulnerable road users still face risk as traffic and confusion persist.

• In Queens, everything is on the table for Hochul’s LaGuardia connection, gothamist.com, Published 2022-03-27

Two taxis collided on Grand Central Parkway. The rear taxi struck the front taxi’s center back end. A 28-year-old female passenger suffered a facial contusion. Defective brakes and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, two taxis traveling west on Grand Central Parkway collided when the rear taxi struck the front taxi’s center back end. A 28-year-old female passenger in the front taxi was injured, sustaining a facial contusion. The report lists defective brakes and following too closely as contributing factors to the crash. Both drivers were licensed men. The injured passenger was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The collision caused center front and center back end damage to the vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4510436 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-02-01

A sedan struck a parked taxi on Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The driver, a 50-year-old woman, suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. The impact hit the taxi’s center back end. No ejections occurred. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old female driver in a sedan collided with a parked taxi on Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s front center end struck the taxi’s center back end. The driver was injured with whiplash and full-body trauma but remained conscious and was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The crash involved two sedans and a taxi, with the taxi and a second sedan parked at the time of impact. The driver’s pre-crash action was going straight ahead. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the sedan and the center back end of the taxi.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496254 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

Two SUVs slammed together on 100 Street in Queens. Both drivers distracted. One woman, 47, suffered chest trauma and shock. Metal twisted at the front. Pain and nausea followed. No ejections. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on 100 Street in Queens. Both drivers were licensed women traveling straight. The crash struck the left front bumper of one SUV and the right front quarter panel of the other. Driver inattention and distraction were listed as contributing factors for both. A 47-year-old woman was injured, suffering chest trauma, shock, and complaints of pain and nausea. She wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12

A concrete mixer struck a Chevy traveling west on 89th Street in Queens. The Chevy driver, a 42-year-old woman, suffered head injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention as a key factor. The Chevy’s right front bumper was damaged.

According to the police report, a concrete mixer truck was parked facing east on 89th Street in Queens when it was struck on its right rear quarter panel by a westbound Chevy. The Chevy driver, a 42-year-old woman, was injured, sustaining head trauma and shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The concrete mixer driver was licensed and stationary before the crash. Damage to the Chevy was concentrated on the right front bumper. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4495797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-12