East Elmhurst: The Corner Takes the Hit

Jan 12 - Two sedans collided at Astoria Boulevard. One driver made a left turn, striking the other vehicle’s right rear quarter panel. The front passenger of the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:52 on Astoria Boulevard involving two sedans. One vehicle was traveling east going straight ahead, while the other was making a left turn. The collision point was the center front end of the eastbound sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the turning vehicle. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. The front passenger in the eastbound sedan, a 39-year-old male, sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The drivers were licensed and operating vehicles registered in NY and VA. The data highlights driver failure to yield or disregard of traffic control as the primary cause, with no victim fault noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788869 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - SUV merged on Grand Central Parkway, struck sedan’s left side. Sedan overturned. Young woman inside suffered facial bruises. Police cited alcohol and speed as crash causes.

According to the police report, an SUV merged eastbound on Grand Central Parkway and struck a sedan on its left side. The impact overturned the sedan. The 26-year-old female driver of the sedan suffered facial contusions and bruises. Police listed alcohol involvement and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The report highlights driver errors including alcohol impairment and unsafe speed as key causes of the collision. The sedan driver wore a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - SUV cut across lanes on Grand Central Parkway. It struck a sedan. A 34-year-old front passenger took the hit. She suffered head injuries and shock. Unsafe lane change left her hurt. Metal twisted. Airbags burst.

According to the police report, an SUV merged unsafely on Grand Central Parkway at 22:26, striking a sedan’s left rear bumper. The crash left a 34-year-old woman, riding front passenger, with head injuries and shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. Airbags and lap belts deployed. No blame is placed on the injured passenger. The impact damaged both vehicles and highlights the danger of reckless lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 17 - A motorscooter making a left turn was struck from behind by an SUV traveling east on 31 Ave in Queens. The scooter driver suffered back injuries and bruising. Police cite following too closely as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 31 Ave in Queens at 17:14. A motorscooter, driven by a 54-year-old man wearing a helmet, was making a left turn when it was rear-ended by an SUV traveling in the same direction. The point of impact was the center back end of the scooter and the center front end of the SUV. The SUV driver was going straight ahead, while the scooter was turning left. The report identifies the SUV driver's error as "Following Too Closely," which led to the collision. The scooter driver sustained a back injury and contusions but was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779605 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Dec 3 - Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03

Nov 22 - Five passengers, ages four to fifty-five, suffered whiplash in a chain collision on Grand Central Parkway. Police cited drivers for following too closely. Rear-end impacts left all injured but none ejected.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Grand Central Parkway at 20:08. A pick-up truck, SUV, and sedan, all westbound, collided in a chain reaction. Five passengers were injured: a 31-year-old front passenger, a 4-year-old child in a restraint, a 55-year-old front passenger, a 19-year-old rear passenger, and a 6-year-old rear passenger. All suffered whiplash. None were ejected. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for at least two vehicles. The vehicles showed center front and rear damage, matching rear-end impacts. Police found no contributing victim actions. Driver error in maintaining safe distance caused the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A 43-year-old man crossing Astoria Blvd with the signal was struck by a BMW sedan traveling east. The impact fractured his lower leg and foot. Police cite driver failure to yield and disregard for traffic control as causes of the collision.

According to the police report, at 22:35 on Astoria Blvd in Queens, a BMW sedan traveling east struck a 43-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at an intersection with the signal. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, sustaining serious injuries. The report explicitly identifies the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, indicating the pedestrian was hit directly in the path of the car. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding and obeying traffic controls in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773756 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - Council weighs Adams’s City of Yes plan. Mayoral challengers back the original, urge no watering down. They want housing, not parking. Council may weaken it. The fight is over homes versus cars. Vulnerable road users watch as parking mandates hang in the balance.

On November 21, 2024, the City Council debated Mayor Adams’s City of Yes zoning proposal, which aims to boost housing and scrap mandatory parking citywide. The Council may weaken the plan by creating a three-tiered system, risking fewer new homes. Mayoral challengers Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos, and Zohran Mamdani—all Democrats—strongly support the original plan. Myrie urges, 'resist efforts to revise the proposal in any way that would yield fewer homes.' Lander calls for ending exclusionary zoning and prioritizing housing over parking. Stringer calls the plan a 'small step.' Mamdani opposes changes that reduce housing or water down parking elimination. Ramos would vote yes but wants to protect neighborhood character. The Council’s decision will shape the city’s streets, homes, and the future for those outside cars.

• What Do the Mayoral Candidates Think Of ‘City of Yes’?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-21

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 12 - Two SUVs collided on 31 Ave in Queens. A 22-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and incoherence. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as key factors. Both vehicles struck front and side, causing significant damage and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:27 on 31 Ave in Queens involving two SUVs traveling west and north. The 22-year-old male driver of the northbound SUV was injured, sustaining back pain and incoherence. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the injured driver. The collision impact points were the center front end of the westbound SUV and the right side doors of the northbound SUV. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with these impacts. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report explicitly cites driver errors, including inattention and distraction, as causes, without attributing fault to any victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770828 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - A man clung to a dump truck on Astoria Boulevard. No harness, no shield. He fell, skull to asphalt, blood pooling. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man, forty-seven, left with severe head wounds. The city’s machinery did not stop.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was riding on the outside of a dump truck near Astoria Boulevard and 88th Street in Queens. The report states he was 'ejected' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head after falling from the moving vehicle. The narrative details: 'A 47-year-old man clung to the outside of a dump truck. No belt. No shield. He fell. Skull met asphalt. Blood pooled. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man did not.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle, a 2005 PTRB dump truck registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage and continued westbound, according to the report. The man was not using any safety equipment at the time, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unsecured riders and the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 31 - A 44-year-old man working in the roadway was struck by a sedan in Queens. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, impacting the pedestrian’s lower leg and foot. The victim suffered bruises but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:30 in Queens near 32-17 103 Street. A sedan traveling north struck a pedestrian working in the roadway, causing injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian, a 44-year-old male, was conscious and sustained contusions. The collision involved two vehicles: a sedan moving straight ahead and a parked SUV. The point of impact on the sedan was the right front bumper, while the SUV was hit on the left side doors. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the pedestrian’s injury, highlighting systemic dangers posed by distracted driving in work zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash after a rear-end collision on 85 Street. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as key factors. The injured occupant remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt during impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:40 on 85 Street involving multiple sedans. One sedan, traveling southeast, was stopped in traffic when it was struck from behind at the center back end by another sedan whose driver was inattentive and distracted. The driver of the rear-ended sedan, a 53-year-old female occupant, sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious, secured by a lap belt. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors to the collision. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to rear-end crashes in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766297 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 2 - Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Grand Central Parkway. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles were damaged at their center rear and front ends.

At 5:49 AM on Grand Central Parkway, two sedans traveling westbound collided in a rear-end crash. According to the police report, the driver of the struck sedan, a 33-year-old male occupant, sustained back injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles showed damage to their center back and front ends, indicating a direct rear impact. The injured driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and airbag deployment was noted. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited. This collision underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761629 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 10 - A city bus struck two parked sedans on 23 Avenue in Queens, injuring the bus driver. The impact damaged the left rear bumpers of both sedans and caused whiplash to the bus operator, who remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a bus traveling eastbound on 23 Avenue in Queens collided with two parked sedans, both facing west. The bus impacted the left rear bumpers of the sedans, causing damage to the vehicles. The bus driver, a 61-year-old male, was injured with whiplash affecting his entire body but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The sedans were stationary prior to the crash, described as 'Parked' in the report. The report lists no specific contributing factors such as failure to yield or other driver errors, but the collision with parked vehicles indicates a loss of control or failure to maintain lane or distance by the bus driver. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved or cited. The incident highlights the dangers posed by large vehicles colliding with stationary vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 8 - A sedan making a U-turn hit a northbound motorcycle on Junction Boulevard. The rider, helmeted and conscious, suffered a fractured shoulder. Police cite driver inattention and improper turning as causes.

According to the police report, a sedan attempted a U-turn near 32-23 Junction Boulevard in Queens at 21:41. The sedan struck a northbound motorcycle. The motorcycle rider, a 35-year-old man, was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. He suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder and upper arm. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors, pointing to errors by the sedan driver. The motorcycle was hit at its center front end; the sedan's right front bumper was damaged. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 8 - SUV struck sedan’s side on 32 Avenue. A 52-year-old woman in the sedan suffered internal injuries. Police blamed driver inattention and distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, a 2016 SUV traveling west collided with a 2004 sedan heading south on 32 Avenue in Queens at 14:45. The SUV hit the sedan’s left side doors. A 52-year-old female front passenger in the sedan suffered internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and was in shock. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19