Northern Boulevard Bleeds—Who Will Stop the Next Death?

A sedan and flatbed truck collided on 37th Avenue in Queens. Two people were hurt. One suffered a hip injury. Another took a blow to the head. Both were left in shock. The crash followed improper lane use.

A crash involving a sedan and a flatbed truck on 37th Avenue in Queens left two people injured. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The flatbed truck was making a right turn when the crash occurred. The sedan, which was parked before the incident, sustained damage to its left rear bumper. A 54-year-old male driver suffered a hip and upper leg injury. A 49-year-old female passenger sustained a head injury. Both victims were reported in shock. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815150, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan turned left on 108th Street. A moped came straight. Metal struck metal. The moped driver, sixty, took the hit. He suffered arm injuries and whiplash. Police blamed driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A crash on 108th Street at 37th Avenue in Queens involved a sedan making a left turn and a moped traveling straight. According to the police report, both vehicles' drivers were inattentive and inexperienced. The sixty-year-old moped driver was injured, suffering arm trauma and whiplash. The sedan's right side doors were damaged; the moped's front end took the impact. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped driver wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The collision highlights the persistent risk for vulnerable road users at intersections where driver error goes unchecked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815151, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 37-year-old e-bike rider crashed on Northern Blvd in Queens. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The crash left the rider conscious but hurt. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Blvd near 106th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the rider suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The e-bike sustained damage to the center front end. No other vehicles or people were involved. The rider was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users when driver attention lapses or experience is lacking.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814780, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle and sedan collided on 39th Avenue in Queens. One rider suffered a head injury and lost consciousness. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left three others with unspecified injuries. The danger struck fast and hard, leaving scars.

A crash involving a motorcycle and a sedan occurred on 39th Avenue at 103rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the collision left a 38-year-old motorcycle rider unconscious with a head injury. Three other occupants, ages 22, 25, and 47, sustained unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The sedan driver was licensed, while the motorcycle operator was unlicensed. No further details on the sequence of impact or actions leading up to the crash are provided in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813884, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle tore through 37th Avenue. The rider blew past traffic control. A pedestrian and a teenage passenger took the hit. Both suffered leg injuries. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. The street bore the scars. The city keeps count.

A motorcycle crashed near 98-09 37th Avenue in Queens. A 35-year-old pedestrian and a 16-year-old passenger were injured, both suffering leg wounds. According to the police report, the motorcycle disregarded traffic control and showed signs of aggressive driving or road rage. The driver, an 18-year-old male, was listed with the same contributing factors. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The motorcycle’s center front end took the impact. No safety equipment was reported for the occupants. The report makes clear: 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' led to harm. The system failed to protect those outside the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811944, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal crumpled on 112 Street in Queens as two SUVs collided in the afternoon. A 63-year-old man behind the wheel suffered a bruised leg. Sirens echoed as first responders arrived. The street bore the marks of distraction and impact.

Two station wagons—both SUVs—collided at 112 Street and 34 Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight ahead when the crash occurred. A 63-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a contusion to his lower leg. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other injuries were reported among the three occupants of the second SUV. The collision left visible damage to the left side doors and center front end of the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806391, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A speeding firefighter ran a red light on Northern Boulevard. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. The driver was drunk, high, and off duty. He did not help. The city fired him. The family mourns and demands justice.

According to the New York Post (published March 29, 2025), probationary firefighter Michael Pena was fired after he drove drunk and high, ran a red light, and crashed into Justin Diaz’s car in Queens on February 26, 2025. Surveillance footage showed Pena’s Mercedes striking Diaz’s BMW at high speed, sending it skidding down the street. Diaz, 23, died. Pena admitted at the scene, 'I hit him. I ran the red light. And I'm a firefighter.' The FDNY cited conduct rules in his dismissal. The article highlights Pena’s failure to render aid and notes his attempt to invoke his firefighter status. The case raises questions about accountability for city employees and the dangers of impaired, reckless driving on city streets.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Queens Motorist, New York Post, Published 2025-03-29

A sedan struck a moped stopped in traffic on 97th Street in Queens. The moped driver, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe whole-body injuries. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:21 on 97th Street near 34th Avenue in Queens. A sedan traveling north struck the center back end of a moped that was stopped in traffic, impacting with its right front bumper. The moped driver, a 30-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered injuries to his entire body, classified as severe (injury severity 3). The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, repeated twice for emphasis. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. There is no mention of victim fault or contributing victim behavior. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Kia SUV traveling south struck a westbound motorscooter on 112 Street in Queens. Two motorscooter occupants suffered abrasions and injuries to head and leg. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 112 Street near 34 Avenue in Queens at 3:33 PM. A 2025 Kia SUV driven by a licensed female driver was going straight south when it collided front-center with a westbound 2023 motorscooter carrying two occupants. The motorscooter driver, a 17-year-old male, sustained head injuries and abrasions, while the 18-year-old female passenger suffered abrasions and knee-lower leg-foot injuries. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors linked to the SUV driver. Additionally, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was noted for the motorscooter driver. Neither occupant was ejected, and both were conscious after the crash. The collision caused center front-end damage to both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798939, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

A BMW driver ran the red on Northern Boulevard. Metal screamed as a Mercedes struck head-on. The 23-year-old behind the wheel died, unbelted. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent, marked by violence and disregard.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW sedan 'ran the red,' disregarding traffic control. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The BMW was struck head-on by a Mercedes sedan traveling straight. The 23-year-old BMW driver, unbelted and alone, was killed behind the wheel. The impact was severe enough that a parked Toyota SUV was also damaged. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Metal screamed. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the deadly consequences of driver actions—specifically, running a red light and alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795252, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans traveling east collided at 34 Avenue in Queens. The impact struck the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. One driver suffered a back injury but remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:20 in Queens near 102-04 34 Avenue involving two sedans traveling eastbound. The point of impact was the center back end of a 2017 GMC and the center front end of a 2010 Honda. The driver of one vehicle, a 52-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error as a primary cause. Both drivers were licensed in New York. There is no indication of victim fault or other contributing factors. The collision's damage and injury highlight the dangers of distracted driving in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794313, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A tanker swung right on Northern Boulevard, striking a 31-year-old e-bike rider moving straight. The truck’s bumper crushed the man’s knee and foot. The tanker rolled on. The rider stayed down, battered and conscious, helmetless in the street.

At the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 108th Street in Queens, a collision unfolded between a tanker truck and an e-bike, according to the police report. The tanker was making a right turn while the e-bike rider, a 31-year-old man, continued straight. The police report states the truck’s right front bumper struck the e-bike, crushing the rider’s knee and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s failure to yield. The tanker sustained no damage, while the e-bike was damaged at the center front end. The man remained conscious at the scene, suffering serious crush injuries. The report’s narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793495, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 63-year-old man was injured crossing Northern Boulevard outside an intersection. The sedan, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Northern Boulevard in Queens struck a 63-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside an intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, causing injuries to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was conscious and complained of internal pain. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. No pedestrian behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers pedestrians face when crossing mid-block, with the vehicle's front-left impact indicating the pedestrian was likely in the vehicle's travel path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792916, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 64-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk in Queens was struck by a motorscooter traveling east. The pedestrian suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the victim injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling east on 96-08 37 Avenue in Queens struck a 64-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to his lower arm and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The motorscooter was going straight ahead at the time of impact, which occurred at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a crosswalk is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable road users in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789629, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 41-year-old woman suffered arm injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn in Queens. The driver’s inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision at an intersection where the pedestrian had the crossing signal.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 108 St and 37 Dr in Queens at 13:01. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2012 Chevrolet sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, made a right turn and struck her with the vehicle's right front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, remaining conscious after the impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. The collision highlights critical driver errors, specifically the failure to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, underscoring systemic dangers at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789322, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 24-year-old woman was hit by a pickup truck while crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way during a left turn. The pedestrian suffered serious abdominal and pelvic injuries and was rendered unconscious.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 35 Ave and 97 St in Queens at 2:53 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a Ford pickup truck, traveling northwest and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and was unconscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the failure to yield right-of-way directly led to the collision. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions or safety equipment were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785034, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 17-year-old girl suffered severe leg fractures after a pick-up truck struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver, unlicensed and distracted, failed to yield while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 100 Street and 35 Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2010 Ford pick-up truck, driven by an unlicensed male driver, made a right turn and struck her with the right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver’s errors in attention and yielding directly contributed to the collision and the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan and an SUV collided on 106 Street in Queens at 2 a.m. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage, highlighting a dangerous intersection.

According to the police report, at 2:00 a.m. on 106 Street in Queens, a 2021 Nissan sedan traveling south collided with a 2011 Chrysler SUV traveling west. The sedan's center front end and the SUV's right front quarter panel sustained damage. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old male occupant, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed, though the SUV driver held a permit. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver, but no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision resulted in moderate injury to the sedan driver, emphasizing the risks posed by multi-vehicle impacts at this location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 45-year-old woman suffered a head contusion after an SUV making a left turn struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred.

According to the police report, at 8:28 AM in Queens, a 2023 Nissan SUV making a left turn on 101st Street struck a 45-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and remained conscious. The report identifies the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper. Despite the collision, the vehicle reportedly sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted, but the primary cause centers on the driver’s errors, specifically failure to yield and distraction, underscoring systemic dangers at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769246, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14