Maspeth Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Water rose fast. Cars stranded. People climbed roofs to escape. Rescue teams pulled them out. Rain hammered Queens. The road drowned, then cleared. Danger came quick. Relief came late.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that flash flooding trapped drivers on the Clearview Expressway in Queens. Video showed people perched atop cars, waiting for rescue. A witness described, "10 feet deep, people sitting on top of cars, 6 or 7." Mayor Eric Adams declared a localized State of Emergency. The flooding left vehicles stranded and forced emergency response. The article highlights the risk of sudden, severe weather overwhelming city infrastructure, stranding vulnerable road users in harm’s way.

• Flash Flood Traps Cars On Expressway, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

A sedan turning left hit a 12-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman as they crossed 69 Street with the signal. Both suffered leg injuries. The crash left pain, blood, and questions in Queens.

A sedan making a left turn on 69 Street at the Long Island Expressway struck two people—a 12-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman—who were crossing with the signal. According to the police report, both victims were injured: the boy suffered hip and upper leg pain, while the woman sustained abrasions to her lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor, offering no clear cause. No driver errors are detailed in the data. Both victims were conscious after the crash. The impact highlights the danger faced by those crossing even with the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Pickup struck cyclist on Maspeth Ave. Cyclist suffered leg crush injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Metal met flesh. System failed the vulnerable.

A pickup truck and a cyclist collided on Maspeth Ave in Queens. The 33-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering crush injuries to his lower leg and foot. According to the police report, both the driver and cyclist were involved in a 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The cyclist was partially ejected. The pickup truck showed no damage. No helmet use was reported for the cyclist, but the police report lists only failure to yield as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers do not yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Candles flickered in Queens. Workers mourned the dead. Portraits lined the park. Grief and anger mixed. Demands for safety echoed. Fatigue and risk shadow every shift. The toll grows. The city listens.

amny reported on July 11, 2025, that rideshare and delivery workers gathered in Little Bay Park to honor colleagues killed on the job. The Justice for App Workers coalition demanded safety reforms, including panic buttons and limits on shift lengths. 'These deaths were not inevitable; they happened because billion-dollar companies chose profit over safety,' said Adaligisa Payero. Speakers highlighted long hours and fatigue as key dangers. The coalition called for tech companies and lawmakers to act, noting that app-based workers face higher injury and death rates than many traditional employees.

• Memorial Honors Fallen App-Based Workers, amny, Published 2025-07-11

Dump truck and sedan collided on Long Island Expressway. Three people hurt. Unsafe lane change and bad turn led to crush and concussion injuries. Metal twisted. Sirens followed.

A dump truck and a sedan crashed on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Three people were injured, including a driver with crush injuries and two passengers with concussions. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Turning Improperly.' The sedan was slowing or stopping when the dump truck struck it from behind. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Truck hit sedan at speed on Long Island Expressway. Three people crushed, backs broken. Police cite unsafe speed and passing too closely. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

A truck and a sedan collided on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Three occupants in the sedan suffered back injuries and crush trauma. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the truck struck the sedan’s right rear bumper. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The truck’s front end and the sedan’s rear were damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. All injured were inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck slammed into a sedan’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. One passenger hurt. Police cite driver distraction and tailgating. Metal, pain, and shock in Queens morning traffic.

A box truck struck the back of a sedan on the Long Island Expressway at Maurice Avenue in Queens. One 22-year-old passenger in the sedan suffered a shoulder injury and shock. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight when the crash happened. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The impact left the sedan damaged at the rear. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus and follow too close.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826354 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW flew over a Belt Parkway barrier at dawn. Metal twisted. Six hurt. Two critical. Flames rose. Police say speed may have played a role. The crash left wreckage and questions in its wake.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), a BMW traveling east on the Belt Parkway in Queens struck a concrete median, vaulted over it, and hit two oncoming vehicles. The article states, "Six people were injured—two critically—in a fiery crash." Police noted, "speed may have been an issue." The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The incident highlights the dangers of high speeds and highway design where barriers failed to contain a vehicle, putting multiple road users at risk.

• BMW Vaults Median, Six Injured In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

SUV hit a 65-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Flushing Ave. She suffered a head injury. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. Children and driver in SUV also listed as injured.

A Ford SUV struck a 65-year-old woman as she crossed Flushing Ave with the signal in Queens. She suffered a head injury and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and failed to yield right-of-way. Driver inattention and distraction were also cited as contributing factors. Two children and the driver in the SUV were listed as injured, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report highlights 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as key errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826348 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Queens rolled out its new bus network. Riders lined up at the Q12 stop on Northern Boulevard. No chaos. No crashes. Just buses and bodies in the heat. Fewer cars, safer streets for all.

On June 29, 2025, the Queens bus network redesign launched, marking the first major overhaul since the 1950s. The event, covered by AMNY, saw new routes and stops, including changes to the Q12 and Q13. Assembly Member Claire Valdez praised the redesign, calling buses a 'critical lifeline.' Transit advocates split: Riders Alliance applauded the move, while Passengers United warned of harm to vulnerable riders. A safety analyst noted, 'Bus network redesigns that improve transit access can encourage mode shift away from private vehicles, reducing traffic volumes and crash risk for pedestrians and cyclists while supporting street equity.' The redesign aims to shift trips from cars to buses, making streets less deadly for those outside vehicles.

• First day of massive Queens bus network redesign goes off mostly glitch-free in Flushing, AMNY, Published 2025-06-29

Two cars slammed together on 69th Street and 60th Avenue. Three people hurt. Drivers ignored traffic signals. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Streets failed to protect.

A sedan and an SUV collided at 69th Street and 60th Avenue in Queens. Three people were injured: a 19-year-old male passenger suffered leg injuries, a 30-year-old male driver had head pain, and a 56-year-old male passenger was hurt in the face. According to the police report, both drivers disregarded traffic control and were inattentive or distracted. The crash left metal bent and people in pain. No mention of helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The system allowed danger to strike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823541 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Dump truck slammed sedan on Long Island Expressway. Two women passengers suffered back crush injuries. Unsafe lane change triggered chaos. Metal twisted. Shock followed. System failed to protect riders.

A dump truck and a sedan collided on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Two female passengers, ages 46 and 25, suffered back crush injuries. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling west when the truck struck the sedan's rear. The crash left passengers in shock and pain. The report lists no other contributing factors. The system exposed passengers to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed into a parked SUV on 60th Avenue. The driver lost consciousness. Three people hurt. Fatigue played a role. Metal and bodies took the blow.

A sedan traveling east on 60th Avenue in Queens struck a parked SUV. Three occupants were injured, including the 64-year-old female driver, who suffered shock and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by the driver losing consciousness and being fatigued or drowsy. The sedan hit the SUV's left rear quarter panel with its center front end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Driver error—loss of consciousness and fatigue—led to the collision. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822511 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan flipped on Queens Midtown Expressway. The driver, a 35-year-old woman, suffered a head abrasion. No other injuries reported. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A sedan overturned while making a right turn on Queens Midtown Expressway near 64th Street in Queens. The driver, a 35-year-old woman, was injured, suffering a head abrasion. According to the police report, the vehicle sustained damage to the left front bumper and the point of impact was listed as 'overturned.' The report lists contributing factors as 'unspecified.' No other people were reported injured. The driver was conscious at the scene. No further details on the cause were provided in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16