Maspeth’s truck roads, broken bones

Sep 6 - Drivers of eastbound SUVs crashed on the Long Island Expressway at 58 St. A 73-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash. A 71-year-old driver was hurt. Police recorded pavement slippery.

Two eastbound drivers crashed on the Long Island Expressway near 58 St in Queens. The collision involved SUVs traveling in the same direction. A 73-year-old man riding in the front passenger seat suffered a neck injury and reported whiplash. A 71-year-old woman driving was also injured. “According to the police report, police recorded ‘Pavement Slippery’ as a contributing factor.” Officers noted vehicles were going straight ahead and traveling eastbound. Police listed no other driver behaviors in the data. Points of impact included center front ends, with one vehicle showing center back-end damage. Drivers were going straight in eastbound traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840070 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 4 - Westbound on the Long Island Expressway, a truck driver hit the back of a merging SUV. A 32-year-old front passenger suffered a head injury. Police recorded Following Too Closely and Unsafe Lane Changing.

Two westbound vehicles crashed on the Long Island Expressway. The driver of a box truck hit the rear of a 2007 Honda SUV as the SUV merged. A 32-year-old woman in the front passenger seat was injured. She reported a head injury and whiplash. According to the police report, officers recorded Following Too Closely and Unsafe Lane Changing. The SUV had rear-center damage. The truck had front-center damage. The SUV was merging. The truck was going straight ahead. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 25 - An eastbound SUV hit a man on Flushing Avenue near 61-10. The front end took the blow. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and abrasions. He was conscious. The driver stayed. Another occupant listed, injuries unclear.

According to the police report, an eastbound 2012 Jeep SUV traveling straight struck a 42-year-old male pedestrian near 61-10 Flushing Ave in Queens. The SUV’s center front end was the point of impact and damage. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and abrasion and was conscious. The report lists injuries for two vehicle occupants as unspecified. Contributing factors are recorded as Unspecified for all parties, offering no stated cause. The data places the pedestrian “Not at Intersection” and “Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk.” The driver was licensed and remained on scene. No specific driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Unsafe Speed are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837670 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 24 - A sedan hit a southbound cyclist on Grand Ave near the Queens Midtown Expressway. The 50-year-old man was ejected, semiconscious with head trauma and minor bleeding. Police cited driver inattention.

According to the police report, contributing factors included "Driver Inattention/Distraction." A sedan and a bicycle collided on Grand Ave at the Queens Midtown Expressway in Queens. The bicyclist, a 50-year-old man, was ejected and found semiconscious with a head injury and minor bleeding. Police data also lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" for the bicyclist after the driver factor. The sedan was traveling east; the bicycle was traveling south. Both were reported as going straight ahead. The sedan's point of impact is recorded as the left side doors, and the report records Driver Inattention/Distraction for the sedan's driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 21 - Northbound Chevy struck a southbound motorcycle in Maspeth. The bike was demolished. The rider, 43, was injured and partially ejected. A parked Audi took a glancing hit. Police cite driver inexperience.

A northbound 2024 Chevy sedan hit a southbound 2024 JIAJU motorcycle near 59-12 61 St in Queens. The motorcycle was demolished. The 43-year-old male rider was injured and partially ejected. A parked 2007 Audi sedan was also struck on the left rear. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inexperience.” The crash data lists the motorcycle operator as unlicensed. The report shows the Chevy’s center front end as the point of impact and notes damage consistent with a frontal strike. The motorcycle rider’s helmet status appears only as a data field label and is not cited as a cause in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837279 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Hidden plates beat the cameras. Pedestrians lose. Cyclists lose. Int 1358-2025 would yank city parking permits from plate cheats. It also targets permit misuse and big unpaid fines. A strike at impunity that puts people on foot and bike at risk.

Int 1358-2025 is in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, with same‑day referral. Primary sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. Co-sponsor: Robert F. Holden. The bill quotes its aim as the “revocation of city‑issued parking permits” for “obscured or defaced license plates.” It would also revoke permits for three misuse violations, any §19‑166 violation, or unpaid violations over $350. Status: Committee. Agenda date: August 14, 2025. Obscured plates block identification and undermine camera enforcement that protects people walking and cycling. This bill goes at that shield and the culture of permit misuse that lets drivers dodge accountability.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

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 - 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 westbound dump truck rear-ended a westbound sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Two women in the sedan were injured; a 29-year-old front passenger suffered crush injuries and the 42-year-old driver suffered back injuries.

A westbound dump truck struck the center back end of a westbound sedan on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Two sedan occupants were injured: a 29-year-old front passenger with crush injuries and a 42-year-old driver with back injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factors were “Traffic Control Disregarded,” “Unsafe Lane Changing,” and “Oversized Vehicle.” The sedan showed left rear bumper damage; the truck had center front-end damage consistent with a rear impact. Police listed the driver errors above. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported; the sedan passengers bore the harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 10 - A driver hit a 33-year-old man off the roadway on 60 Ave in Queens. He stayed conscious. His knee, lower leg, and foot were hurt. Police list no driver errors.

A driver hit a 33-year-old man walking off the roadway on 60 Ave in Queens. He was a pedestrian, not in the street. He stayed conscious. He suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. Police did not record failure to yield, distraction, speeding, or impairment. The report lists the vehicle type as unspecified and notes no direction of travel. It provides no information on the driver. No further details appear in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 8 - DOT sides with car-first politicians. Daylighting stalls. Corners stay blind. Pedestrians and cyclists lose. Safety takes a back seat. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price.

""This bill is so bad that even the inept DOT is against it, which tells you just how radical it is."" -- Robert F. Holden

On August 8, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the clash over universal daylighting. No bill number or committee listed. DOT’s report claimed high costs and little safety gain, fueling opposition from Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Vito Fossella. Council Member Julie Won and Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report a scare tactic, urging citywide daylighting to save lives. DOT’s compromise with pro-car officials weakens protections. As safety analyst notes, this shift prioritizes cars over people, undermining vulnerable road user safety and citywide mode shift goals.

• We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting ‘Scare Tactic’ Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 6 - A horse dies in Hell’s Kitchen. Photos spark outrage. The council stalls on banning horse-drawn carriages. Advocates warn: more crashes, more injuries, more deaths. Unions block change. Streets stay dangerous for all.

Bill 2025 to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City remains stalled as of August 6, 2025. Sponsored by Queens Councilman Robert Holden, the bill sits in the health committee, chaired by Lynn Schulman. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not stated her position. The bill, described as a push to end the city’s carriage industry, gained attention after the death of a horse named Lady. Animal rights groups rallied, warning, 'Without a ban there will be more crashes in traffic, there will be more injuries and possibly deaths.' TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. Safety analysts note that removing carriages would cut unpredictable, slow vehicles from streets, reducing crash risk and making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - Gianaris backs Mamdani for mayor. Both pushed for subway funding and fare-free buses. Their alliance signals power in transit fights. No direct safety change yet for walkers or riders.

On August 4, 2025, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor. The two worked together on the 'Fix the MTA Act,' which invested in subways and piloted fare-free buses. Gianaris said Mamdani 'provides the energy and ideas' New Yorkers need. Mamdani thanked Gianaris for helping secure 'historic investments in subway and bus services.' This event, reported by City & State NY, shows political unity on transit. However, as no specific policy action or outcome is detailed, analysts find no direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Mike Gianaris backs Zohran Mamdani for mayor, City & State NY, Published 2025-08-04

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 2 - On Grand Ave in Queens, a parked SUV driver swung a door into an 18‑year‑old on an e‑bike. The rider went down, arm scraped and bleeding. Police recorded driver inattention. Metal and skin. Sudden stop.

An 18-year-old e-bike rider was injured when a parked Ford SUV’s driver opened a left-side door at 65-41 Grand Ave in Queens. The rider, traveling west, hit the door and fell. He suffered an abrasion to his lower arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, officers recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction for the SUV driver as a contributing factor. The report also noted Driver Inattention/Distraction for the injured rider. The e-bike showed center-front damage; the SUV had damage to its left-side doors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18