Maspeth’s truck roads, broken bones

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 23 - Dozens rallied at City Hall. They demanded Ryder's Law. Council Member Holden led. NYCLASS joined. The call was sharp: end horse carriages. The industry faces fierce opposition. The council stalls. The danger remains.

"The fact that a visibly sick horse like Ryder was allowed to work at all is unbelievable and inexcusable. This case proves that current regulations don't protect the horses, and it's time for the City Council to act." -- Robert F. Holden

On July 23, 2025, Council Member Robert Holden and animal advocates rallied at City Hall, demanding passage of Ryder's Law to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Holden, has not yet reached a council vote or hearing. The rally followed a 'not guilty' verdict in a high-profile horse abuse case. The matter, described as a push 'to end the horse carriage industry in NYC,' drew support from NYCLASS and others. Holden blasted city oversight as 'inexcusable.' Despite the outcry, a safety analyst notes: ending horse carriages will not significantly improve safety for pedestrians or cyclists, since carriages are a small part of street traffic and their removal does not fix systemic road dangers.

• Horse carriages: Animal advocates rally at City Hall to end industry after ‘not guilty’ verdict in horse abuse case, AMNY, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 20 - The driver of a sedan turned left and hit a 12-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman who were crossing 69 Street with the signal. Both suffered leg injuries and were conscious after the crash in Queens.

The driver of a sedan made a left turn on 69 Street at the Long Island Expressway and struck two people who were crossing with the signal: a 12-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman. "According to the police report," both victims were injured—the boy complained of hip and upper-leg pain and the woman suffered abrasions to her lower leg and foot. Police listed the contributing factor as "Unspecified" and did not record a specific driver error in the data. The report notes the vehicle’s pre-crash action as Making Left Turn and records both victims as conscious after the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 16 - Driver of a pickup hit a 33-year-old cyclist on Maspeth Ave at 58 Pl. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and foot and was partially ejected. Police cited failure to yield.

The driver of a pickup truck hit a 33-year-old male bicyclist on Maspeth Ave at 58 Pl in Queens. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and foot and was partially ejected; he was conscious. According to the police report, both the driver and the cyclist were involved in a "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report lists the pickup as 'Parked' pre-crash and the bicycle as 'Going Straight Ahead.' The bike shows front-end damage; the pickup shows no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 10 - A dump truck rear-ended a sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Three people in the sedan were injured. The driver suffered crush injuries; two passengers had concussions and upper-body trauma. Police cited unsafe lane changing and turning improperly.

A dump truck rear-ended a sedan on the Long Island Expressway in Queens, injuring all three people inside the sedan. The driver, a 30-year-old man, sustained crush injuries. A front passenger, a 39-year-old woman, was unconscious with a concussion and shoulder/upper-arm injuries. A rear passenger, a 35-year-old man, complained of a concussion and back injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Turning Improperly." Police recorded the dump truck was going straight and struck the sedan's center back end while the sedan was slowing or stopping.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 10 - 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 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - 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 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 3 - 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 2025-09-18

Jul 3 - NYC Parks moves to let e-bikes and e-scooters roll in greenways. Mopeds stay out. The plan aims for safer, fairer access. More riders, more eyes. Danger shifts, but numbers protect.

On July 3, 2025, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation proposed to permanently allow e-bikes and e-scooters in select park areas, extending a 2023 pilot. The policy, not yet law, would 'integrate the same micromobility devices allowed on NYC streets into parks, while continuing to ban mopeds and other heavy vehicles.' Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon backs the move. The plan faces debate in committee and public hearings. A safety analyst notes: 'Allowing e-scooters and e-bikes in parks supports mode shift and equitable access to low-impact mobility, encouraging more people to choose active transportation and increasing safety in numbers for all vulnerable users.'

• Parks and rides: NYC plans to permanently allow e-bikes and e-scooters on park drives, greenways, AMNY, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 2 - 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

Jun 30 - 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

Jun 29 - 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

Jun 25 - 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 2025-09-18

Jun 24 - 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 2025-09-18

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - 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 2025-09-18

Jun 21 - 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 2025-09-18