Crash Count for Middle Village
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 702
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 450
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 93
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 4
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 6
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025
Carnage in Middle Village
Killed 6
+2
Crush Injuries 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Whole body 1
Severe Bleeding 2
Head 1
Lower leg/foot 1
Concussion 3
Head 2
Neck 1
Whiplash 11
Neck 7
+2
Whole body 2
Chest 1
Head 1
Shoulder/upper arm 1
Contusion/Bruise 22
Lower leg/foot 7
+2
Head 5
Face 2
Hip/upper leg 2
Lower arm/hand 2
Neck 2
Whole body 2
Chest 1
Shoulder/upper arm 1
Abrasion 13
Lower leg/foot 6
+1
Lower arm/hand 3
Head 2
Neck 1
Whole body 1
Pain/Nausea 3
Head 2
Lower leg/foot 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 14, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Middle Village?

Preventable Speeding in Middle Village School Zones

(since 2022)
Middle Village’s long afternoon: crashes stack up, bodies fall, fixes wait

Middle Village’s long afternoon: crashes stack up, bodies fall, fixes wait

Middle Village: Jan 1, 2022 - Aug 24, 2025

Another driver. Same ending.

  • A 54-year-old cyclist died at 80 St and Juniper Blvd North when a box truck turned right. The record shows “Traffic Control Disregarded.” The bike was “demolished.” The truck’s right front bumper took the hit. CrashID 4807280.
  • A 74-year-old man was killed on Woodhaven Boulevard by a motorcycle going straight. The report lists “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” CrashID 4586035.
  • An 88-year-old man died on Dry Harbor Road. A pickup truck going straight. The form says the driver was unlicensed. CrashID 4650689.

Three corners. One fix.

  • The dead stack up at 80 St: three deaths, 11 injuries. Woodhaven Boulevard is another hotspot.
  • Late afternoon is the danger window. At 4 p.m., injuries spike. At 5 p.m., two dead. At 4 and 5 p.m. combined, five deaths in this small map since 2022. The city’s sheet shows it hour by hour in the distribution.
  • Heavy vehicles do damage out of scale. Trucks and buses are tied to pedestrian deaths locally; the rollup shows trucks in fatal pedestrian cases in this area, and a box truck is in the cyclist death above. See the vehicle data.

Officials know what works — do they?

  • Council Member Bob Holden backed a bill to yank city placards for obscured plates. It aims at the shadow that hides lawbreakers from cameras. The bill sits in committee. He also supported protected bike lanes to the Ridgewood Reservoir, a rare yes that advocates welcomed.
  • In Albany, Senator Joe Addabbo voted yes to move a bill that forces repeat violators to install speed limiters. Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi co-sponsors the Assembly version A2299. The point is simple: stop the worst drivers before they kill again.

The pattern here is not a mystery.

  • Since 2022, Middle Village logged 688 crashes, 443 injuries, 6 deaths. In the last 12 months, 4 people died. This year to date, crashes are up about 11% over last year with 3 deaths on the board, per the period stats.
  • Pedestrians are hit most by SUVs and sedans, but trucks show up in the death column. The rollup lists SUVs and cars in most injuries; trucks tie to a fatal strike.
  • Contributing factors in this area: “other” leads the death count; “vulnerable road user error” also appears. But the forms repeat the same human causes: inattention, failure to yield. See the crash factors.

Three fixes. Start now.

  • Daylight the corners at 80 St and Juniper, and on Woodhaven. Harden the turns so a truck can’t clip into the crosswalk. Use leading pedestrian intervals. Aim the changes at the 4–6 p.m. peak the data shows.
  • Put protected lanes and sidewalk buildouts where the injuries pool — 80 St and along Eliot and Woodhaven. The city is doing this on Cypress Avenue nearby. Holden already backed that plan.
  • Target heavy vehicles at repeat hotspots. Enforce for unlicensed driving and plate defacement. The permit-revocation bill for obscured plates is in committee. Move it.

Citywide levers. Pull them.

  • Lower speeds save lives. New Yorkers already pushed for this. Our own call to action lays it out: a citywide 20 mph default and the Stop Super Speeders Act that forces intelligent speed assistance on the worst drivers. Read the plan and act at Take Action.
  • The worst drivers do the worst harm. Speed limiters passed Senate committees this year with a yes vote from Addabbo. Hevesi signed on in the Assembly. Finish the job.

A last word from the record.

  • “Joseph Lee terrorized other drivers as he purposefully drove the wrong way,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said of a Clearview Expressway case that left people badly hurt. Lee told police he entered the highway wrong-way “because I wanted to hurt people and I felt ‘liberated’ by what I had done.” Both quotes are in amNY’s report. Different road. Same city. Same cost.

One corner here holds three deaths. The curb stayed the same.

Take one step that matters. Ask your council member and the mayor to lower the speed limit and back speed limiters. Start at Take Action.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Andrew Hevesi
Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi
District 28
District Office:
70-50 Austin St. Suite 114, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Legislative Office:
Room 626, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Robert F. Holden
Council Member Robert F. Holden
District 30
District Office:
64-69 Dry Harbor Road, Middle Village, NY 11379
718-366-3900
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1558, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7381
Twitter: @BobHoldenNYC
Joe Addabbo
State Senator Joe Addabbo
District 15
District Office:
66-85 73rd Place, Middle Village, NY 11379
Legislative Office:
Room 811, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

Middle Village Middle Village sits in Queens, Precinct 104, District 30, AD 28, SD 15, Queens CB5.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Middle Village

21
Driver backs into parked SUV in Maspeth

Aug 21 - SUV reversed and slammed a parked car on 80th Street in Queens. The back end hit. Three occupants hurt. The street bore the impact. Backing Unsafely led the crash.

A vehicle reversed southeast on 80th Street near 60-12 and struck a parked 2017 Honda SUV. Three people were injured, including a 75-year-old male driver listed in shock and two occupants with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the primary contributing factor was “Backing Unsafely.” The data shows the reversing vehicle’s point of impact at the center back end, with the parked SUV hit at the center front end. Driver error is clear: Backing Unsafely appears for all listed persons and in the vehicle’s pre-crash action as Backing. No other contributing factors are documented beyond “Unspecified.”


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837280 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
17
Honda Driver T-bones Toyota; Teen Hurt

Aug 17 - A northbound Honda driver struck the right side of a southbound Toyota at 63 Ave and 82 Pl in Queens. The Toyota’s 27-year-old driver suffered neck injury and whiplash; a 14-year-old rear passenger was injured. Police recorded Traffic Control Disregarded and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

The driver of a northbound Honda struck the right-side doors of a southbound Toyota at 63 Ave and 82 Pl in Queens. The Toyota’s 27-year-old driver suffered a neck injury and complained of whiplash. A 14-year-old left rear passenger was also injured. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded those driver errors for the crash. The Honda’s center-front end struck the Toyota’s right-side doors; vehicle damage entries list center-front and right-side-door damage consistent with that impact. The report lists no other contributing factors.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
14
Int 1358-2025 Holden Backs Safety‑Boosting Permit Revocation for Obscured Plates

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.


14
Int 1358-2025 Holden Backs Safety‑Boosting Permit Revocation for Obscured Plates

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.


14
Int 1358-2025 Holden Backs Safety‑Boosting Revocation of City Parking Permits

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."


14
Int 1358-2025 Holden co-sponsors bill revoking city parking permits for obscured plates, improving safety.

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."


14
Int 1358-2025 Holden co-sponsors permit revocation for placard abuse and obscured plates, improving safety.

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.


13
Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK

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.


12
Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two

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.


11
Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock

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.


8
Holden Opposes Safety‑Boosting Daylighting Bill as Radical

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.


6
Holden Named Sponsor Of Controversial Carriage Ban

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.


3
Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes

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.


1
Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street

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.


30
Motorcycle Ejected in Sedan Left-Turn Crash

Jul 30 - A sedan turning left and a motorcycle going straight collided on Eliot Ave at 68 St. The motorcycle driver and the sedan driver were ejected. A 3-year-old passenger remained inside. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

A sedan making a left turn and a motorcycle going straight collided on Eliot Avenue at 68 St in Queens. According to the police report, the 24-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered severe bleeding to his leg. The report says the 41-year-old female sedan driver was also ejected. A 3-year-old child passenger in the sedan was not ejected. The police report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor and also notes "Backing Unsafely" among contributing factors. Injuries were reported to vehicle occupants.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831635 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
23
Holden Urges Council to Pass Ryders Law

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.


16
SUV Driver Turns Right, Hits Cyclist

Jul 16 - The driver of an SUV turned right on 64 Road at Woodhaven Boulevard and hit a 31-year-old male bicyclist who was going straight. The cyclist suffered a contusion to his lower leg. Police recorded driver inattention.

The driver of an SUV was making a right turn on 64 Road near Woodhaven Boulevard when he struck a 31-year-old male bicyclist who was traveling straight. The cyclist was injured with a contusion to his lower leg (knee/lower leg/foot). According to the police report, the crash involved "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. Police list the SUV’s pre-crash action as making a right turn and the bicycle’s pre-crash action as going straight. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s left side doors. No other contributing factors are recorded in the report.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829047 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
14
Convertible Driver Hits Cyclist on Woodhaven

Jul 14 - A driver in a convertible on Woodhaven Boulevard struck a northbound cyclist at Penelope Avenue. The 27-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and complained of pain and nausea. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Traffic Control Disregarded'.

The driver of a convertible traveling east on Woodhaven Boulevard struck a northbound bicyclist at Penelope Avenue. The 27-year-old bicyclist suffered a head injury and reported pain and nausea. According to the police report, the crash involved "Traffic Control Disregarded." Police recorded that error by the driver of the convertible. Impact damaged the convertible’s center front and the bicycle’s left-side doors. The report lists the bicyclist as injured. The police narrative cites the traffic-control violation as the contributing factor to this collision.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18
9
E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens

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.


9
Sedan Strikes Child Pedestrian at Woodhaven

Jul 9 - A sedan hit a child crossing with the signal on Woodhaven Blvd. The driver failed to yield. The child suffered arm injuries. Police cite distraction and inattention.

A sedan traveling north on Woodhaven Blvd struck a male child pedestrian at the intersection with 63 Ave. The child was crossing with the signal and suffered injuries to his arm. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and failed to yield the right-of-way. The crash also involved three vehicle occupants, all with unspecified injuries. Driver inattention and failure to yield were listed as contributing factors. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use by the pedestrian.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18