Rego Park’s daily toll: bikes, bodies, and the boulevard

Sep 3 - At noon in Queens, a right‑turning driver hit the back of a southbound Lexus on 98 St at 62 Dr. The 19‑year‑old driver was injured and listed unconscious. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction.

Two vehicles collided at 98 St and 62 Dr in Queens at 12:00. The driver of a Dodge car/SUV was making a right turn. The driver of a 2024 Lexus sedan was traveling south, going straight. The Lexus had center back‑end damage. A 19‑year‑old male driver was injured with an eye injury and was listed unconscious, with a complaint of pain or nausea. According to the police report, police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction. The report also lists Driver Inattention/Distraction for involved persons. A 39‑year‑old female registrant was noted with unspecified injury status.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 26 - Eastbound on the LIE, a lane change went bad. A sedan clipped a box truck and struck another car. Metal jumped. A 6‑year‑old boy took a face wound. Drivers and passengers hurt. Queens traffic ground them down.

A Honda sedan changed lanes eastbound on the Long Island Expressway and collided, leaving the Jeep’s right front damaged and the box truck’s left rear struck. Several people were hurt, including a 6-year-old boy with a facial abrasion, two drivers with pain, and front-seat passengers reporting leg and neck injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as “Other Vehicular” for the involved vehicles and persons. The data show the Honda was “Changing Lanes,” while the Jeep and box truck were “Going Straight Ahead,” underscoring improper lane movement and impact to multiple vehicles. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. Helmet use or signaling is not cited as a factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 15 - Four sedans going north on Woodhaven met steel and pain. Metal kissed metal. Two drivers hit with whiplash. Police cite Alcohol Involvement. Night street. Hard stop. Sirens cut the dark.

Two northbound sedans struck others in a chain crash on Woodhaven Blvd at Furmanville Ave in Queens. Two drivers, men aged 27 and 36, were injured with neck pain and whiplash. Several passengers were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Alcohol Involvement.” The data shows multiple driver errors by implication: alcohol use behind the wheel endangering everyone in the cars. No pedestrian or cyclist injuries were recorded. No other contributing factors, signals, or helmet notes were listed before the alcohol finding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836269 - 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 - The driver of an SUV rear-ended a box truck eastbound on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. A 44-year-old male driver suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and complained of whiplash. Police cited driver inattention.

The driver of an SUV rear-ended a box truck while both traveled east on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. A 44-year-old male driver in the SUV was injured; records list shoulder and upper-arm trauma and a complaint of whiplash. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police noted center front-end damage to the SUV and center back-end damage to the truck, consistent with a rear-end impact. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The crash is recorded under collision ID 4834568 in NYPD Precinct 112.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834568 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 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 8 - A driver in an SUV turning left hit a 69-year-old man at Long Island Expressway and Junction Boulevard. The pedestrian suffered an abrasion and an upper-arm injury. Police listed contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

A driver in an SUV turned left and struck a 69-year-old man crossing at Long Island Expressway and Junction Boulevard. The pedestrian sustained an abrasion and an upper-arm/shoulder injury. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered an abrasion and upper arm injury and the SUV was making a left turn. Police recorded contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and did not list a specific driver error. The vehicle carried one licensed driver. The point of impact was the SUV’s center front end, and the official record gives no further cause for the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834192 - 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 3 - A sedan driver hit an SUV's rear on Woodhaven Boulevard at 62 Road in Queens. A 60-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man had head injuries and whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Both drivers were eastbound.

A driver in a sedan rear-ended an SUV on Woodhaven Boulevard at 62 Road in Queens at 1:49 a.m. Both drivers were traveling east, going straight. The sedan driver hit the SUV's center rear. The SUV showed rear damage; the sedan showed front damage. Two people were hurt: a 60-year-old woman in the front passenger seat and a 60-year-old man who was driving. Both suffered head injuries and reported whiplash. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were listed. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed in the crash report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 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 29 - A driver in a sedan turned right at 62 Drive and Queens Boulevard and hit a 21-year-old cyclist. He suffered leg and foot injuries and went into shock. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

A driver in a sedan made a right turn at 62 Drive and Queens Boulevard in Queens and hit a 21-year-old cyclist. According to the police report, the bike was traveling west and the sedan was making a right turn. The rider suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock, with a complaint of pain or nausea. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report lists the sedan’s right front bumper as the point of impact and damage to the back of the bike. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 24 - A motorcycle slammed into a truck on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, age 24, was ejected and killed. Others survived. The crash left a body broken, a city shaken.

A 24-year-old motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a tractor truck on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle was changing lanes when it struck the right side of the truck. The rider was ejected and suffered fatal crush injuries. Other occupants in the involved vehicles, including a driver in an SUV and the truck operator, were not seriously hurt. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The deceased rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18