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

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 2025-11-02

Aug 12 - A speeding car tore through Astoria. The driver struck two men at a coffee cart. All three died. Parked cars blocked sightlines. The street was narrow. Danger came fast and left devastation.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-12) reports an 84-year-old driver sped onto 42nd Street in Astoria, hitting two pedestrians and a coffee cart. The crash killed the driver and both men. Streetsblog notes, 'The block has several auto repair shops that leave cars parked all over the sidewalk, limiting visibility.' The article highlights the city's power to lower speed limits to 20 mph, granted by the state legislature, but points out that local officials did not mention this in their initial responses. The crash underscores the risks of speeding and poor street design.

• Speeding Driver Kills Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

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 2025-11-02

Aug 8 - DOT leans on a costly report and pro-car politicians to stall universal daylighting. Corners stay parked. Visibility stays poor. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a proven, system‑wide safety measure while parking is put first.

"Pro-car politicians like Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella have cited the DOT's report to oppose the bill, prioritizing parking over safety" -- Robert F. Holden

Bill: universal daylighting (no bill number listed). Status: stalled amid DOT opposition despite broad Council support. Committee: not listed. Key date: August 8, 2025 (Streetsblog NYC report). Matter title quoted: "We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting 'Scare Tactic' Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols." DOT released a report claiming $3 billion in costs and 300,000 lost parking spots. Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella cited the report and opposed the measure. Council Member Julie Won and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report flawed; Won asked, "It isn’t unreasonable to invest under $10k to save the lives of children and all pedestrians with daylighting?" Safety analyst: DOT's opposition undermines a proven, system-wide safety measure for pedestrians and cyclists, prioritizing parking over vulnerable road user safety and risking mode shift and equitable street access.

• 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 named Lady died in Hell's Kitchen. Photos reignited calls to ban carriages. The City Council stalled. Unions and leaders blocked hearings. Advocates warned of more injuries. Analysts say the ban would have minimal direct effect on pedestrians and cyclists.

Bill 2025, proposed to ban horse-drawn carriages, remained stalled as of August 6, 2025. The measure sits in the City Council health committee chaired by Lynn C. Schulman. Queens Councilman Robert F. Holden is the bill's sponsor. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not publicly taken a position. The article ran under the headline "Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages." Advocates rallied and warned, "without a ban there will be more crashes, injuries, and possibly deaths." TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. The proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages may have minimal direct impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety, as these vehicles are a small share of street traffic; the primary safety risks for vulnerable road users stem from motor vehicles and street design.

• 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 2025-11-02

Aug 1 - A teen drove a BMW at 100 mph without a license. He lost control. The car hit a truck. Fourteen-year-old Fortune Williams was ejected and killed. The driver now faces prison. Parents faced charges too.

Gothamist (2025-08-01) reports an 18-year-old Queens resident was sentenced to up to four years for a 2023 crash that killed 14-year-old Fortune Williams. The teen, unlicensed and speeding at over 100 mph in a 30-mph zone, lost control and struck a parked UPS truck. Prosecutors said he only had a learner's permit and had been previously ticketed for unlicensed driving. His parents, who gave him the BMW, were convicted of child endangerment. DA Melinda Katz called it 'a landmark case where both an unlicensed teenage driver and his parents were held responsible.' The case highlights failures in supervision and enforcement.

• Unlicensed Teen Driver Kills Passenger, Gothamist, 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 2025-11-02

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 2025-11-02

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 21 - SUV and motorcycle collided on 63rd Drive. One rider suffered a head injury. Police cite traffic control ignored. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A station wagon SUV and a motorcycle crashed on 63rd Drive at Carlton Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles disregarded traffic control. A 19-year-old male motorcycle driver suffered a head injury. The SUV driver, a 59-year-old woman, was not injured. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor. No other contributing factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829320 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 8 - A sedan veered on 63rd Road. Metal struck metal. A passenger took the blow. His leg bruised. Streets stayed loud. The system failed to protect him.

A crash on 63rd Road in Queens left a 37-year-old front passenger injured with a leg contusion. According to the police report, a sedan was involved in a collision caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The impact struck the right front quarter panel and left front bumper. The injured passenger was conscious. The report lists improper lane usage as the driver error. No other contributing factors were cited. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane changes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 7 - Carlos Oliver, 15, fell from a train at Queensboro Plaza. Paramedics found him on the tracks. He died at Bellevue Hospital. Another teen fell last month. The rails remain deadly for the young.

NY Daily News reported on July 7, 2025, that Carlos Oliver, 15, died after falling from the top of a subway train at Queensboro Plaza in Queens. Police said it was unclear if he fell while climbing or lost balance as the train entered the station. The article notes, 'He was shy and quiet but at the end of the day he started hanging out with the wrong crowd.' Last month, another teen was critically injured in a similar incident. The report highlights ongoing risks for youth on city transit, but does not cite driver error. The incident underscores the dangers present in the subway system for young riders.

• Teen Dies Subway Surfing In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - A sedan hit a 70-year-old woman crossing Austin Street. She suffered a leg injury. The driver and another occupant were not hurt. No driver errors listed. The street remains dangerous.

A BMW sedan traveling north struck a 70-year-old woman as she crossed Austin Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. She sustained a contusion to her lower leg and foot but remained conscious. The driver, a 36-year-old man, and another occupant were not injured. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 5 - BMW lost control, flew divider, struck two cars. Fire trapped five. Two critical. Belt Parkway shut. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-05), a 24-year-old BMW driver lost control near Cross Bay Blvd on the Belt Parkway. The car hit a divider, went airborne, and crashed into a Honda and a Hyundai. The article states, "their out-of-control luxury car vaulted into oncoming traffic... slamming into two unsuspecting motorists in a fiery crash." Two BMW occupants were critically injured; three others had minor injuries. Both drivers of the struck vehicles were hospitalized. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad closed the westbound lanes to probe the cause. The crash highlights the dangers of high-speed loss of control and the risk posed to all road users.

• BMW Vaults Divider, Slams Oncoming Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - A 15-year-old fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He lay on the tracks, lifeless. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Subway surfing kills. The city counts the bodies. The system endures.

NY Daily News (2025-07-04) reports a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. Police found him unconscious on the tracks at 2:45 a.m. and said he was 'either riding the top of a No. 7 train entering the station or attempting to get onto the top.' The article notes six people, mostly teens, died subway surfing last year. This year, three have died. The MTA and NYPD have launched campaigns and drone patrols to deter such incidents, but the deaths continue. No driver error is cited; the focus is on systemic risk and enforcement.

• Teen Dies Falling From Subway Train, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-04

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

Jun 30 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Horace Harding Expressway. The rider, a 27-year-old woman, suffered arm injuries. The crash left her bruised. No driver errors were listed in the police report.

A sedan and a bicycle collided on Horace Harding Expressway near 97 Place in Queens. The cyclist, a 27-year-old woman, was injured, sustaining a contusion to her arm. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The sedan showed no damage, while the bike was struck on its left front quarter panel. The cyclist was conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

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 25 - SUV hit a motorized scooter on 63rd Drive. Two riders, a woman and a child, suffered leg and arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane use. Streets remain dangerous for the vulnerable.

A station wagon SUV collided with a motorized scooter at 63rd Drive and Booth Street in Queens. A 35-year-old woman driving the scooter and a 7-year-old boy riding with her were injured, suffering leg and arm wounds. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' contributed to the crash. Both the SUV and scooter were going straight ahead before impact. The report also lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a factor for those involved. The crash underscores the risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02