Whitestone’s Toll: Broken Bodies, Broken Promises, No More Delays

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

An SUV making a left turn collided with a northbound sedan on Clintonville Street. A 12-year-old rear passenger in the SUV suffered facial contusions. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:45 PM on Clintonville Street involving two vehicles: a 2018 Ford SUV making a left turn eastbound and a 2001 Ford sedan traveling northbound straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report identifies failure to yield right-of-way as the key driver error contributing to the collision. A 12-year-old female occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of the SUV was injured, sustaining facial contusions and classified with injury severity level 3. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by left-turn maneuvers when drivers fail to yield to oncoming traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Opponents of congestion pricing use subway crime to stir fear and block change. Data shows streets are deadlier than trains. Riders keep riding. Politicians and advocates clash. The real danger: distraction from fixing transit and protecting people on foot and bike.

""They laugh at your concerns because they don't care. Nothing changes because they don't care. And now this moron is going to get billions more dollars on the backs of working people to pad his completely dysfunctional and unaccountable agency -- and openly celebrate it."" -- Vickie Paladino

On January 14, 2025, a public debate erupted over congestion pricing and subway safety in New York City. The matter, titled "Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime," highlights how some council members and political groups use concerns about subway crime to oppose congestion pricing. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino voiced strong opposition, while advocates like Sara Lind and Ben Furnas countered that such arguments ignore real solutions and endanger transit funding. The article notes, 'Data shows the subway is statistically safer than city streets for both pedestrians and drivers.' Despite visible homelessness and high-profile crimes, most riders continue to use the subway. The debate exposes how fear is weaponized to block policies that could reduce traffic violence and improve safety for vulnerable road users. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-14

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Two sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway in the early morning hours. The driver of one vehicle suffered head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained. Both vehicles sustained damage at center impact points, indicating a rear-end collision.

According to the police report, at 2:18 AM on Cross Island Parkway, two sedans traveling west and north collided. The driver of one sedan, a 38-year-old male occupant, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was secured by a lap belt and harness. The point of impact was the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other, consistent with a rear-end collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, providing no direct attribution to driver error such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The focus remains on the collision dynamics and resulting injuries to the vehicle occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle collided with the right side of a sedan on Parsons Blvd in Queens. The motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered full-body injuries including fractures and dislocations. Driver distraction was cited as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Parsons Blvd in Queens involving a sedan traveling east and a motorcycle traveling north. The motorcycle struck the right side doors of the sedan, causing the motorcycle driver to be ejected. The 23-year-old male motorcycle driver sustained injuries to his entire body, including fractures and dislocations, and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the motorcycle driver. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The impact point and vehicle damage confirm the motorcycle struck the sedan's right side. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771683 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 66-year-old male driver suffered chest injuries and shock after crashing his SUV into a parked vehicle on 10 Avenue in Queens. The driver fell asleep at the wheel, impaired by prescription medication, causing the collision at dawn.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:20 AM on 10 Avenue in Queens. The driver, a 66-year-old man, was operating a 2021 Toyota SUV traveling west when he collided with a parked 2013 Volvo SUV. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel on both vehicles. The report cites 'Prescription Medication' and 'Fell Asleep' as contributing factors to the crash, indicating driver impairment and loss of control. The driver was injured with chest trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The parked vehicle was unoccupied at the time. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766198 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

A van rolled down 147th Street, brakes failed. It pinned a 26-year-old man, crushing his legs. Blood pooled on the quiet pavement. Metal pressed flesh. Parked cars stood by, silent. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp, morning still.

A 26-year-old pedestrian suffered severe crush injuries to his legs when a van rolled from rest on 147th Street near 13th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:51 a.m. The report states the van’s brakes were defective, causing it to move unexpectedly and strike the man. The narrative describes the van as having 'failed brakes' and details how it 'crushed a 26-year-old man’s legs.' The victim remained conscious on the pavement, bleeding. Two parked vehicles—a van and an SUV—were involved, but only the van moved. The police report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the primary contributing factor. No driver errors beyond mechanical failure are cited. The report does not attribute any contributing actions to the pedestrian. The focus remains on the van’s mechanical failure and the resulting harm to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756178 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A tractor truck slammed into the back of a sedan on the Whitestone Expressway. Three occupants in the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed driver errors including following too closely and inexperience, causing serious harm.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:27 AM on the Whitestone Expressway involving a tractor truck and a sedan traveling northbound. The truck struck the sedan at its center back end, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan carried three occupants: a licensed male driver and two female passengers, all conscious but injured with neck trauma and complaints of whiplash. The report identifies driver errors as contributing factors: the truck driver exhibited 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience,' while the sedan driver also showed 'Driver Inexperience.' All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and none were ejected. The collision and resulting injuries highlight the dangers posed by driver errors on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

A taxi slowed on 149th Street. The driver’s eyes left the road. A woman’s leg broke beneath the wheel. She went into shock. The car sat unharmed. The street held its breath as pain and silence filled the dusk.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling on 149th Street near 5th Avenue in Queens struck a 60-year-old woman who was standing in the roadway. The report states, 'The taxi slowed, but the driver looked away.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg and went into shock. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, with additional mention of 'Passenger Distraction.' The taxi itself sustained no damage. The victim was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report identifies driver distraction as the primary cause. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain attention, resulting in severe injury to a pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A diesel truck rammed a northbound pickup on Whitestone Expressway. Metal folded, glass burst, three young adults trapped inside. Neck bones cracked. The truck’s nose caved, the pickup’s rear torn open. All survived, but the scars will linger.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck struck the rear of a northbound Ford pickup truck on Whitestone Expressway at 8:37 a.m. The report states, 'A diesel truck slammed into a northbound Ford pickup. The truck’s nose folded. The pickup’s rear tore open.' Three young adults inside the pickup—ages 20, 27, and 29—suffered severe neck crush injuries. None were ejected; all remained strapped in as the vehicle crumpled around them. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the crash. The force of the impact left the pickup’s right rear bumper destroyed and the truck’s front end mangled. The data makes clear: driver error behind the wheel of the tractor truck led to devastating injuries for the pickup’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle rider suffered a fractured shoulder and partial ejection after a side impact with an SUV on Willets Point Boulevard. Both vehicles traveled west when the SUV passed too closely, striking the motorcycle's front center and injuring the driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Willets Point Boulevard in Queens at 16:24. A 32-year-old male motorcycle driver, wearing only a helmet, was partially ejected and sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated upper arm. The motorcycle, traveling west, was struck on its center front end by a 2021 SUV also traveling west. The SUV impacted the motorcycle on its right side doors, damaging its right front quarter panel. The report cites "Passing Too Closely" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors attributed to the SUV driver. The motorcycle driver was injured but conscious. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights dangerous passing maneuvers by the SUV driver leading to severe injury of the vulnerable motorcycle rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735612 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Clintonville Street in Queens. Both drivers failed to yield right-of-way, causing a crash that struck the left side doors of one vehicle. A 23-year-old female driver suffered a shoulder abrasion but remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:10 on Clintonville Street in Queens involving two sedans traveling southeast and south. Both drivers were cited for Failure to Yield Right-of-Way, a critical factor leading to the collision. The impact hit the left side doors of the Hyundai sedan, driven by a 23-year-old female who was wearing a lap belt and harness. She sustained an upper arm and shoulder abrasion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The other vehicle, a 2014 Honda sedan, sustained front-end damage. The report highlights driver errors as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured occupant. The collision underscores the dangers of failing to yield in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mazda SUV swung right on 160th Street. Metal met flesh. A 53-year-old woman on a bike went down, her leg shattered beneath the front left wheel. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious, silent, helmetless, pain radiating through the dusk.

A collision unfolded on 160th Street near Council District 19 at 7:40 p.m., involving a Mazda SUV and a woman riding a bicycle, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling east. The cyclist, a 53-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her lower leg after the SUV’s front left quarter panel hit her. She remained conscious but was bleeding on the pavement. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was cited as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed only after the driver’s failure to yield. The impact and resulting injury underscore the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers do not yield as required.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731994 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04