Bay Terrace–Clearview: Blood on the Parkways

• Man struck and killed by two vehicles while trying to cross Belt Parkway in South Ozone Park: NYPD, amny, Published 2025-09-16

• Maniac NYC driver who mowed down teen girl after she rejected lewd advances had suspended license: docs, New York Post, Published 2025-09-14

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

Aug 30 - A southbound SUV on Cross Island Parkway was rear-ended at night. Center rear crushed. A 40-year-old front passenger suffered a back injury. A child and two men were listed with unspecified injuries.

A southbound SUV on Cross Island Parkway was rear-ended. The driver of another vehicle hit the SUV and struck its center rear. A 40-year-old front passenger complained of internal injuries and a back injury. A child and two adult men were also listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report … the SUV was "Going Straight Ahead," and the striking vehicle showed "Center Front End" damage. The police report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors. Damage is reported at the center back end of the SUV and occupants were not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Paladino moves to cut the Streets Master Plan. The bill deletes bus- and bike-lane quotas and their definitions. Accountability drops. Riders and walkers lose clear targets. The car status quo holds.

Int 1362-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, and referral the same day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino. The bill amends Admin Code §19-199.1 to repeal the definitions of “protected bicycle lane” and “protected bus lane,” and to strip lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan. The matter summary says, “This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan.” It also deletes protected lane reporting from neighborhood investment lists, while keeping other benchmarks for APS, bus stop upgrades, TSP, intersection redesigns, ramps, and pedestrian space. Status: in committee; no vote yet.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino’s bill guts the Streets Master Plan. It repeals definitions for protected bike and bus lanes and deletes their quotas. Riders and walkers lose firm targets. The city trades clear commitments for vague promises.

Int 1362-2025 sits in committee. The Council introduced it on August 14, 2025 and referred it to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19). The bill repeals the definitions of protected bicycle lane and protected bus lane in Admin Code §19-199.1. It also strikes the Streets Master Plan benchmarks that required installing protected bike and bus lanes. As the matter summary states, "This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan." Other benchmarks remain: transit signal priority, bus stop upgrades, intersection redesigns, accessible pedestrian signals, pedestrian space, and ramps. The change erases clear lane targets for cyclists and bus riders.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino’s bill guts the Streets Master Plan. It repeals definitions for protected bike and bus lanes and deletes their quotas. Riders and walkers lose firm targets. The city trades clear commitments for vague promises.

Int 1362-2025 sits in committee. The Council introduced it on August 14, 2025 and referred it to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19). The bill repeals the definitions of protected bicycle lane and protected bus lane in Admin Code §19-199.1. It also strikes the Streets Master Plan benchmarks that required installing protected bike and bus lanes. As the matter summary states, "This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan." Other benchmarks remain: transit signal priority, bus stop upgrades, intersection redesigns, accessible pedestrian signals, pedestrian space, and ramps. The change erases clear lane targets for cyclists and bus riders.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino moves to cut the Streets Master Plan. The bill deletes bus- and bike-lane quotas and their definitions. Accountability drops. Riders and walkers lose clear targets. The car status quo holds.

Int 1362-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, and referral the same day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino. The bill amends Admin Code §19-199.1 to repeal the definitions of “protected bicycle lane” and “protected bus lane,” and to strip lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan. The matter summary says, “This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan.” It also deletes protected lane reporting from neighborhood investment lists, while keeping other benchmarks for APS, bus stop upgrades, TSP, intersection redesigns, ramps, and pedestrian space. Status: in committee; no vote yet.

• File Int 1362-2025, 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 - 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 - Floods drowned Bay Terrace. Streets vanished. Leaders demand signs and real fixes. Pedestrians and cyclists still face danger. Signs warn, but water keeps coming.

On August 8, 2025, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Vickie Paladino, joined by State Sen. John Liu and others, called for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation in Bay Terrace. They urged the Department of Transportation to act after flash floods submerged the Cross Island Parkway. The matter, described as a 'call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts,' saw Richards call signage a 'small step' and Paladino stress the need for warnings. The safety analyst notes these efforts may help general conditions but do not address the core safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists or shift burdens away from vulnerable users.

• Queens leaders call for flood signage and infrastructure in Bay Terrace, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - Queens leaders kill Creedmoor’s car-free dream. The city bows to drivers. Walkers and cyclists lose. Streets stay hostile. Safety gains vanish. The promise of a people-first neighborhood dies.

On August 7, 2025, Eastern Queens Greenway condemned the city’s decision to scale back the Creedmoor redevelopment. The plan, once a bold vision for a car-free, walkable neighborhood, was gutted after pressure from local politicians like Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and Council Member Joann Ariola. The original proposal called for 2,775 homes and limited parking. Now, density drops by 27 percent. Empire State Development claims compromise, but the statement is aspirational and lacks concrete safety measures for pedestrians or cyclists. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. The city missed its chance.

• NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

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 28 - Northbound on Cross Island Parkway. A driver in an SUV made impact with the left front. Two passengers were hurt. The driver was hurt. Police recorded driver inattention and distraction.

A driver in an SUV crashed on Cross Island Parkway in Queens. The SUV was heading north. The left front took the hit. Two passengers were hurt. A 47-year-old woman suffered a shoulder bruise. A 35-year-old woman had a back abrasion. The 41-year-old male driver had a shoulder abrasion. According to the police report, the vehicle was traveling north and the point of impact was the left front bumper. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Police recorded driver inattention by the driver. The data lists three injured occupants. No other road users are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 26 - Two sedans crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard. One driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite inattention and passing too closely. Impact left scars on metal and flesh.

Two sedans collided at Francis Lewis Boulevard and 160th Street in Queens. According to the police report, one driver, a 47-year-old man, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. Three others, including both drivers and a passenger, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were making right turns at the time of the crash. The report notes damage to the right side doors of one sedan. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - A distracted driver rear-ended another vehicle on Cross Island Parkway at Utopia Parkway. A 33-year-old man driving a sedan suffered knee and lower-leg injuries and was conscious. Police recorded driver inattention as the cause.

The driver of a sedan and a driver in an unspecified vehicle collided on Cross Island Parkway at Utopia Parkway. The driver of the sedan, a 33-year-old man, suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries and complained of internal pain. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Police noted the sedan had right rear bumper damage and the other vehicle had center front end damage. Both drivers were going straight ahead before the crash. The injured driver was conscious, not ejected, and reported as wearing a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 11 - A motorcycle and a sedan collided on Bell Blvd. The motorcycle driver was ejected and injured. He suffered knee and lower-leg wounds and abrasions. Both vehicles struck front quarter panels. Police recorded no driver errors.

According to the police report, a 2020 YAMA motorcycle and a 2024 Tesla sedan, both traveling south on Bell Blvd near Cross Island Parkway, struck each other with their front quarter panels. The motorcycle driver, a 32-year-old man, was ejected and sustained knee, lower leg and foot injuries plus abrasions. The sedan driver, a 51-year-old woman, was not ejected and reported no injuries. Police recorded no specific driver errors or contributing factors in the report. The report lists both vehicles as going straight ahead and notes damage and points of impact on the motorcycle's right front quarter panel and the sedan's left front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827366 - 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