East Flushing’s daily toll: crushed at Pidgeon Meadow, hurt on Kissena, dead on 164th

Feb 18 - A 64-year-old man was injured crossing Holly Ave with the signal. A sedan making a left turn struck him on the left side doors. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing knee and lower leg injuries. The pedestrian remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Holly Ave at an intersection with the signal when a 2024 Honda sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, struck him on the left side doors. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor by the vehicle driver. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver was licensed in New York and operating the vehicle legally. This collision highlights the critical danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 14 - A 61-year-old woman suffered knee and head injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing at an intersection without signal. The driver’s error led to a serious collision with no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 159 Street in Queens struck a 61-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with 43 Avenue around 6:30 pm. The driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred, impacting the pedestrian with the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication. She sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, foot, and suffered a concussion, classified as injury severity level 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report does not attribute any contributing fault to the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating a 2008 Honda sedan with one occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 14 - A 62-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a left-turning SUV on 156 St in Queens. She suffered head injuries and was in shock. The vehicle’s right front bumper was damaged in the impact at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 156 St and Sanford Ave in Queens at 9:05 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a 2020 Mercedes SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right front bumper, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and was reported to be in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate any driver errors explicitly. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The incident highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - Council pushes for a study and five-year plan to install tactile paving on city sidewalks. The bill targets safer streets for blind and low-vision New Yorkers. Sponsors demand action, not delay.

Bill Int 1195-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 13, 2025. The bill, titled “A Local Law in relation to requiring a study and plan regarding the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks,” calls for a one-year study and a five-year plan to install tactile paving. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, and Chris Banks back the measure. The plan will identify high-priority blocks, consult disability advocates, and set standards for design and maintenance. Annual progress reports must go to the Mayor and Council Speaker and be posted online.

• File Int 1195-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 12 - Two sedans collided head-on in Queens. Steel twisted. A 38-year-old man, belted and conscious, suffered neck injuries. The seatbelt held him in place. The car’s frame did not. Failure to yield left a driver crushed and hurting.

On Laburnum Avenue near 158th Street in Queens, two sedans traveling straight collided head-on, according to the police report. The crash left a 38-year-old male driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, with crush injuries to his neck. The police report states, 'Two sedans met head-on. Steel kissed steel. A man, 38, stayed belted, conscious, crushed. His neck screamed. The belt held. The car did not.' The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the collision. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The impact and resulting injuries stemmed from driver error and systemic danger on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792240 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 8 - 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

Feb 5 - A sedan driver lacking experience hit a 36-year-old cyclist on Metcalf Ave. The cyclist suffered arm injuries. The crash shows the risk drivers pose to people on bikes.

According to the police report, a sedan collided with a southbound bicyclist on Metcalf Avenue in Queens at 4:30 p.m. The impact struck the cyclist’s right front quarter panel and the sedan’s left side doors. The 36-year-old male cyclist was injured in his elbow, lower arm, and hand, but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' twice as contributing factors, pointing to the sedan driver’s lack of skill as the main cause. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. This crash highlights the danger inexperienced drivers pose to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790705 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 5 - A sedan struck a 13-year-old boy in a marked crosswalk on Kissena Blvd. He suffered hip and leg injuries. The car showed no damage. The driver kept straight. No contributing factors listed.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Kissena Blvd at a marked crosswalk when a southbound sedan hit him at the center front. The boy suffered contusions and hip-upper leg injuries. He was in shock. The vehicle, a 2022 Honda, showed no damage. The driver was licensed and going straight. The report lists no contributing factors for either party. The data does not mention helmet use or signals. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790706 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 5 - 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

Feb 4 - Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Feb 2 - Trump’s push to kill congestion pricing would gut MTA funding. John Liu calls it basic maintenance, not luxury. The plan’s billion-dollar revenue keeps subways running and streets safer. Without it, transit crumbles. Riders and vulnerable road users pay the price.

On February 2, 2025, NYC officials responded to reports of a federal move to repeal congestion pricing, just weeks after its January 5 launch. At a press conference, Council Member John Liu warned, “This is not for fancy stuff. This is basic transit maintenance.” Liu said losing congestion pricing would erase a billion dollars in annual MTA revenue, threatening $15 billion in planned upgrades. The money funds new subway cars, buses, station repairs, and safety improvements. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Liu, stressing millions rely on transit daily. Both officials opposed the repeal, highlighting the risk to the city’s transit backbone. The bill is not numbered, but the threat is clear: without congestion pricing, the city’s streets and subways grow more dangerous for everyone outside a car.

• Trump repeal of congestion pricing would devastate NYC transit, city pols warn, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02

Jan 22 - 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

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 9 - A 35-year-old woman suffered a serious hip and upper leg injury after a sedan struck her at an intersection on Sanford Avenue in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian with the vehicle’s right front bumper.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Sanford Avenue struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian crossing at an intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a hip and upper leg injury classified as severity level 3 and was in shock. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, which also sustained damage. The report explicitly cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. The pedestrian was not noted to have any contributing behaviors. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. This collision highlights the critical danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 3 - A 77-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn on Sanford Avenue in Queens. The impact caused abrasions, highlighting driver error at the intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:52 on Sanford Avenue in Queens. A 77-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan, making a right turn, struck her on the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3, with abrasions reported. The driver, a licensed male from New York, caused the collision due to failure to yield right-of-way, cited twice as the contributing factor. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report emphasizes the driver's failure to yield as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04