No More Blood on Northern Boulevard

Jun 4 - A Lexus SUV crashed into the back of a city bus on Union Street. The SUV’s front crumpled. The 63-year-old driver suffered head trauma and crushed limbs. The bus stood firm. Following too closely led to blood and metal.

A violent collision unfolded on Union Street when a Lexus SUV rear-ended a city bus, according to the police report. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled north. The SUV’s front end folded, and its sole occupant—a 63-year-old man—remained conscious despite sustaining head trauma and crush injuries. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both attributed to the SUV driver. The bus, a 2016 New Flyer, showed no damage and its driver was uninjured. The report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The impact underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to maintain safe following distances and proper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730112 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - A distracted SUV driver made a left turn on Kissena Boulevard, colliding with a northbound bicyclist. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg bruises but remained conscious. The crash exposed dangers of driver inattention in Queens’ streets.

According to the police report, at 1:45 AM on Kissena Boulevard in Queens, a 2020 Lexus SUV, traveling south, was making a left turn when it struck a 26-year-old male bicyclist traveling northbound straight ahead. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end. The bicyclist was injured with contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's failure to yield or properly observe the bicyclist. No contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior or safety equipment were noted. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 29 - A Mercedes SUV hit a 60-year-old man crossing 41st Avenue. The impact split his head. Blood pooled on the hot pavement. The SUV showed no mark. The man stayed conscious, motionless, as traffic moved around him.

A 60-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a westbound Mercedes SUV while crossing 41st Avenue, near Flushing, according to the police report. The report states the man was crossing without a signal when the SUV, traveling straight ahead, hit him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious, lying still on the pavement. Blood pooled at the scene. The SUV bore no visible damage. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both driver and pedestrian. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the violent impact and the systemic danger posed by large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 29 - A 53-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after a sedan struck her at an intersection in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal and left unconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old female pedestrian was injured in a collision with a 2017 sedan traveling westbound on Northern Boulevard near Main Street in Queens at 9:50 a.m. The driver, an unlicensed male, was going straight ahead when the vehicle's center front end impacted the pedestrian. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection when struck, resulting in a severe head injury and unconsciousness. The vehicle sustained damage to the right front bumper. The report emphasizes driver errors without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728672 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - A northbound SUV struck a 13-year-old boy head-on as he crossed Parsons Boulevard. His body was crushed, yet he stayed conscious. The SUV showed no damage. The street offered no protection. No driver errors were cited in the report.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a northbound SUV while crossing Parsons Boulevard, according to the police report. The boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes the SUV sustained no damage. The collision occurred as the boy was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' and not at an intersection. The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian, and does not cite any explicit driver error such as 'Failure to Yield.' The narrative underscores that 'the street offered no protection.' The focus remains on the impact and the lack of systemic safeguards for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728478 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

May 26 - A 60-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn on Union Street in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing knee and lower leg injuries. The pedestrian remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Union Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens at 5:31 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2009 Honda SUV, traveling southwest and making a left turn, struck him with the vehicle's center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The driver was licensed in New York and alone in the vehicle. Vehicle damage was noted at the center front end, confirming the point of impact. No pedestrian behavior was listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A 27-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a parked SUV on Roosevelt Avenue, face-first. He flew forward, blood pooling on the pavement. He was conscious, bleeding hard, his body sprawled on the street. Metal and flesh collided in Queens.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old man riding an e-bike was traveling east on Roosevelt Avenue near Parsons Boulevard when he collided with the back of a parked SUV. The report states the e-bike rider 'slammed into the back of a parked SUV,' resulting in the rider being ejected and landing face-first on the pavement. The report describes 'blood pooled on the pavement' and notes the rider was 'conscious' but suffering from 'severe bleeding.' The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors to the crash. The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of the collision. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned after the driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal mix of speed, steel, and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A 51-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured when a sedan struck his left rear bumper on College Point Boulevard. The scooter driver suffered bruises and arm injuries. Police cited the sedan driver’s failure to yield and improper lane use as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:50 AM on College Point Boulevard in Queens. A sedan traveling southbound struck the left rear bumper of an e-scooter making a U-turn. The e-scooter driver, a 51-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report identifies the sedan driver’s errors as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The e-scooter sustained no damage, but the sedan’s left rear bumper was damaged. The scooter driver was conscious and not ejected. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver failures to yield and improper lane maneuvers in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-05-21

May 20 - A 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The impact caused head injuries and bruising. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, at 17:50 on Union Street, a 2009 Toyota SUV traveling north made a right turn and struck a 75-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and contusions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. The vehicle sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the failure to yield created a dangerous condition resulting in serious injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 18 - Two bikes slammed together at Roosevelt Avenue and College Point Boulevard. One rider flew off, hit the ground, scraped up, leg torn. Police blame inattention. Both bikes smashed front to front.

According to the police report, two bicyclists collided at 12:49 on Roosevelt Avenue near College Point Boulevard. One rider, a 35-year-old man, was ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious at the scene. The crash involved one bike making a left turn and another going straight. Both bikes took damage to their center front ends. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 8 - A female SUV driver making a left turn struck a southbound sedan on 40 Road in Queens. Both drivers were injured, suffering bruises and contusions. The SUV’s failure to yield right-of-way caused the crash, damaging the vehicles’ front ends.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 40 Road near College Point Boulevard in Queens at 12:32 PM. A 25-year-old female SUV driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way, colliding with a southbound sedan. The SUV’s right front bumper and quarter panel struck the sedan’s center front end. Both drivers, a 25-year-old SUV driver and a 56-year-old sedan passenger, were injured with contusions and bruises to the neck and arm areas but were conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the SUV driver. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed female New York residents. The crash highlights the dangers of left-turn maneuvers without yielding in busy Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A sedan struck a 17-year-old crossing Union Street with the signal. The teen suffered bruises to his leg and knee. Police cite driver’s failure to yield. The car showed no damage. The boy stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Union Street at 35 Avenue in Queens with the crossing signal when a northbound 2017 Toyota sedan hit him. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the driver’s error. The teen suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the pedestrian, yet the vehicle had no damage. The driver was licensed and going straight. No victim actions contributed to the crash; the driver’s failure to yield caused the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - A 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a vehicle backing up on 137 Street in Queens. The impact fractured and dislocated her elbow and lower arm. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 137 Street and 32 Avenue in Queens at 13:08. The 75-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling west was backing up and struck her at the center back end. The pedestrian suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated elbow and lower arm, with injury severity rated 3. The report explicitly states the contributing factor as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the vehicle driver. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The vehicle had no occupants and sustained damage at the center back end. This crash highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to yield while reversing in pedestrian areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - SUV failed to yield on Northern Boulevard. Struck a 77-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered head injuries and abrasions. Impact came from the left front bumper. Driver's view was obstructed.

According to the police report, a 2021 BMW SUV was making a left turn westbound on Northern Boulevard at 10:30 when it struck a 77-year-old woman. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection with the signal. She suffered a head injury and abrasions. The point of impact was the SUV's left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed. The pedestrian was conscious but injured. The crash underscores the danger of driver errors and limited visibility during left turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18