No More Blood on Northern Boulevard

Jan 13 - Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 9 - Senate passed S 840. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. No mention of direct safety gains for people on foot or bike.

Senate bill S 840, sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy and co-sponsored by Robert Rolison, passed committee on January 9, 2023. The bill, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects; relates to the state share of municipal projects where the municipality funds a complete street design,' sets funding formulas for state and municipal projects. Seventeen senators voted yes. The bill does not address direct safety impacts for vulnerable road users. No analyst note on safety.

• File S 840, Open States, Published 2023-01-09

Jan 4 - A 57-year-old woman was struck while crossing a marked crosswalk on Kissena Boulevard. The sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Kissena Boulevard made a left turn and struck a 57-year-old female pedestrian crossing a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was injured, sustaining a head contusion and was conscious after the collision. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor for the driver. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal at the intersection when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - A 67-year-old woman crossing Linden Place with the signal was struck by an eastbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage. Police cited failure to yield as the cause.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling east on Linden Place failed to yield right-of-way to a 67-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection near 35 Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The cyclist was the sole occupant of the bike and showed no vehicle damage or point of impact damage. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. No other contributing factors or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - Two SUVs crashed head-on on Bowne Street. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way. Damage was to the front ends of both vehicles.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Bowne Street. Both drivers were male, licensed, and traveling straight ahead—one westbound, the other southbound. The point of impact was the right front bumper of one SUV and the center front end of the other. One driver, age 41, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - A 41-year-old woman was struck by an SUV on Parsons Boulevard. She was unconscious with injuries to her entire body. The driver was traveling south at unsafe speed. The impact hit the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was off the roadway.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2005 Ford SUV traveling south on Parsons Boulevard. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when the collision occurred. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was found unconscious. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication of pedestrian error or safety equipment involved. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 24 - Two sedans crashed on Northern Boulevard. The unlicensed, distracted driver changed lanes and struck another car. The passenger was scraped head to toe. The other driver was knocked out, bleeding from the head.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard when an unlicensed driver, distracted and inattentive, changed lanes and struck another vehicle. The front passenger in the unlicensed driver’s car suffered abrasions over his entire body. The licensed driver of the other sedan was found unconscious with a head injury and minor bleeding. Both men were injured but not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592758 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 22 - City officials push Albany to drop the drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent. The bill lingers in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 New Yorkers last year. Messaging still centers on not drinking, not on not driving.

Senate Bill sponsored by John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon seeks to lower New York’s DWI blood-alcohol threshold from 0.08% to 0.05%. The bill, re-submitted in the last legislative session, remains stuck in committee. At a December 22, 2022 press conference, DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD’s Kim Royster also spoke, focusing on enforcement and urging drivers to avoid drinking before driving. Advocates like Alisa McMorris of Mothers Against Drunk Driving called for stronger messaging: 'We want people to make choices before they leave their home.' Despite evidence that lowering the threshold could cut traffic deaths by 10%, city messaging still stops short of telling people not to drive to events where they plan to drink.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 22 - City and state officials want to drop the legal blood-alcohol limit to 0.05. The bill sits in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 people last year. Officials talk tough but focus on drinking, not driving. The danger remains for those outside the car.

Senate and Assembly bill, sponsored by Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, seeks to lower New York’s drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent BAC. Announced at a December 22, 2022 press conference, the bill has stalled in committee for years. The matter aims to redefine DWI: 'driving while intoxicated would be defined as anything above a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent.' Simon and Liu back the measure; city DOT and NYPD leaders joined them. DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' In 2021, 42 people died in drunk driving crashes, up 60 percent from previous years. Officials promise enforcement and education, but their messaging targets drinking, not the act of driving. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while the law lags.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 18 - Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard. A left-turning car crossed into the path of another going straight. A front passenger suffered a head abrasion. Impact crushed metal. Night hid nothing.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Northern Boulevard. One sedan was traveling east, going straight, while the other attempted a left turn. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The front passenger in the straight-moving sedan, a 33-year-old woman, sustained a head abrasion but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both vehicles suffered damage: the straight-moving sedan on its left front bumper, and the turning sedan on its right rear bumper. The crash highlights driver error related to following too closely and improper left turn maneuvering.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 17 - A 43-year-old man was struck while crossing Cherry Avenue against the signal. The sedan, traveling east, hit him on the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his entire body. The driver was distracted outside the car.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2017 BMW sedan traveling east on Cherry Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body but remained conscious. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as a contributing factor for the driver. The vehicle showed no damage. No other driver errors or victim factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590577 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 14 - Sedan turning left slammed into e-bike rider heading north on Prince Street. Rider, 35, suffered knee and leg abrasions. Both drivers failed to yield. Sedan’s front end crumpled. E-bike undamaged.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn collided with an e-bike traveling straight north on Prince Street at 37 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 35-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his knee and lower leg. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor for both drivers. The sedan’s front end was damaged, while the e-bike showed no damage. The rider was not ejected and remained conscious. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - A Nissan SUV struck a stopped Nissan sedan on Northern Boulevard. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old man, suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation. The SUV hit the sedan’s left rear bumper with its right front. Both vehicles traveled eastbound.

According to the police report, a Nissan SUV traveling east on Northern Boulevard rear-ended a stopped Nissan sedan. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old male occupant, was injured with a fractured and dislocated upper arm and shoulder. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The SUV impacted the sedan’s left rear bumper with its right front bumper. The sedan driver was restrained by a lap belt and remained conscious. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - Two sedans collided on Roosevelt Avenue at 7:45 a.m. One driver suffered a neck injury. Both vehicles showed no damage. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The injured driver remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on Roosevelt Avenue collided. One driver, a 32-year-old man, sustained a neck injury but remained conscious and was not ejected from his vehicle. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles showed no visible damage, and one vehicle was initially parked while the other was going straight ahead. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The injured driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585991 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A 73-year-old man died under the wheels of a Ford van at a notorious Staten Island crossing. The driver walked free. The intersection lacked a proper pedestrian signal. Forest Avenue is a killing ground. City leaders have failed to act. Blood stains the street.

On November 21, 2022, Yingqui Liu, age 73, was struck and killed by a turning van at South Avenue and Forest Avenue, Staten Island. No charges were filed against the driver. The intersection, notorious for crashes, lacked a pedestrian signal on the western crosswalk. According to city statistics, Forest Avenue saw 60 crashes and 33 injuries in one year, with three deaths since 2019. Rose Uscianowski of Transportation Alternatives called the killing 'heartbreaking and outrageous,' demanding safe pedestrian and bike access between the Bayonne and Goethals bridges. She said, 'Crossing the street should not be a death sentence.' At least 99 pedestrians have died on city streets this year, making it the second deadliest since Vision Zero began. Forty-two seniors have been killed, three-quarters while walking. The city has not improved this deadly stretch.

• Pedestrian Struck and Killed on Dangerous Staten Island Arterial; No Charges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-22

Nov 20 - A BMW tore through a red light on 37th Avenue. Steel met steel. The driver, twenty-five, died at the scene. The night held its breath. Traffic control was ignored. The street stayed silent. One life ended in a flash.

A deadly crash unfolded on 37th Avenue near Parsons Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a 25-year-old man driving a BMW westbound ignored a traffic signal and crashed head-on. The driver suffered fatal head injuries and died behind the wheel. The report states: “Traffic Control Disregarded.” No other injuries were specified for the other listed occupants. The data lists no helmet or signal issues. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when traffic controls are ignored. The scene was marked by twisted metal and silence, the cost of a single mistake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 10 - A 14-year-old girl crossing Bayside Avenue with the signal was struck by a southbound sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The girl suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. Glare impaired the driver's vision.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Bayside Avenue at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a southbound sedan, making a left turn, struck her. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. Additionally, glare affected the driver's visibility. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious after the impact. The sedan showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash highlights a failure by the driver to yield to a lawful pedestrian crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581052 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 10 - Two sedans collided on College Point Boulevard in Queens. One driver followed too closely and struck the rear of a parked car. The striking driver, a 38-year-old woman, suffered back injuries. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage respectively.

According to the police report, the crash occurred when a sedan traveling south on College Point Boulevard struck the rear of another parked sedan. The driver of the striking vehicle, a 38-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and internal complaints. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The impact damaged the center front end of the striking car and the center back end of the parked vehicle. The injured driver was not ejected and was wearing unspecified safety equipment. The crash highlights driver error in maintaining safe distance and backing maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - Two SUVs collided on Parsons Boulevard in Queens. One vehicle was stopped in traffic; the other was moving northbound. The impact injured a 48-year-old male passenger in the rear seat, who lost consciousness and suffered a head injury.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Parsons Boulevard in Queens. One vehicle was stopped in traffic, and the other was traveling straight ahead northbound. The collision involved the center front end of the stopped vehicle and the left front bumper of the moving vehicle. A 48-year-old male passenger seated in the middle rear seat of one SUV was injured, suffering a head injury and unconsciousness. The report lists 'Passenger Distraction' as a contributing factor. No driver license issues were noted for the moving vehicle's driver, who was male and licensed. The injured passenger was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. The report does not specify other contributing factors or blame the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581049 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - A sedan hit a man head-on. His body crumpled under the car. He lay still, crushed and unconscious. Traffic rolled past. The street swallowed another life. The city did not stop.

A 34-year-old man was killed when a 2012 Nissan sedan struck him head-on on the northbound Van Wyck Expressway. According to the police report, the man stepped into the roadway and was hit by the sedan's center front end. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries and was found unconscious at the scene. No injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The police report does not cite any driver errors or additional contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578016 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19