No More Dead Ends: Demand Safe Streets Now

Sep 1 - The driver of a 2010 Lexus sedan disregarded traffic control and struck a 14‑year‑old boy on a bicycle on 73 Ave at 197 St in Queens. The boy suffered whole‑body abrasions and remained conscious. Police recorded Traffic Control Disregarded.

According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Traffic Control Disregarded." The driver of a 2010 Lexus sedan was traveling north on 73 Avenue, going straight, when he struck a 14-year-old male bicyclist at 197 Street in Queens. The bicyclist suffered whole-body abrasions, reported pain across his body, and remained conscious at the scene. Police noted center-front damage to the Lexus consistent with a direct impact. Driver error recorded in the report is Traffic Control Disregarded. The record lists the bicyclist as injured; no vehicle occupants are recorded as injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838981 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 30 - Two eastbound SUVs slowed on Horace Harding. One closed too fast. Metal kissed bumpers. Both drivers hurt. One lost consciousness. Following too closely wrote the script.

Two eastbound SUVs collided near 190-02 Horace Harding Expy in Queens. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping. Two male drivers were injured; one reported pain, the other was unconscious with arm injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Following Too Closely.” The impact landed on the Ford’s right front bumper and the Jeep’s left rear, consistent with a rear-end strike. These driver errors—Following Too Closely—are cited for involved parties. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed in the data. No helmet or signal issues were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 29 - An SUV turned off Francis Lewis onto the LIE. Impact to the left front. Airbags popped. The passenger took a head hit and bruised. The driver burned. Night, Queens. Metal wins. Flesh pays.

A Ford SUV, traveling south and making a right turn from Francis Lewis Boulevard toward the Long Island Expressway, struck with its left front bumper. A front-seat passenger suffered a head injury and a driver sustained a minor burn. According to the police report, contributing factors for both occupants were listed as “Unspecified.” The vehicle was making a right turn, and the point of impact was the left front bumper, indicating a turning crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported. Driver errors explicitly listed are limited to Unspecified; no other contributing factors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838450 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 15 - The driver of a sedan turned right and hit a standing motorized rider at 75 Ave and 181 St. The 26-year-old rider was ejected, suffered a head injury, and was semiconscious with minor bleeding. Two small children were in the car and reported unhurt.

According to the police report, 'View Obstructed/Limited' was listed as a contributing factor. The driver of a 2021 Mercedes sedan made a right turn on 75 Ave at 181 St and struck a standing motorized rider. The 26-year-old rider was ejected, suffered a head injury, was semiconscious, and had minor bleeding. Police recorded the point of impact as the sedan's right front quarter panel and the sedan's pre-crash action as Making Right Turn. The sedan carried three occupants; two young children in the car were recorded with no reported injuries. No other contributing driver violations are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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.

"Just as Queens was about to get hundreds of millions of dollars in the federal infrastructure plan to address some of the severe flooding issues right here in Queens, the Trump administration yanked it, revoked that funding, and this is what we’re going to have to be faced with even more." -- John Liu

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 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 29 - City and business leaders back a $3 million study to overhaul 14th Street. The plan aims to carve out space for walkers, bikers, and buses. Cars lose ground. Streets grow safer. The city bets on change.

On July 29, 2025, Christopher Bonanos reported a sweeping proposal to remake 14th Street. No council bill number or committee is listed. The Adams administration, local BIDs, and the NYC Economic Development Corporation pledged $3 million for a 24-month study. The plan, described as 'transformative' and 'generational,' aims to create a 'complete street' for pedestrians, cyclists, delivery workers, and transit. Mayor Eric Adams and city officials support the move. According to safety analysts, such overhauls, especially when led by city and business groups, often yield safer, more equitable streets for vulnerable users.

• Everyone Wants to Fix 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 18 - A speeding sedan hit two teen cyclists at 61-24 190 St. Both boys were hurt. Police cite unsafe speed and traffic control ignored. Metal met flesh. The street did not forgive.

Two teenage boys riding a bike were struck by a sedan at 61-24 190 St in Queens. Both cyclists, ages 14 and 15, suffered injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed and disregard for traffic control. The sedan, driven by a 39-year-old woman, hit the cyclists as both vehicles went straight. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Neither cyclist wore safety equipment, but the primary causes remain driver error. The crash left bruises and pain. The street became a site of harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 17 - The driver of a box truck rear-ended a sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Three people in the sedan were injured, including the driver. The sedan’s rear was crushed and the truck’s front was damaged.

According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east and going straight ahead when the collision occurred. The driver of a box truck hit the center rear of a sedan. The sedan’s rear was crushed and the truck’s center front was damaged. Three people in the sedan were injured: a 37-year-old female driver with shoulder and upper-arm injuries, a 31-year-old male front passenger with hip and upper-leg injuries, and an 18-year-old female rear passenger with injuries to her entire body. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 15 - Two SUVs crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A driver and a young passenger suffered neck and back injuries. The cause remains unclear. Metal struck metal. Pain followed.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided at Francis Lewis Boulevard and 73rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a 57-year-old female driver and an 18-year-old female rear passenger were injured, suffering neck and back injuries. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt and others shaken, but the police report does not detail what led to the impact. No driver errors are listed in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830426 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and park in bus lanes. Double-parking allowed to help passengers. Streets grow tighter. Danger for walkers and riders rises.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Members Julie Menin and Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' The bill grants ambulettes the right to drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes while helping passengers. Menin and Lee sponsor the measure, which was referred to committee on July 14. No safety analysis was provided. The change would squeeze vulnerable road users, making sidewalks and crossings riskier.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14