Jamaica Estates–Holliswood: Two pedestrians gone, hundreds hurt, and speed still wins

Jan 1 - A Lexus sedan tore into darkness on Grand Central Parkway. Metal crumpled. A 23-year-old woman, unconscious, bled in the driver’s seat. Only speed stood between her and the morning. The road bore witness to violence and silence.

According to the police report, a Lexus sedan traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway near Francis Lewis Boulevard crashed at 5:09 a.m. The report states the vehicle 'slammed into the dark' and suffered severe front-end damage. The sole occupant, a 23-year-old woman behind the wheel, was found unconscious and bleeding, with injuries to her entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the only known contributing factor to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the isolation of the injured driver. The report does not cite any other contributing factors or victim behaviors. The evidence points squarely to excessive speed as the systemic danger in this early morning crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783039 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 30 - SUV driver, unlicensed, merged unsafely on Grand Central Parkway. He struck a sedan’s rear. Woman at the wheel suffered head trauma and whiplash. Unsafe lane change and tailgating led to injury.

According to the police report, an unlicensed male SUV driver merged eastbound on Grand Central Parkway and struck the left rear bumper of a sedan. The sedan’s 27-year-old female driver was injured, suffering head trauma and whiplash. She remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors, both driver errors. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The collision highlights the danger of unlicensed driving and reckless merging.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Council bill targets speed. Shared e-bikes and scooters must have speedometers. New riders get capped at 10 mph. Law aims to slow the city’s fastest wheels. Committee review underway.

Int 1145-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill would require all shared electric bikes and scooters to have working speedometers. For new riders, electric assist cuts out at 10 mph. The matter title reads: 'requiring that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, and Chris Banks back the bill. Brewer referred it to committee. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 1145-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 11 - A 65-year-old woman suffered head injuries after a sedan disregarded traffic control and turned improperly at a Queens intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle struck her, causing contusions and bruises to her head.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 188 Street and Union Turnpike in Queens at 6:27 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2021 Jeep sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with the center front end of the vehicle. The report cites the driver's errors as 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly,' indicating failure to yield to the pedestrian's right of way. The pedestrian sustained head injuries classified as contusions and bruises, with an injury severity level of 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed in New York and operating the vehicle alone. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778263 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 10 - Two sedans crashed head-on in Queens. A six-year-old girl in the back seat suffered a head injury. Police cited traffic control disregard and driver inexperience. The impact left both cars with heavy front-end damage.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on at 8:36 AM on 188th Street near Union Turnpike in Queens. A six-year-old girl, riding in the left rear seat with a child restraint, suffered a head contusion and bruising. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The child was not ejected. Both vehicles sustained center front-end damage. The drivers included one with a learner's permit and one fully licensed. A parked bus was present but not involved in the crash. The report also notes limited view obstruction contributed to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - SUV struck sedan’s rear as both moved west. Both drivers hurt—neck, knee, leg. Police cite improper lane use and unsafe lane change. Metal and flesh met. System failed to keep them apart.

According to the police report, a 2018 Dodge SUV and a 2023 Chevrolet sedan collided on Grand Central Parkway at 4:45 a.m. Both vehicles traveled west. The SUV hit the sedan’s right rear quarter panel as the sedan merged. The sedan driver, a 25-year-old woman, suffered whiplash and neck injury. The SUV driver, a 56-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both were conscious and restrained. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors, pointing to driver mistakes in lane management. No fault is assigned to the injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 24 - A pickup truck traveling north struck two parked vehicles on 188th Street in Queens. The driver suffered elbow and lower arm abrasions but was not ejected. Police cited alcohol involvement as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 3:48 AM on 188th Street in Queens, a pickup truck traveling north collided with two parked vehicles, a Jeep SUV and a sedan. The impact occurred on the left front quarter panels of the parked vehicles and the center front end of the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck, a 41-year-old male occupant, sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The driver was wearing a lap belt at the time of the crash. The police report explicitly lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the collision. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773794 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A northbound sedan struck a parked car’s rear in Queens. The young driver was hurt, suffering arm abrasions. Metal crumpled. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Utopia Parkway in Queens collided with the left rear bumper of a parked sedan. The crash injured the 19-year-old driver of the moving car, who suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, only unspecified causes. The parked car’s rear and the moving sedan’s front were both damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A 31-year-old female SUV driver suffered serious whole-body injuries and shock in a crash on Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens. The vehicle struck an object or another vehicle head-on, damaging the front center. Driver errors remain unspecified in the report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens at 10:19 AM. The involved vehicle was a 2022 Audi SUV traveling north, with two occupants. The 31-year-old female driver was injured with whole-body trauma and experienced shock. She was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, indicating a frontal collision. The report lists the driver's contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' leaving the exact cause unclear. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no additional contributing factors were noted. The report highlights the driver's injury severity and vehicle damage but does not specify any failure to yield or other driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Oct 28 - Taxi veered, struck sedan from behind. Sedan driver, 26, took chest hit, whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Road stayed hard.

According to the police report, a taxi changing lanes westbound on Grand Central Parkway struck the rear of a sedan at 13:48. The sedan’s 26-year-old male driver suffered chest injuries and whiplash. Police list "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the crash’s cause, pointing to the taxi driver’s failure to maintain control during the lane change. The sedan was hit at the center front end; the taxi took damage to its center back end. No other contributing factors or victim actions appear in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 26 - A merging sedan collided with a parked vehicle on Grand Central Parkway in Queens. The driver, a 45-year-old woman, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inexperience as a key factor in the impact that left her in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:21 AM on Grand Central Parkway in Queens. The collision involved two sedans traveling westbound. One sedan was merging when it struck the right rear quarter panel of a parked sedan. The driver of the merging vehicle, a 45-year-old female, sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The police report explicitly lists "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing factors from the injured driver. The impact point and vehicle damage confirm the merging sedan struck the parked car's rear quarter panel, underscoring the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers during lane changes or merges.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 17 - Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Sep 17 - Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Sep 14 - Two sedans collided on a Queens street. The rear vehicle struck the front car’s center back end. The rear driver suffered a back injury and shock. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men traveling south.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on 87-92 197 Street in Queens collided at 10:56. The rear vehicle, a 2008 Nissan sedan, impacted the center back end of the front vehicle, a 2017 Honda sedan. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 48-year-old man, sustained a back injury and was in shock. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor twice for the rear driver. Both drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the rear vehicle and the center back end of the front vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756285 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 13 - Intro 941 would gut New York’s citizen idling enforcement. The bill slashes bounties, lets the city ban whistleblowers, and carves out new loopholes for polluters. Critics warn it will silence the public and let engines poison streets unchecked.

Intro 941, sponsored by Council Member James Gennaro and drafted with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is under City Council debate as of September 13, 2024. The bill, titled 'Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement,' would give the city broad power to disqualify public participants from reporting idling, reduce fines for vehicles with anti-idling tech, and halve citizen bounties. It also allows school buses to idle up to 15 minutes and imposes a new code of conduct for enforcers. The Adams administration supports capping bounties but wants higher fines. Opponents, including the New York Clean Air Collective, say the bill 'weaponizes rules that chill participation' and will 'watch while companies like Con Ed, Verizon, and Amazon steal New York’s breath.' The Council is preparing for a hearing as debate intensifies.

• Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-13