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

Aug 31 - A 47-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and injured on the Grand Central Parkway. He suffered knee, lower leg, and foot injuries. The crash involved a single motorcycle traveling eastbound, with no specified contributing factors noted by police.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured and ejected from his vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway at 10:06 AM. The motorcycle, a 2017 Yamaha, was traveling straight ahead eastbound when the crash occurred. The driver sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious after the incident. The report lists the point of impact as the roof and vehicle damage to the left front bumper. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were identified in the report, with both contributing factors marked as unspecified. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash. The report focuses on the motorcycle driver’s ejection and resulting injuries without assigning blame or noting victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - Steel met steel at Cambridge Road and 188th Street. A Jeep turned left. A Dodge drove straight. The Dodge driver’s knee split, blood pooling on the asphalt. Sirens came slow. The night held its breath, danger thick in the air.

A violent head-on crash unfolded at Cambridge Road and 188th Street in Queens, where a Jeep making a left turn collided with a Dodge sedan traveling straight, according to the police report. The report states both vehicles were responding to an 'uninvolved vehicle,' leading to the collision. The Dodge driver, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The incident occurred at 1:15 a.m. The police report cites 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor for both drivers, highlighting how unpredictable maneuvers and systemic hazards can turn routine turns and straightaways into sites of violence. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the chain of driver reactions and the inherent danger of the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Jul 15 - Two sedans slammed together on Grand Central Parkway. Three people hurt. Neck, arm, and internal injuries. Shock followed. Driver error in reacting to another car triggered the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 19:51. The crash left the driver and two passengers of one sedan injured. The driver suffered internal injuries to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, while both passengers sustained neck injuries and shock. The report cites 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the main contributing factor for the driver, meaning the crash happened while responding to another vehicle not involved in the impact. The first sedan was struck on the right rear bumper; the second sedan hit with its center front end. One passenger wore no safety equipment. Driver error in reacting to an uninvolved vehicle stands out as the cause. No victim actions contributed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - A Queens crash on Kent Street left a 63-year-old SUV passenger injured with whiplash. The collision involved an eastbound SUV and a northbound bike making a left turn. Driver inattention was cited as a key factor in the impact and injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Kent Street in Queens at midnight. A 2023 SUV traveling east struck a northbound bike making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV's right front quarter panel and the bike's center front end. The SUV carried two occupants; the front passenger, a 63-year-old woman, suffered whiplash and injuries to her entire body. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in interactions between larger vehicles and vulnerable road users like cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736406 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - A 62-year-old woman driver suffered head injuries and shock after her sedan was struck on the right side by an SUV making a left turn on Francis Lewis Boulevard. Driver inattention caused the collision, leaving the sedan damaged at its front center.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:08 AM on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. A 62-year-old female sedan driver was injured, sustaining head trauma and shock, and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The collision involved a 2011 BMW sedan traveling north going straight ahead and a 2023 Toyota SUV making a left turn eastbound. The point of impact was the right side doors of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention during the left turn. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The sedan driver was not ejected but complained of pain and nausea.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 10 - Two sedans crashed on Eton Street in Queens, injuring three occupants. A driver making a left turn struck a vehicle traveling north. Injuries included elbow, back, and neck trauma. Driver inattention and unsafe speed contributed to the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Eton Street in Queens at 8:00 AM involving two sedans. One vehicle, traveling north, was struck on its left side doors by another sedan making a left turn. The northbound vehicle was driven by a 46-year-old female who was inattentive and distracted, as noted under contributing factors. The left-turning driver, a 26-year-old male, was cited for unsafe speed. Three occupants were injured: the male driver with elbow and arm injuries, the female driver with back injuries, and a 10-year-old female front passenger with neck injuries. None were ejected from their vehicles, and all were reported in shock. The collision damage was concentrated on the center front end of the northbound vehicle and the left front quarter panel of the left-turning vehicle. Driver errors of inattention, distraction, and unsafe speed were key factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A sedan traveling west on Grand Central Parkway struck a passenger inside after an improper turn at unsafe speed. The right rear passenger suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm injury. The driver’s errors caused the crash and injury.

According to the police report, a 2022 Toyota sedan was traveling west on Grand Central Parkway at 11:34 PM when the driver, a licensed female from New York, made an improper turn at unsafe speed. The vehicle’s right front bumper was the point of impact. The crash injured a 26-year-old male occupant seated in the right rear passenger position. He was not ejected but sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow and lower arm. The report explicitly cites the driver’s contributing factors as "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Speed." No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver’s errors directly caused the collision and the passenger’s serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - 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 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - 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 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Governor Hochul scrapped congestion pricing. The MTA lost a billion a year. Lawmakers scrambled. Senator Liz Krueger rejected a payroll tax hike. The MTA faces a funding cliff. Subway upgrades, elevators, and clean buses now hang in the balance.

""The [payroll] mobility tax is one, we see that as a possibility,"" -- David Weprin

On June 6, 2024, Governor Hochul’s sudden reversal on Manhattan congestion pricing sparked chaos in Albany. The plan, set to start June 30, would have charged drivers $15 to enter below 60th Street, raising $1 billion yearly for transit. Hochul proposed a payroll tax hike instead, but State Senator Liz Krueger opposed it, saying, "I do not think we have an appetite for that in the Senate." The bill’s fate is uncertain as the legislative session ends. The MTA board, city officials, and business groups all voiced concern. Projects like the Second Avenue Subway, subway accessibility, and zero-emission buses now face cancellation. No alternative funding plan exists. Vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—stand to lose the most.

• Gov. Hochul’s congestion toll flip-flop spurs mad scramble at NY Capitol, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Council members slam Hochul’s last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion pricing. Transit funding hangs in limbo. Liz Krueger says the tax lacks support. Riders and workers face uncertainty as lawmakers reject new burdens and demand fairer solutions.

On June 6, 2024, State Sen. Liz Krueger (District 28) and other lawmakers responded to a proposed New York City tax hike meant to replace the indefinitely postponed $15 congestion pricing tolls. The measure, debated as Bill 28, has not advanced in committee and faces strong opposition. The matter, described as 'a last-minute funding move that drew fierce opposition,' has Krueger stating, 'I think it does not have support.' Assemblyman Brian Cunningham echoed, 'No new taxes.' The proposal would raise the payroll mobility tax, already increased last year, to fund the MTA. Rep. Jerry Nadler and business groups argue the tax unfairly targets NYC, while congestion pricing would have spread costs regionally. With the legislative session ending, MTA projects remain at risk. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Outrage mounts as Hochul pushes last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion tolls: ‘Insulting joke’, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-06

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 47-year-old woman crossing Union Turnpike with the signal was hit by a turning SUV. She suffered hip and leg injuries. Police cite driver distraction. The car showed no damage. She remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old female pedestrian was crossing Union Turnpike at 188 Street in Queens with the signal when a 2024 Nissan SUV made a right turn and struck her with its right front bumper. The woman suffered internal injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing lawfully; her actions are not cited as a cause. This crash highlights the danger posed by distracted drivers at intersections where pedestrians have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - Two sedans crashed on Edgerton Boulevard. Metal slammed metal. Three passengers, including a child, suffered bruises and shock. Debris and ignored traffic controls fueled the impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Edgerton Boulevard in Queens at 12:15. The crash struck the right side doors of a northbound Toyota and the left front bumper of a westbound Honda. Three passengers were injured: a 33-year-old woman in the front, a 9-year-old boy in the right rear, and a child in the left rear. All suffered full-body contusions and shock. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as driver errors. The injured were restrained with lap belts, harnesses, and a child restraint. No victim actions contributed. The crash shows the danger when drivers fail to clear debris and obey signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725663 - 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 14 - A sedan slammed into another on Grand Central Parkway. The trailing driver followed too close. She suffered back injuries and shock. Both cars took heavy damage. Police cite driver error. No victim fault listed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 13:30. The lead car slowed or stopped. The trailing sedan, driven by a 38-year-old woman, struck it from behind. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. She suffered back injuries and was in shock at the scene. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error in keeping distance. No actions by the injured driver contributed to the crash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19