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

Jan 18 - A third lawsuit strikes at the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. David Weprin and conservative lawmakers claim the review was weak. They want the toll halted. The MTA stands firm. Transit advocates call the suit a distraction. The fight delays safer, quieter streets.

On January 18, 2024, Assemblymember David Weprin and the City Council’s Common Sense Caucus filed a federal lawsuit against the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The case, filed in Manhattan, challenges the environmental review process and seeks to block the $15 daily toll for cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The lawsuit claims, 'the city, state, and federal government did not do the proper review to protect citizens.' Council Member Bob Holden called the charge 'insane.' The MTA defends its review and says delays threaten $15 billion in transit upgrades. Transit advocates say the lawsuit is frivolous and congestion pricing’s benefits are clear. The case puts the program’s timeline—and safer streets for vulnerable road users—at risk.

• Congestion pricing | MTA hit with third lawsuit from conservative group seeking to stop Manhattan toll plan, amny.com, Published 2024-01-18

Jan 17 - Lower East Side residents and Councilman Holden sued to block the $15 congestion toll. They claim it will push traffic to the FDR, worsen air, and hurt businesses. The MTA defends the plan, citing traffic relief and transit funding.

On January 17, 2024, Councilman Robert F. Holden (District 30) joined a lawsuit challenging the MTA’s $15 congestion pricing policy. The legal action, filed by Lower East Side residents, business owners, and elected officials, claims the toll will create a traffic nightmare and worsen pollution by diverting cars to the FDR Drive. The suit argues the MTA and federal government failed to conduct an adequate environmental review and did not consider impacts on local businesses or vulnerable residents. The matter summary reads: 'Lower East Side residents sue MTA over $15 congestion toll, claiming it will create a traffic nightmare.' Holden’s involvement signals council opposition. The MTA maintains the program, approved in 2019, will cut congestion and fund transit upgrades. No independent safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Lower East Side residents sue MTA over $15 congestion toll, claiming it will create a traffic nightmare, nypost.com, Published 2024-01-17

Jan 15 - Two sedans smashed left front bumpers on Grand Central Parkway. A 63-year-old woman suffered whole-body trauma and whiplash. Police blame driver inattention. The crash shows the cost of distraction behind the wheel.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway collided at their left front bumpers. The crash occurred at 8:50 p.m. The female driver of one sedan, age 63, was injured with whole-body trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause of the crash. Both drivers were licensed and going straight ahead before impact. No contributing factors related to the injured woman's actions were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695528 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - SUV cut lanes, struck stopped cars. A 29-year-old woman at the wheel took the hit. Chest injury. Unsafe lane change and tailgating fueled the crash. Metal crumpled. Traffic stopped. System failed.

According to the police report, a crash unfolded at 7:30 AM on Grand Central Parkway in Queens. Three SUVs traveled east. One SUV changed lanes unsafely and struck a stopped vehicle. The impact hit a 29-year-old female driver, injuring her chest. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The injured driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The chain reaction shows the danger of reckless lane changes and tailgating on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - A 24-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at an intersection in Queens. The impact caused whiplash and serious leg trauma.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 188 Street and Union Turnpike in Queens at 5:27 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2021 Jeep SUV, traveling east and making a right turn, struck her with its center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the vehicle driver. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with a complaint of whiplash. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 24 - Two SUVs crashed on Midland Parkway in Queens. A 21-year-old woman behind the wheel suffered neck pain and shock. Police cited driver inattention. Metal twisted. Impact slammed doors and quarter panel.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Midland Parkway near Croydon Road in Queens. The 21-year-old female driver of a Hyundai SUV was injured, suffering neck pain and shock. The crash involved a Volkswagen SUV making a right turn and a Hyundai SUV going straight. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors. The Hyundai was struck on the left side doors and left front quarter panel. The Volkswagen sustained damage to its center back end. The report highlights driver error, specifically inattention, as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4689547 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 15 - A 62-year-old woman lost consciousness while driving north on 188 Street in Queens. Her sedan struck two parked cars, damaging their left sides. She was injured and incoherent but remained inside her vehicle. The crash happened late at night.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old female driver lost consciousness while driving her sedan northbound on 188 Street in Queens. Her vehicle collided with two parked sedans, impacting the right front bumper of her car and damaging the left side doors and rear bumpers of the parked vehicles. The driver was injured and incoherent but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the sole contributing factor. There is no indication of other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The parked vehicles were unoccupied at the time of the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 14 - A 42-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash after his sedan was struck from behind by an SUV. Both vehicles traveled eastbound. The SUV driver was distracted, causing the collision. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male driver in a 2024 BMW sedan was injured when a 2017 Kia SUV rear-ended his vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway. The SUV struck the sedan at its center back end while both vehicles were traveling straight ahead eastbound. The sedan driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687183 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 8 - Two northbound vehicles crashed on Utopia Parkway in Queens. A 41-year-old female sedan driver suffered a concussion and arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe lane changing as causes. Both vehicles sustained front and side damage.

According to the police report, a 2019 sedan and a 2016 SUV collided on Utopia Parkway in Queens. The sedan driver, a 41-year-old woman, was injured with a concussion and lower arm trauma but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash involved impact to the sedan's left front bumper and side doors, and the SUV's right front bumper. The report lists driver errors as inattention/distraction and unsafe lane changing. Both drivers were licensed and traveling northbound. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The sedan carried four occupants; the SUV had one. The injuries and damage resulted directly from the drivers' failure to maintain attention and safe lane control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677516 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - A sedan traveling east struck a parked sedan on Wexford Terrace in Queens. The driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered a head injury and concussion. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The parked vehicle was unoccupied at the time.

According to the police report, a 2017 Nissan sedan traveling east on Wexford Terrace collided with a parked 2019 Toyota sedan. The impact occurred on the left front quarter panel of the moving vehicle and the right side doors of the parked car. The driver, a 25-year-old male occupant, was injured with a head injury and concussion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The parked vehicle had no occupants at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679273 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 3 - An SUV struck a sedan from behind on Grand Central Parkway. The sedan’s driver, a 35-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and shock. Both vehicles were traveling westbound. The sedan driver wore a lap belt. The SUV’s front and sedan’s rear were damaged.

According to the police report, a 2018 Chevrolet SUV traveling westbound on Grand Central Parkway rear-ended a 2008 Nissan sedan also heading west. The sedan’s 35-year-old female driver was injured, complaining of back pain and nausea, and was not ejected. She was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not specify driver errors or violations for the SUV. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash caused moderate injuries to the sedan driver and damage to both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - Three vehicles collided in a chain reaction on Grand Central Parkway. A sedan struck a stopped SUV, which hit another sedan. The lead driver suffered neck injuries from whiplash. Slippery pavement and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Grand Central Parkway involving three vehicles traveling west. A sedan driver, 22 years old, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The sedan struck the rear of a stopped SUV, which then hit another stopped sedan. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash damage was centered on the front and rear ends of the vehicles. Driver error in maintaining safe distance on slippery pavement led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - Metal screamed on Grand Central Parkway. Three sedans crashed. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Blood ran down a driver’s face. Five packed into one car. The road did not forgive. One man, conscious, bled in the wreckage.

Three sedans collided eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three sedans struck. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Metal screamed.' A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. Five people rode in one vehicle. The KIA was demolished. The Honda’s left rear quarter panel was hit. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash left at least one person injured and multiple vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 12 - A 34-year-old male bicyclist was injured after an SUV made a left turn on Tudor Road in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and suffered contusions and lower leg injuries. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Tudor Road was struck by a 2021 SUV making a left turn westbound. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions. The report lists the contributing factor as "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" by the SUV driver, who held a permit license. The impact occurred at the center front end of the bike and the left front bumper of the SUV. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 10 - A 2-year-old boy was struck by a sedan while crossing outside an intersection in Queens. The child suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The sedan hit the pedestrian with its center front end, causing serious injury.

According to the police report, a 2-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2018 Nissan sedan traveling southwest struck him outside an intersection on 86-15 Ava Place in Queens. The sedan's center front end made impact, causing a head contusion to the child, who remained conscious. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. No driver errors or contributing factors were specified in the report. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not attribute fault or mention helmet or signaling issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669436 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 6 - Two sedans crashed on 188 Street in Queens. A 19-year-old driver suffered head trauma and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction and failure to yield as causes. Metal twisted. One driver hurt.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 188 Street in Queens. The crash injured a 19-year-old female driver, who suffered head injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The impact struck the left side doors of her Toyota and the right front bumper of a Kia stopped in traffic. The report lists Driver Inattention/Distraction and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way as contributing factors. No other factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were noted. The collision left both vehicles damaged and one driver hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668452 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - A motorcycle cut through lanes and struck two SUVs on Grand Central Parkway. The rider suffered arm injuries and abrasions. Both SUVs were damaged. Improper lane use triggered the crash.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west on Grand Central Parkway collided with two SUVs while passing improperly. The motorcycle hit the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the center back end of the other. The 38-year-old male rider was injured, suffering abrasions and an elbow-lower-arm-hand injury. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor. Both SUVs were driven by licensed female drivers. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - Two sedans crashed on Grand Central Parkway. One driver bruised head to toe. Unsafe lane change triggered the impact. Both cars took damage. The injured driver stayed conscious and buckled.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway near Francis Lewis Boulevard. One driver, a 20-year-old man, suffered contusions and bruises over his entire body but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The crash was caused by unsafe lane changing. One sedan was traveling straight west and struck the left front bumper, while the other was merging west and was hit at the right rear bumper. Both vehicles sustained bumper damage. No other contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The injured driver was not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654401 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 2 - A sedan traveling south struck a parked sedan on 178 Street in Queens. Two young passengers, ages 7 and 8, suffered neck contusions. The driver fell asleep, causing the crash. Both children were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses.

According to the police report, a 2021 Jeep sedan traveling south on 178 Street collided with a parked 2014 Ford sedan. The impact occurred on the left front quarter panel of the moving vehicle and the left side doors of the parked car. Two child passengers, ages 7 and 8, were injured with neck contusions but remained conscious. Both were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists driver errors including falling asleep and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors were noted. The parked vehicle had no occupants at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642487 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - A sedan and a pick-up truck collided on Grand Central Parkway. Two women inside the sedan suffered head and back injuries. The crash involved unsafe backing and following too closely. Both drivers were conscious and restrained at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Grand Central Parkway involving a sedan and a pick-up truck traveling east. The sedan driver, a 30-year-old woman, was backing unsafely and distracted, contributing to the crash. The front passenger, a 50-year-old woman, was injured due to the other driver's failure to maintain a safe distance, listed as following too closely. Both occupants of the sedan sustained contusions—head injury for the driver and back injury for the passenger. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report identifies driver errors as backing unsafely and following too closely. No pedestrians were involved, and no ejections occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4635984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19