Jamaica Hills Bleeds: Two Dead, Hundreds Hurt—When Will City Hall Wake Up?

Apr 8 - A moped crashed into a turning SUV on 167th Street. The rider, nineteen, was thrown partway off, blood streaming from his leg. Brakes failed. He sat stunned in the street, helmet still on, as dawn crept over Queens.

A collision unfolded on 167th Street near Highland Avenue in Queens when a moped struck a turning SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider, age nineteen, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg, remaining in shock at the scene. The incident occurred at 4:34 a.m. The police report explicitly lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical vehicle failure that led to the crash. The SUV was making a left turn while the moped was traveling straight ahead. The moped's brakes failed, resulting in a direct impact with the SUV's left front quarter panel. The rider's helmet remained on, but the report centers the mechanical failure as the primary cause. No driver errors by the SUV operator are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 26 - A sedan making a left turn struck a westbound moped carrying two men. Both moped occupants were ejected and suffered hip and upper leg injuries. Driver distraction and failure to yield right-of-way caused the violent collision on Main Street.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:02 AM on Main Street near Queens Boulevard. A 2011 Dodge sedan was making a left turn when it collided with a 2023 Jiajue moped traveling straight westbound. The moped carried two male occupants, ages 25 and 28, both ejected from the vehicle and injured with hip and upper leg trauma. The moped driver was in shock with injury severity rated 3. The sedan driver, licensed in New York, was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way,' key factors leading to the crash. The passenger on the moped was also ejected and injured. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the sedan's left front bumper and the moped's center front end. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712642 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 25 - An SUV traveling east struck a sedan from behind on Grand Central Parkway. The impact hit the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. A 45-year-old female passenger in the SUV suffered a back injury but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Grand Central Parkway at 12:26. A 2021 Toyota SUV traveling east collided with a sedan, impacting the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. The SUV carried two occupants, including a 45-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear who sustained a back injury classified as severity 3. She was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The sedan had no occupants at the time. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The injury to the passenger highlights the violent forces involved in the collision despite restraint use. The absence of identified driver errors leaves the cause unspecified but confirms the serious consequences of the rear-end impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712425 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 23 - Two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at dawn. A driver and passenger suffered leg contusions and shock. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as causes.

According to the police report, at 5:32 AM on Grand Central Parkway in Queens, two sedans collided. A 2002 Toyota sedan, merging eastbound, was struck in the left rear bumper by a 2019 Nissan sedan traveling straight. The impact injured the Toyota's driver and the Nissan's front passenger, both sustaining bruises to their knees, lower legs, and feet, and both were in shock. The report lists driver inattention, distraction, and following too closely as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 19 - Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Mar 19 - Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Mar 7 - Two sedans crashed at 139 Street and Hillside Avenue in Queens. A female driver suffered chest injuries and bruising. The collision involved a left turn and failure to yield right-of-way. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:06 AM on 139 Street near Hillside Avenue in Queens. Two sedans collided: a 2021 Porsche traveling west and a 2011 GMC making a left turn northeast. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the Porsche and the center front end of the GMC. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error. The female driver of the Porsche, age 49, was injured with chest contusions and bruising but was not ejected and remained conscious. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. The GMC driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the left turn. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the front ends. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 5 - A 76-year-old man crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing serious abdominal and pelvic injuries. The pedestrian remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 84 Avenue and 170 Street in Queens at 11:35 AM. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a northbound sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, made a left turn. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors on the driver's part. The pedestrian suffered internal injuries to the abdomen and pelvis but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage despite impact at the center front end. The report highlights driver errors as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 4 - A westbound sedan collided with a parked vehicle on Highland Avenue in Queens. The impact struck the left side doors of the parked car and the right front bumper of the moving sedan. A rear-seat passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash.

According to the police report, at 9:02 AM on Highland Avenue in Queens, a 2023 Kia sedan traveling westbound struck a 2019 Honda sedan that was parked. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the moving sedan and the left side doors of the parked vehicle. The Kia had two occupants, including a 44-year-old female passenger seated in the right rear who was injured with head trauma and whiplash. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The driver of the moving sedan was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the collision involved a moving vehicle striking a stationary one, indicating a failure to maintain control or awareness. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706993 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 17 - A northbound sedan collided with a parked SUV on Main Street in Queens. Both drivers suffered whiplash and back injuries. The impact damaged the right front bumper of the sedan and the left rear bumper of the SUV. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, at 12:15 PM in Queens near 85-15 Main Street, a 2008 sedan traveling north struck a parked 2020 SUV. The sedan's right front bumper impacted the left rear bumper of the stationary vehicle, causing damage to both. The sedan driver, a 28-year-old male, and the SUV driver, a 51-year-old female, were both injured, reporting whiplash and back pain. Both were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver error was identified. The SUV was starting from parking, and the sedan was going straight ahead. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - A moped traveling east collided with a parked vehicle on 85 Road in Queens. The moped driver, a 41-year-old man, suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. The impact damaged the front center of the moped and the right side doors of the parked vehicle.

According to the police report, at 15:23 in Queens near 141-35 85 Road, a moped traveling east struck a parked vehicle. The moped driver, a 41-year-old man, was injured with a contusion and bruising to his shoulder and upper arm. The moped sustained damage to its center front end, while the parked vehicle was damaged on its right side doors. The report lists the moped driver’s contributing factors as unspecified, with no mention of failure to yield or other driver errors. The parked vehicle was stationary at the time of impact. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behavior in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 4 - Eighteen lawmakers, including Joseph Borelli, sued to stop New York’s $15 congestion pricing. They claim the toll shifts pollution, burdens drivers, and fails communities with poor transit. The MTA defends the plan, saying it funds safer, less crowded streets.

On February 4, 2024, Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (District 51) joined seventeen other lawmakers in a federal lawsuit to block New York City’s $15 congestion pricing toll for Midtown Manhattan. The suit, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, argues the toll 'is a detriment to those that will be affected by this toll, environmentally and financially,' and claims it will shift traffic and pollution to other neighborhoods. Other plaintiffs include State Senators James Skoufis, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Iwen Chu, Monica Martinez, and Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Jamie Williams, and David Weprin. The MTA, backed by Governor Hochul, says the toll will raise $1 billion yearly for transit upgrades, promising safer, less congested streets and better transit for the majority who rely on public transportation. The case highlights the political and environmental battle over how to fund and shape New York’s streets.

• 18 NY lawmakers join suit to block $15 congestion toll, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-04