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

Aug 27 - The driver of an SUV rear-ended a stopped BMW on 159 St near Parsons Blvd in Queens. Both male drivers were injured. According to the police report, contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction."

According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The driver of an SUV was traveling east on 159 St and struck the center back end of a stopped BMW at Parsons Blvd. The SUV sustained center-front damage; the sedan sustained center-back damage. Both drivers were injured. A 30-year-old man complained of back and internal pain. A 57-year-old man complained of knee, lower-leg, foot and internal pain. Crash and person records list Driver Inattention/Distraction as the recorded error. No other contributing factors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 26 - Two westbound sedans met. Front to back. Metal bit metal by Grand Central Parkway. One driver suffered neck injury. Traffic did what it does. It hurt people.

Two sedans, both westbound on 164 Street near the Grand Central Parkway, collided front-to-rear. One driver sustained a neck injury and was conscious; three other occupants were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, both vehicles were “Going Straight Ahead,” with one striking with a “Center Front End” and the other damaged at the “Center Back End.” The report lists contributing factors as “Unspecified.” Driver errors explicitly listed include none beyond the rear-end configuration indicated in the damage and impact fields. No contributing factors cite helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837705 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 26 - A motorcycle hit a southbound sedan at Main Street off the Grand Central. The bike struck the car’s right rear. A 19-year-old rider was ejected and injured. Passengers, including two children, were hurt. Distraction and signal disregard ruled the scene.

A sedan traveling south and a motorcycle traveling east collided near Main Street off the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. The motorcycle hit the sedan’s right rear quarter. A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was ejected and injured; multiple sedan passengers, including an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, reported injuries. According to the police report “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Traffic Control Disregarded” contributed to the crash. These driver errors appear across involved parties in the data. Helmet use is not cited; the rider is listed with no safety equipment. The impact points and directions show a high-risk contact at the sedan’s rear quarter and the motorcycle’s front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 18 - The driver of a sedan turned right on 134 St at Union Tpke and hit a northbound cyclist. The 42-year-old man was ejected and found unconscious. He suffered hip and upper-leg injuries and a bruise. Police listed driver inattention/distraction.

A sedan driver turned right at 134 St and Union Turnpike and struck a northbound bicyclist. The rider, a 42-year-old man, was ejected and found unconscious with hip and upper-leg injuries and a contusion. According to the police report, the crash involved "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction as a contributing factor. The bike was hit at the center back end; the sedan made impact with its right front bumper. The report lists the bicyclist as injured and ejected. No other driver errors are recorded in the provided data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835834 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 12 - A speeding car tore through a stop sign in Astoria, struck a parked coffee truck, killed two men on foot, and left wreckage and grief behind.

ABC7 reported on August 12, 2025, that an 84-year-old driver sped through a stop sign at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street, crashing into a parked coffee truck and striking two men. Both pedestrians, ages 41 and 70, died. The Toyota then spun and hit a Volvo making a U-turn. Witness George Giakoumis said the car was "going at least 60+ miles an hour just right through the stop sign." The crash highlights persistent speeding and dangerous driving at this Astoria intersection. The article notes the area is "prone to speeding and racing," raising questions about street safety and enforcement.

• Speeding Car Slams Coffee Truck, Kills Two, ABC7, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 8 - At Grand Central Parkway and Main Street, a driver making a left, unlicensed. Another went straight. The sedans hit front corners. A 39-year-old man suffered back injuries and shock.

Two drivers in sedans crashed at Grand Central Parkway and Main Street. One driver, unlicensed, was making a left turn. The other drove straight. According to the police report, a 39-year-old man suffered back injuries and shock. The other driver was not reported injured. Police recorded the turning driver’s license status as 'Unlicensed.' No other contributing factors were specified in the data. Points of impact were the right front bumper of the turning car and the left front bumper of the straight-moving car. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed as involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 8 - Businesses sued to block protected bike lanes on 31st Street. DOT stands firm. Two killed, 190 injured here since 2020. The street stays dangerous. The fight is over space, speed, and who gets to survive.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports that Astoria businesses sued to stop a DOT project adding protected bike lanes and traffic calming to 31st Street. The suit claims the redesign would "jeopardize" safety and hinder emergency access, despite DOT data showing 190 injuries and two deaths in the area since 2020. DOT says the project targets "unpredictable vehicle movements" and double parking, with design elements "found on streets across the city." The agency says it incorporated feedback from 90% of local businesses. The legal fight spotlights tension between safety improvements and business concerns, as the corridor ranks among Queens' most crash-prone.

• Astoria Bike Lane Lawsuit Challenges Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

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 31 - Two SUVs collided on Gothic Drive near 168 Place in Queens. Both drivers, women aged 46 and 47, were injured. One reported a head injury; the other an upper-arm/shoulder injury. Both complained of whiplash. Police listed contributing factors as 'Unspecified'.

According to the police report, two drivers in SUVs collided on Gothic Drive near 168 Place in Queens. Both drivers were women, ages 46 and 47. One driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash. The other suffered an upper-arm/shoulder injury and also complained of whiplash. Police recorded the Jeep’s point of impact as the right-front bumper and the Acura’s point of impact as the left-side doors. Both drivers were conscious and not ejected. Police recorded contributing factors for each person as 'Unspecified'. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 25 - Drivers in a bus and a sedan crashed on Grand Central Parkway at Union Turnpike in Queens. A 23-year-old woman driver suffered neck pain and shock. Police listed the cause as “Unspecified.” Metal, sirens, and fear on the shoulder.

A driver in a sedan and a bus driver collided on Grand Central Parkway near Union Turnpike in Queens. According to the police report, a 23-year-old woman driving the sedan reported neck pain and shock. The bus driver, a 40-year-old man, was not reported injured. Two additional people were listed with “Unspecified” injury status. The police report records the contributing factor as “Unspecified”; no specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were noted in the data. The sedan sustained damage at the right front bumper; the bus showed no damage. The facts point to a routine crash on a high-speed corridor that left a young woman hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 19 - Two sedans slammed together on Van Wyck. Passengers took the hit. Neck injuries, bruises. Police say drivers followed too close. Metal crumpled. Safety failed. System let them down.

A rear-end collision involving two sedans on Van Wyck Expressway in Queens left multiple passengers injured. According to the police report, both drivers were 'Following Too Closely.' One passenger suffered neck injuries and a bruise, another reported whiplash. The crash involved adults and a child, all listed as occupants. The impact struck the center front and back ends of the vehicles. Driver error—following too closely—was the sole contributing factor cited in the report. No other causes were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 14 - A Jeep SUV hit a 67-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Highland Ave. She suffered a back injury and fractures. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed open. Danger lingers.

A Jeep SUV making a left turn on Highland Ave struck a 67-year-old woman as she crossed at the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a back injury and fractures. The driver and a passenger were not seriously hurt. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the main contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing legally. The report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827850 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 13 - A Lexus driver with a suspended license struck and killed a 15-year-old on an e-bike in Nassau County. The driver fled but was caught. The teen died at the scene. The car had dozens of prior violations.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-13), a 15-year-old fleeing police on an e-bike was killed by a Lexus driver with a suspended license and a long record of violations. The driver, Ruyan Ali, crossed into oncoming traffic to pass a stopped car and struck the teen, then tried to flee. Police said Ali had 'at least three license suspensions' and the Lexus had '53 speeding camera violations.' Ali faces charges for leaving the scene and unlicensed operation. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Teen On E-Bike, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 12 - A driver in an SUV hit a 21-year-old bicyclist making a left turn at 148th Street and 84th Drive in Queens. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and arm. Police recorded driver inexperience and inattention.

An SUV driver struck a 21-year-old male bicyclist on 148th Street at 84th Drive in Queens. The bicyclist was making a left turn while traveling west; the SUV was going straight. The right front quarter panel of the 2012 BMW struck the rider. The cyclist suffered abrasions to the elbow, lower arm and hand and was listed as injured. According to the police report, "Driver Inexperience" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" were contributing factors. The SUV driver was female and licensed. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826901 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 2 - SUV turned left on 84th Road. Struck a motorized scooter. Young woman suffered head injury. Police cite driver distraction. Streets failed to protect.

A collision occurred at 161-34 84th Road in Queens. An SUV making a left turn struck a motorized scooter traveling straight. The 25-year-old woman driving the scooter suffered a head injury and was in shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. No other injuries were specified. The SUV’s left rear quarter panel was damaged. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention. Helmet use was not listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829277 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - A van turned left at rush hour. The scooter rider flew from his device. He died at the hospital. The street stayed open. The investigation continues.

According to amny (2025-06-30), Shaun Lagredelle, 39, was riding a stand-up scooter west on 116th Avenue when a Ford Transit van, driven by a 43-year-old woman, turned left onto Nashville Boulevard and struck him. Police said, "As the van attempted to turn left onto Nashville Boulevard, it collided with the scooter, immediately propelling Lagredelle off the device." Lagredelle suffered fatal injuries. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The crash highlights ongoing risks at intersections for scooter riders.

• Scooter Rider Killed In Queens Collision, amny, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 28 - A sedan struck on Daniels Street. Two women in the back seat hurt, backs injured. Shock and pain followed. No driver errors listed. Police report gives no cause.

Two female passengers suffered back injuries and shock when a sedan was struck on Daniels Street in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2022 Toyota sedan traveling south, hit at the center back end. Two other occupants, including the driver, were not reported injured. No driver errors or contributing factors are listed in the report. The injured passengers complained of pain and nausea. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823799 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 24 - A pickup tore through Astoria. It struck Amanda Servedio, a cyclist with the right of way. She flew from her bike. The driver fled. Police found the truck later. Servedio died at Elmhurst Hospital. The city lost another rider.

Gothamist reported on June 24, 2025, that Bekim Fiseku was indicted for murder and manslaughter after fatally striking cyclist Amanda Servedio in Astoria. Prosecutors say Fiseku, fleeing police after an attempted burglary, sped through red lights and bike lanes, ultimately hitting Servedio at 37th Street and 34th Avenue. Surveillance captured the chase. The indictment states, 'The defendant allegedly led police on a 10-minute chase through the crowded streets.' Servedio, 36, was returning from a cycling event and had the right of way. Fiseku abandoned his truck and evaded arrest until February. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless drivers and high-speed police pursuits on city streets.

• Cyclist Killed In Astoria Police Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-24