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

Apr 25 - Two sedans slammed together at unsafe speed. Three people hurt. Whiplash and shock. Metal twisted. The road did not forgive.

Two sedans crashed on Grand Central Parkway near 168 Street. Three occupants suffered injuries, including whiplash and trauma to the entire body. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Unsafe Speed.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left metal bent and people shaken. The report lists no other contributing factors before speed. Helmet use or signals are not mentioned as causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808055 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 25 - A BMW driver chased a motorcyclist through Queens. He struck from behind. The bike exploded. The rider died at the scene. The SUV hit another car before stopping. Police charged the driver with murder. Grief marked the street.

ABC7 reported on April 25, 2025, that Jordan Rosen, 42, turned himself in after a deadly crash on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. Rosen, driving a BMW SUV, allegedly pursued and struck William McField, 55, after a road rage incident. According to officials, Rosen 'sped towards McField until the BMW struck the motorcycle from behind.' The impact caused the motorcycle to explode, killing McField instantly. Surveillance footage captured the sequence, including Rosen running a red light and colliding with another vehicle. Rosen faces charges of second-degree murder, reckless driving, and other offenses. The McField family's attorney called for 'increased enforcement against aggressive driving and tailgating.' The case highlights the lethal consequences of aggressive driving and the need for stronger traffic enforcement.

• SUV Driver Charged After Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-25

Apr 21 - Metal bolts crashed through a windshield in Queens. Glass exploded over the passenger. The No. 7 train rumbled above. Danger rained down. This was not the first time. The system failed to shield those below.

ABC7 reported on April 21, 2025, that debris from the No. 7 subway train fell onto a car at Queens Plaza, shattering the windshield and denting the hood. Rahimi, the driver, said, "We were driving right off here. Something fell off the train, damaging the windshield." Passenger Malnick described, "A bolt hit and then right away just the sound of glass exploding and glass all over me." The incident echoes previous cases: in 2019, falling debris from elevated tracks struck vehicles three times in a month. The MTA responded then by intensifying inspections, but the problem persists. The agency now says it is investigating and will inspect the area. The repeated incidents highlight ongoing risks from aging infrastructure above city streets.

• Falling Subway Debris Strikes Car In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-21

Apr 20 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The driver struck a man on a bicycle. He died at the scene. Police closed the street. Another life ended in the crosswalk’s shadow. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The crash happened as the truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street. According to police, 'the truck was turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street in Middle Village when the collision occurred.' The cyclist, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists at intersections and the dangers of large vehicles turning across paths. Policy questions remain about intersection design and vehicle operation in dense neighborhoods.

• FDNY Truck Turns, Cyclist Killed In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-20

Apr 19 - Three people hurt as sedans collide at speed on Van Wyck Expressway. Shoulders and necks take the blow. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal twists. Pain follows.

Three people were injured when sedans crashed on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, the collision involved multiple vehicles traveling straight ahead. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. A 43-year-old front passenger suffered shoulder injuries, a 54-year-old driver reported neck pain, and a 26-year-old driver sustained abrasions to the shoulder. All were conscious after the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806645 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 19 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Blvd North. It struck a cyclist. The crash happened by the park. The man died at the scene. No arrests. The investigation continues. The street stayed quiet. The loss is final.

According to NY Daily News (April 19, 2025), an FDNY fire truck collided with a cyclist near 80th St. and Juniper Blvd North in Middle Village, Queens. The article states, "An FDNY fire truck fatally struck a cyclist Saturday afternoon in Queens, police said." The cyclist, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not made any arrests. It remains unclear if the fire truck was responding to an emergency call. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the dangers faced by cyclists near large vehicles, especially in busy city corridors.

• Fire Truck Kills Cyclist Near Queens Park, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-19

Apr 16 - A moped and SUV collided on Queens Boulevard. Two people hurt. Police cite improper lane use and failure to yield. One driver unlicensed. Impact left a passenger with head injury.

A moped and an SUV crashed at 140-25 Queens Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, two people were injured: a 19-year-old moped driver suffered arm abrasions, and a 75-year-old SUV passenger sustained a concussion. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The moped driver was unlicensed. The SUV’s left front bumper and the moped’s center front end took the impact. No helmet use or signaling issues were cited. The crash highlights the risks when drivers fail to yield and misuse lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806216 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 15 - A sedan hit a 24-year-old man crossing 164 St at 84 Ave. He had the signal. He was bruised, conscious, hurt across his body. Police cite driver inattention. The street failed him.

A 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck him at the intersection of 164 St and 84 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the sedan, traveling north, hit him with its center front end. The man suffered bruises to his entire body but remained conscious. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 13 - A sedan rear-ended a stopped SUV on 138th Street. The SUV driver, a 27-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries. An infant rode with her. Police cite driver distraction and inexperience as causes.

A sedan crashed into the rear of a stopped SUV near 138th Street and Hillside Avenue in Queens. The SUV’s driver, a 27-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries. An infant was also in the SUV. According to the police report, 'Driver distraction marked the moment.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The sedan struck the SUV’s back end while the SUV was stopped in traffic. No blame is placed on the injured or their passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - Box truck struck SUV from behind. Five men hurt. One passenger suffered back injury and whiplash. Police cite following too closely and unsafe lane change.

A box truck hit a station wagon/SUV on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. Five male occupants were injured, including a 51-year-old passenger with back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The box truck struck the SUV’s left rear bumper with its center front end. All drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 5 - A BMW and motorcycle collided on Woodhaven Boulevard. Both vehicles burned. The motorcyclist died at the scene. The BMW driver survived. No arrests. Police are investigating. Another life lost on a wide, fast Queens road.

According to NY Daily News (April 5, 2025), a fatal crash occurred at 60th Drive and Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park, Queens. A BMW SUV and a motorcycle, both heading south, collided around 9:22 a.m. Both vehicles caught fire. Police said, 'only the car driver survived the collision.' EMS pronounced the motorcycle rider dead at the scene. The BMW driver was hospitalized in stable condition. No arrests have been made, and police continue to investigate. The crash highlights the persistent dangers on major Queens thoroughfares, where high speeds and heavy traffic put vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motorcyclist Killed In Queens Collision Blaze, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-05

Apr 4 - Two cars left the street in Queens. One hit children and a man on a sidewalk. Another plowed into women waiting at a bus shelter. Broken bones, head wounds, fear. No one died. Streets turned dangerous in a blink.

CBS New York reported on April 4, 2025, that two separate crashes in Queens left multiple pedestrians injured. In Astoria, a 35-year-old driver 'lost control of her vehicle and went onto the sidewalk, running over two girls, ages 7 and 14.' Police charged her with reckless driving and driving without a license. Later, in South Ozone Park, a 79-year-old driver swerved, sideswiped a bus, then 'jumped the curb and struck four women who were standing at a bus shelter.' All victims survived, but injuries ranged from broken bones to head trauma. The incidents highlight ongoing dangers for pedestrians and raise questions about driver screening and street design.

• Queens Drivers Mount Sidewalks, Hit Pedestrians, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 3 - Two cars struck Jorman Esparza-Olivares at a busy Rego Park crossing. He suffered head and body trauma. Medics rushed him to Elmhurst. He died six days later. Both drivers stayed. No charges. The intersection remains dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 3, 2025, that Jorman Esparza-Olivares, 23, was killed after being struck by two drivers while riding his e-bike north on 63rd Drive at Queens Blvd. The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on March 19. According to police, 'It wasn't clear if any of the men involved in the crash ran a red light.' Esparza-Olivares suffered severe injuries and died six days later at Elmhurst Medical Center. Both drivers, operating a Ford SUV and a Mercedes Benz, remained at the scene and were not immediately charged. The incident highlights persistent risks for cyclists at major intersections and raises questions about traffic controls and driver awareness on Queens Blvd.

• E-Bike Rider Killed At Queens Intersection, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Apr 2 - Two pick-up trucks crashed on Van Wyck. Passengers suffered neck and head injuries. Police cite reaction to another vehicle and other vehicular factors. Metal and pain on a Queens highway.

Two pick-up trucks collided on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. A 27-year-old passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Another passenger, age 30, reported head pain and nausea. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Other Vehicular' factors. Both trucks were traveling north. The front of one truck struck the rear of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no victim errors. All listed contributing factors point to driver or vehicle actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 30 - Two male drivers collided head-on on Gothic Drive in Queens. Both suffered internal injuries to their arms. The SUV driver was distracted and failed to keep right, causing the crash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:30 PM on Gothic Drive in Queens involving a 2021 Audi SUV traveling west and a 2021 Lexus sedan traveling east. The SUV driver, a 26-year-old male, suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries and was conscious after the crash. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old male, sustained injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Keep Right' as contributing factors for the SUV driver. Both vehicles collided front-to-front, with the SUV's center front end and the sedan's left front bumper damaged. Neither occupant was ejected. The sedan driver's contributing factors were unspecified. The crash highlights driver error, particularly distraction and lane violation, as the cause of this serious collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 28 - Two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 9 a.m. Both drivers were female and injured, suffering neck whiplash. The crash involved unsafe lane changing, striking the center back end of one vehicle and the front bumper of the other.

According to the police report, at 9:00 a.m. on Grand Central Parkway, two sedans traveling west collided. The driver of the 2023 Nissan sedan was changing lanes unsafely, striking the center back end of a 2021 Mercedes sedan that was going straight ahead. Both drivers, females aged 29 and 21, sustained neck injuries consistent with whiplash and were conscious at the scene. The driver of the Nissan was cited for unsafe lane changing as a contributing factor. The rear passenger in the Nissan also suffered neck injury. Neither occupant was ejected. Vehicle damage was concentrated at the center back end of the Nissan and the front bumper of the Mercedes. The report highlights driver error in lane changing as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802486 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 28 - A speeding Mercedes ran a red in Queens. The driver, high and drunk, struck a young airport worker headed to his job. The worker died. Two passengers survived. The driver, a probationary firefighter, now faces manslaughter charges.

NY Daily News reported on March 28, 2025, that Michael Pena, a probationary FDNY firefighter, was fired after being charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Queens crash. Prosecutors said Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and struck Justin Diaz, 23, who had the right-of-way. Pena's blood-alcohol content was 0.156%, nearly double the legal limit, and he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. The article states, 'Pena was driving nearly 60 mph above the speed limit after a night of drinking at a bar.' Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence. Two passengers in Pena's car were hospitalized. The crash highlights ongoing risks from impaired and reckless driving, even among public servants.

• Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28

Mar 15 - A minivan struck a 78-year-old woman crossing Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. She died at the hospital. Police have not released her name. No arrests. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (published March 15, 2025), a 78-year-old woman was killed crossing Northern Blvd. near Parsons Blvd. in Flushing around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Police said, "A 78-year-old woman was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver as she crossed a Queens street." The dark-colored minivan was traveling west when it hit her mid-block. The driver did not stop. No arrests have been made. The victim was taken to New York Presbyterian-Queens Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her name has not been released. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for pedestrians on major city corridors and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing fatal scenes.

• Elderly Woman Killed In Queens Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-15

Mar 13 - A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13