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

A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. It hit a man on a bike. He died there, on the street. Police are investigating. The crash happened in Middle Village, Queens. Metal met flesh. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The collision happened as the truck was 'turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street.' The victim, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating the incident. The article notes the truck's turning movement but does not detail further driver actions. This fatal crash highlights the risks at intersections where large vehicles and cyclists cross paths. No information was provided about charges or policy changes.

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

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 2025-08-04

A firetruck struck a cyclist on Juniper Boulevard. The truck turned with lights and sirens. The cyclist was crushed under the rear wheels. Sheets covered the scene. Firefighters stood by, shaken. The victim died instantly. The investigation continues.

According to the New York Post (April 19, 2025), an FDNY Rescue Company 4 firetruck fatally struck a cyclist near Juniper Valley Park in Queens while responding to a call. The article states, "The truck was making a turn onto Juniper Boulevard...when the fatal accident occurred." Police reported the truck had lights and sirens activated. The cyclist ended up beneath the rear wheels and was pronounced dead at the scene. Photos showed emergency sheets covering the area. Witness Miguel Vega described firefighters as "shaken, like shocked." The incident highlights the dangers at intersections, especially when emergency vehicles turn. The crash is under investigation, with no details yet on policy or procedural changes.

• FDNY Firetruck Kills Cyclist Near Park, New York Post, Published 2025-04-19

A former firefighter sped through a red light in Queens. He struck Justin Diaz’s car at 83 mph. Diaz died a block from home. The driver was drunk, high, and unregistered. The court revoked his bail. Diaz’s family mourns.

ABC7 reported on April 17, 2025, that ex-FDNY firefighter Michael Peña faces manslaughter and DWI charges after a deadly crash in Queens. Prosecutors allege Peña was drunk, high, and speeding at 83 mph—three times the limit—when he ran a red light and T-boned 23-year-old Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance and body camera footage show Peña admitting to running the light. Five hours after the crash, tests confirmed intoxication by alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Peña’s record includes prior arrests and 25 school zone speeding tickets. He also drove an unregistered vehicle with an obstructed plate and tinted windshield. The victim, Diaz, was headed to work and had just graduated college. The case highlights repeated driver violations and systemic failures in enforcement.

• Ex-Firefighter Charged In Queens Fatal Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-17

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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 2025-08-04

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

A driver lost control near a Queens school. The car struck two children and a man. A seven-year-old girl’s leg snapped. Sirens wailed. Police arrested the driver. The sidewalk bore the scars. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the New York Post (April 4, 2025), an unlicensed driver reversed into a box truck, then spun onto the sidewalk outside Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria, Queens. The crash injured three: a 7-year-old girl with a broken femur and head injury, a 14-year-old girl with leg injuries, and a 58-year-old man with bruises. The article states, 'Bah was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving without a license.' This incident follows another recent crash involving a suspended license, highlighting recurring risks from unlicensed drivers. The crash underscores the persistent threat cars pose to people on city sidewalks, especially near schools.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits Kids Outside School, New York Post, Published 2025-04-04

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

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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

A 30-year-old male driver was found unconscious after a collision involving two SUVs in Queens. The impact damaged the left front quarter panel of one vehicle. The driver held a permit license. No other injuries or contributing factors were reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Queens near 152-11 85 Ave at 8:16 AM. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling east were involved. One vehicle was parked before the crash and sustained damage to its left front quarter panel. The injured party was a 30-year-old male driver who was unconscious at the scene. The driver held a New York permit license. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. There were no reported injuries to other occupants or pedestrians. Vehicle two showed no damage and no driver information was provided. The report does not indicate any victim behaviors or helmet use, focusing solely on the collision impact and driver status.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling west on Jamaica Avenue struck a 39-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal. The impact caused abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The driver’s inattention was cited as the primary factor in the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Jamaica Avenue in Queens struck a 39-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, indicating a direct collision with the pedestrian. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were noted. The driver’s failure to maintain attention while proceeding straight ahead created the conditions for this injury-causing crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A collision between two sedans traveling south on 150th Street in Queens caused a driver to suffer back injuries and whiplash. The crash, marked by rear-end impact, was linked to driver inattention. Both drivers were licensed men, one injured.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 86-04 150th Street in Queens around 12:10 PM. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead southbound when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the center back end of the lead vehicle and the center front end of the trailing vehicle. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. One driver, a 47-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to rear-end crashes, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04