Richmond Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

Dec 17 - A sedan traveling north on 122 St struck a 17-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at Jamaica Ave. The pedestrian suffered elbow and lower arm contusions. The crash resulted from the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way at the intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan proceeding straight ahead on 122 St in Queens collided with a 17-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with Jamaica Ave around 8:00 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle impacted him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm and remained conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The vehicle was damaged at the center front end, confirming the point of impact. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver negligence at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 9 - A 17-year-old male pedestrian was struck at a Queens intersection while crossing with the signal. The driver, traveling southbound, failed to pay attention, causing a collision that injured the teen’s lower leg and foot with bruising.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:50 on 104 Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian, a 17-year-old male, was crossing with the signal when he was hit. The driver was traveling straight ahead southbound and struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruising. The vehicle showed no damage. The report explicitly attributes the crash to driver errors, specifically inattention and lack of experience, without any contributing fault on the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - A 66-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after a taxi hit her while crossing 89 Avenue outside a crosswalk. The impact to the taxi’s front center caused minor bleeding and serious trauma, highlighting dangers for pedestrians off intersections.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on 89 Avenue struck a 66-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The impact occurred at the center front end of the taxi, causing head injuries and shock to the pedestrian, who experienced minor bleeding. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, though the report lists unspecified contributing factors without assigning fault to the victim. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. Vehicle damage was centered on the front end. The report does not cite explicit driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision with a pedestrian outside a crosswalk underscores systemic risks in this Queens location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A sedan turned right and struck a 70-year-old man and a 9-year-old girl crossing with the signal. Both suffered bruises to their knees and legs. The driver failed to yield. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 104 Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens made a right turn at 12:13 PM and struck two pedestrians in the crosswalk. The victims, a 70-year-old man and a 9-year-old girl, were crossing with the signal. Both sustained contusions and bruises to their knees and lower legs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. The sedan showed no damage. The pedestrians were conscious and injured. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774678 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - An 85-year-old woman suffered a head injury after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on 89 Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The driver’s failure to yield caused the collision.

According to the police report, at 16:28 on 89 Avenue in Queens, a sedan traveling south made a left turn and struck an 85-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The vehicle showed no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian’s crossing behavior was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way during the left turn directly led to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - A motorcycle and sedan collided head-on in Queens. The motorcyclist was partially ejected, suffering severe leg injuries and fractures. The sedan driver was distracted, causing the crash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in this violent impact.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 104-20 91 Ave in Queens involving a sedan and a motorcycle traveling east and west, respectively. The motorcyclist, a 26-year-old male, was partially ejected from his vehicle and sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain proper attention. Both vehicles suffered center front-end damage, confirming a direct head-on impact. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The sedan driver was licensed in New York. This crash underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction, especially to vulnerable motorcyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772111 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A sedan’s front bumper smashed a woman’s leg near Jamaica Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The driver looked away. Metal screamed. A parked Ford shuddered. The woman, conscious, lay torn and bleeding in the gutter.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old woman was struck by a Hyundai sedan near 127-03 Jamaica Avenue in Queens at 1:27 a.m. The report states she was outside the crosswalk when the vehicle hit her, splitting open her leg and causing severe lacerations. The impact was so forceful that a parked Ford SUV was also slammed. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the driver looked away before the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. The woman was conscious at the scene, her injury classified as severe. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Sep 26 - A 62-year-old woman driving an SUV suffered neck injuries after a taxi struck her vehicle’s left rear bumper. The crash occurred on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. Driver inattention and distraction caused the collision, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 PM on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens. A 62-year-old female driver of a 2019 Nissan SUV was traveling eastbound when her vehicle was struck on the left rear bumper by a 2024 Toyota taxi also traveling eastbound. The SUV driver, who was wearing a lap belt and remained conscious, sustained a neck injury described as whiplash. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead prior to impact. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing behaviors from the SUV driver. The taxi driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the rear-end collision and the occupant’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 20 - A 43-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn on Vanwyck Expressway. The collision occurred at a marked crosswalk where the pedestrian was crossing without a signal. The driver caused the impact.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old female pedestrian was injured in Queens on Vanwyck Expressway at 21:33. The pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal when a 2024 Kia sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, made a right turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. This driver error is cited twice as the contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause serious injury. The report explicitly identifies the driver’s failure to yield as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757944 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - Queens lawmakers slammed e-scooters, calling them chaos. They claimed danger, but city data shows no deaths or serious injuries. Council Member Ung introduced a bill to ban the program. Gennaro and Schulman support it. DOT says the program is safe and popular.

On September 17, 2024, Council Member Sandra Ung announced a bill to ban the Queens e-scooter share program. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Members James Gennaro and Lynn Schulman, follows a press conference where lawmakers denounced the program as hazardous. Gennaro said, "The program, as designed, leads to chaos." Ung called her bill a last resort. Assembly Members Sam Berger and David Weprin, and Community Board 8 Chair Martha Taylor, joined the opposition, citing sidewalk clutter and lack of outreach. However, DOT data contradicts their claims: since the program's June launch, 37,000 riders have taken 290,000 trips with no reported serious injuries or deaths. DOT says it held 35 briefings and implemented parking corrals in dense areas. Despite high ridership and safety records, the bill seeks to end the program, centering political frustration over proven outcomes.

• Queens Pols Have Lots of Claims About the Evils of Scooter-Share, But Few Facts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Sep 12 - SUV hit sedan on Atlantic Avenue. Driver in sedan suffered head injury. Police cite traffic control disregard. Night crash. System failed to protect. Metal and flesh collided.

According to the police report, an SUV and a sedan collided at 11:30 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue near 130 Street in Queens. The SUV struck the sedan's left front bumper with its center front end. The sedan's driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered a head contusion but remained conscious and restrained. Police listed 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor, highlighting a failure to obey traffic signals. No other factors were cited. The crash left one person injured and exposed the danger of ignored controls on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756063 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 2 - SUV veered, struck a 27-year-old cyclist. Rider thrown, body battered. Shock set in. Bike untouched. Metal and flesh collided on Vanwyck Expressway. Unsafe lane change left pain and chaos.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male bicyclist was riding south on Vanwyck Expressway in Queens when a southbound SUV changed lanes unsafely and struck him. The SUV’s right front quarter panel hit the cyclist’s left side, ejecting him from his bike. The bicyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and experienced shock and pain. The SUV, a 2005 model with two occupants, was damaged on its right front quarter panel. The police report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor. No contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s behavior or safety equipment are noted. The crash underscores the risk posed by reckless driver actions to people on bikes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A motorcycle and sedan collided head-on on Jamaica Avenue. The sedan driver suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Police cited driver inattention and inexperience as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage in the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Jamaica Avenue involving a motorcycle and a sedan, both traveling eastbound. The sedan driver, a 32-year-old male occupant, sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. Both vehicles impacted each other with their front bumpers, with the motorcycle striking the sedan's left front bumper and the sedan striking the motorcycle's right front bumper. The sedan had two occupants, and the motorcycle had one. The sedan driver was not ejected and was not reported to be using any safety equipment. The crash highlights driver error as the primary cause, with no indication of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748395 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 9 - A high-speed crash on 114 Street in Queens sent three riders flying. Two drivers and one passenger suffered bruises and fractures. All were ejected from their vehicles. Unsafe speed caused the violent impact, leaving injuries to neck, limbs, and joints.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:08 on 114 Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens. The collision involved a moped traveling west and an e-scooter heading south, both going straight ahead. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for both drivers. Three males were injured: a 30-year-old moped driver, a 16-year-old e-scooter driver, and a 16-year-old passenger on the moped. All three were ejected from their vehicles. Injuries included contusions and bruises to the neck and lower limbs, as well as a fracture and dislocation to the elbow and hand. None of the injured wore safety equipment. The report highlights driver error—specifically unsafe speed—as the cause of the crash and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746791 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A sedan struck a bicyclist traveling north near 87-24 115 Street in Queens. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The bike showed no damage despite the impact to the sedan’s left front bumper.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle, both traveling north near 87-24 115 Street in Queens, were involved in a crash at 5:00 a.m. The sedan's left front bumper made contact with the bicyclist, who was not ejected but sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, remained conscious and was injured but details on helmet use or crossing signals were not cited as contributing factors. The report explicitly identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision, highlighting a failure on the part of the sedan driver. The sedan sustained no damage, and the bike showed no damage at the point of impact. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746645 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A motorcycle collided with an e-scooter traveling north on 109 Street. The e-scooter driver suffered severe arm injuries and lost consciousness. Police cite traffic control disregard as the cause, highlighting critical driver error in the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 109 Street at 11:00 p.m. between a motorcycle traveling west and an e-scooter heading north. The e-scooter driver, a 36-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was found unconscious. The point of impact was the right side doors of the e-scooter and the center front end of the motorcycle. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating a failure by one or both drivers to obey traffic signals or signs. The e-scooter driver was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash underscores the dangers posed by driver errors related to traffic control compliance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743047 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19