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

A 49-year-old woman suffered lower leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield at a marked crosswalk on Hillside Avenue. The driver struck her with the vehicle’s left front bumper, causing shock and minor bleeding. The crash unfolded late at night.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:52 PM on Hillside Avenue in Queens. A 49-year-old female pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal when a sedan traveling eastbound struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, emphasizing the driver’s error in yielding to the pedestrian. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, experienced shock, and had minor bleeding. The sedan, a 2014 Nissan operated by a licensed male driver, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors, focusing solely on the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

SUV hit sedan’s right side on Atlantic Avenue. Rear passenger suffered neck whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Streets in Queens left another vulnerable rider hurt.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling west on Atlantic Avenue in Queens struck the right side of a southbound Nissan sedan at 16:41. The impact injured a 58-year-old woman seated in the sedan’s right rear seat. She suffered a neck injury, described as whiplash, and was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim actions contributed to the crash, according to the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 62-year-old woman crossing 86th Road in Queens was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The driver’s inattention caused impact to the pedestrian’s lower leg and foot. The victim suffered abrasions but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northwest on 86th Road in Queens struck a 62-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred, with the point of impact on the vehicle’s left front bumper. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including abrasions. She remained conscious after the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating a 2017 Honda sedan with two occupants. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

A 26-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered bruises and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 102 Street at Atlantic Avenue in Queens around 6:57 PM. The report states the sedan driver, a licensed female, was making a left turn northbound when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, but the driver failed to yield right-of-way and showed signs of inattention or distraction. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The report explicitly cites driver errors—failure to yield and driver inattention—as contributing factors, with no mention of pedestrian fault or equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

Councilmember Nily Rozic joined Republicans and business owners to denounce the $9 Manhattan congestion toll. Critics say the fee will batter neighborhoods already scarred by empty storefronts. The MTA board votes soon. The city’s most vulnerable remain at risk in traffic.

On November 17, 2024, Councilmember Nily Rozic (District 25) spoke out during a heated debate over New York’s new congestion pricing policy. The MTA board is set to vote on the $9 toll to enter Manhattan’s business district, effective January 5. The matter, described as 'NYC congestion toll would hit neighborhoods with some of worst vacancy rates in city,' has drawn fire from both Republicans and Democrats. Rozic said, 'Affordability is really the most important thing that voters, that constituents, that people on the street, talk to us about... keep the pause.' Opponents argue the toll will worsen economic pain in areas with high storefront vacancy. Despite the uproar, the policy’s impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety remains unaddressed in this debate. Vulnerable road users are left out of the political crossfire.

• NYC congestion toll would hit neighborhoods with some of worst vacancy rates in city — as GOP issues warning to Dems, nypost.com, Published 2024-11-17

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 2025-08-04

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