South Richmond Hill: Four Dead, No More Excuses

Aug 17 - Two sedans slammed together on 101 Avenue. One young driver hurt, arm bloodied. Police cite alcohol and traffic control disregard. Metal twisted at the front and quarter panels. The street stayed silent after impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 101 Avenue in Queens at 3:30 a.m. The 22-year-old male driver of one sedan was injured, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. Police list alcohol involvement and traffic control disregard as contributing factors. Both vehicles were moving straight before the crash. The impact struck the center front end of one sedan and the right front quarter panel of the other. The injured driver was conscious, restrained, and not ejected. Both cars took heavy damage at the front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A van hit a 61-year-old man crossing 108 Street at night. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion. The van was speeding and improperly passing. Impact was on the van’s right front bumper. The victim was conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a van traveling north on 108 Street struck a 61-year-old male pedestrian crossing at an intersection without a signal. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious after the crash. The van’s point of impact was the right front bumper, indicating a direct collision. Contributing factors listed include unsafe speed and improper passing or lane usage by the van driver. No safety equipment or signals were noted for the pedestrian. The crash caused significant injury but no ejection. The report highlights driver errors without assigning fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A Ford pickup struck a parked box truck and a Nissan on 101st Avenue. Metal crumpled. A 26-year-old woman in the back seat bled from the head. She stayed conscious. Driver inattention cut through the morning quiet. Pain and blood marked the scene.

A Ford pickup traveling east on 101st Avenue near 111th Street crashed into a parked box truck and a Nissan sedan. According to the police report, the driver had looked away before impact. The collision left a 26-year-old woman in the back seat with severe head bleeding; she was conscious at the scene. Two drivers, aged 34 and 40, suffered injuries to the body and arm. Multiple other occupants reported pain or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash tore through metal and flesh, leaving pain and blood behind. All injured parties wore lap belts and harnesses, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - A Chrysler sedan tore down 121st Street. It flipped, smashed parked cars, struck a stopped Jeep. The driver died. A pedestrian and several others were hurt. Speed and distraction ruled the night. The street fell silent after the crash.

A violent crash on 121st Street in Queens left one man dead and several people injured. According to the police report, a Chrysler sedan traveling at unsafe speed flipped, hit parked cars, and struck a stopped Jeep. The 27-year-old driver died from head injuries. A 20-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg injuries. Other occupants and passengers, including a 24-year-old woman and a 55-year-old woman, were also hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash shows the deadly consequences when speed and distraction take over city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - SUV slammed into sedan turning left on 101 Avenue. Sedan’s front passenger, 28, took a blow to the head. Police cite improper turn. Metal twisted. Passenger hurt. Streets unforgiving.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling west struck a Chevrolet sedan making an improper left turn northbound on 101 Avenue in Queens. The impact crushed the sedan’s left front quarter panel and damaged the SUV’s front end. The sedan’s front passenger, a 28-year-old man, suffered a head contusion and bruising. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Turning Improperly" by the sedan driver as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The crash left both vehicles heavily damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Jun 1 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

May 31 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-31

May 29 - A 28-year-old man driving a sedan on Lefferts Boulevard in Queens crashed into multiple parked vehicles. The driver suffered facial abrasions but was conscious and restrained. Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor in the collision.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Lefferts Boulevard, Queens. The driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, sustained abrasions to the face but was conscious at the scene. The crash involved a sedan traveling south that struck several parked vehicles, including SUVs and sedans. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, indicating impaired driving. No other driver errors were specified. The driver was not ejected and no other persons were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532223 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

May 25 - Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 16 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

May 16 - Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

Feb 26 - A speeding Infiniti tore down 101st Avenue. It struck a parked Honda. The unlicensed driver died. Two young passengers bled and groaned in the wreck. Metal twisted. Blood pooled. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded on 101st Avenue near 115th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a speeding Infiniti sedan slammed into a parked Honda. The unlicensed 24-year-old driver died from a crushed pelvis. Two passengers, both 23, suffered injuries—one with severe arm lacerations, the other with leg pain. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The parked Honda was unoccupied. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The night ended with twisted metal and silence on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506087 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A Toyota SUV struck a BMW sedan from behind on 116 Street in Queens. The sedan driver, a 28-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited defective brakes as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained damage in the collision.

According to the police report, a 2017 Toyota SUV traveling south on 116 Street collided with the rear right bumper of a 2019 BMW sedan traveling east. The sedan's 28-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The impact caused damage to the front center of the SUV and the right rear bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 15 - Police finally charged Christian Soriano for killing Darwin Durazno, a teen cyclist, in College Point. Soriano, unlicensed, fled after swerving into oncoming traffic and striking Durazno. The arrest came months later. Most hit-and-run drivers in New York escape justice.

On February 9, 2022, NYPD arrested Christian Soriano, 27, for the June 4, 2021 hit-and-run crash that killed 16-year-old cyclist Darwin Durazno in College Point, Queens. Soriano faces manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene charges. The crash happened when Soriano, driving a Toyota Camry, swerved into oncoming traffic and struck Durazno, who later died from severe head trauma. The car, a rental, was found nearby. Witnesses described Soriano as he fled on foot. Despite these leads, it took eight months to make an arrest. The matter highlights systemic failure: in 2020, NYPD made arrests in only 0.8 percent of hit-and-run cases involving injuries or property damage. Even in serious injury cases, arrests are rare. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while most drivers evade consequences.

• Cops Charge Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed Queens Cyclist Last Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-15

Jan 13 - A speeding Mercedes driver killed a delivery man in Queens. The DA declined charges. In deposition, the driver showed little remorse. She blamed her car, denied fault, and dodged questions. The victim’s family pursues civil justice. Systemic failures shield deadly drivers.

On April 29, 2021, Maro Andrianou, driving a Mercedes-Benz, struck and killed delivery worker Xing Long Lin on 35th Street near Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. The case never reached criminal court. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz declined to prosecute, citing Andrianou’s claim that her car accelerated uncontrollably after a minor rear tap. Video evidence contradicted this, showing only a light bump. In a December 8, 2021, deposition for a civil suit, Andrianou showed little remorse, blaming her car and denying responsibility. Attorneys for Lin’s family called her defense 'fabricated.' Katz’s decision left the victim’s family with only civil recourse. The case underscores how drivers who kill often escape criminal accountability, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Driver Who Killed Delivery Man Offered Little Remorse, Few Answers During Deposition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-13