South Ozone Park’s Dead Zone: Nights of sirens, days of grief

Feb 27 - A firefighter, drunk and high, sped through a red light at 83 mph. He smashed into Justin Diaz’s BMW. Diaz died. The crash tore a family apart. The driver walked free on bail. The street stayed deadly.

NY Daily News reported on February 27, 2025, that off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena, 28, killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz in Queens. Prosecutors said Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and driving 83 mph in a 25 mph zone when he ran a red light and struck Diaz’s BMW. Surveillance footage showed the Mercedes 'barreled through an East Elmhurst intersection' at 4:15 a.m. Diaz, headed to work at LaGuardia, died at the scene. Pena refused a breath test; a blood draw later confirmed drug use. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to submit to testing, but posted $50,000 bail. The article highlights family grief and outrage at bail laws, quoting Diaz’s brother: 'Pena will walk the streets for a $50,000 bail... Justin will never walk the streets again.'

• Drunk Firefighter Kills Driver In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 22 - A sedan hit a 51-year-old woman outside an intersection in Queens. She suffered hip and leg injuries. Police cite driver inexperience and distraction. The car’s front quarter panel struck her.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 135 Place in Queens struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian who was in the roadway but not at an intersection. The impact came from the vehicle’s right front quarter panel, causing injuries to her hip and upper leg. The pedestrian remained conscious and complained of internal pain. The report lists driver inexperience and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and going straight before the crash. No pedestrian actions were cited as contributing factors. This collision underscores the danger posed by driver errors, especially inexperience and distraction, on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - A southbound SUV struck an eastbound sedan at Lefferts Blvd in Queens. The SUV's left front bumper hit the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The sedan driver, a 43-year-old man, suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:59 on Lefferts Blvd in Queens involving a 2016 Chevrolet SUV traveling south and a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling east. The SUV impacted the sedan on its left front bumper, striking the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The sedan driver, a 43-year-old male occupant, was injured with a head abrasion but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to ignoring traffic signals or signs. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No ejections occurred. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the sedan driver beyond unspecified factors, focusing on the SUV driver's failure to comply with traffic control as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794422 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - Two sedans traveling north collided on Liberty Avenue. The driver of one vehicle suffered a back injury and contusion. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front and rear-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Liberty Avenue collided at 22:33. The impact occurred at the center front end of one vehicle and the right rear bumper of the other. The driver of the second sedan, a 28-year-old female occupant, was injured with a back contusion and bruising but was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly attributes the crash to driver inattention and distraction, listing this as the sole contributing factor for the collision. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with a rear-end type impact. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 8 - 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

Feb 6 - A 35-year-old man crossing Rockaway Blvd was struck by a vehicle making a right turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian at the intersection. The man suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm injury.

According to the police report, a vehicle traveling south on Rockaway Blvd was making a right turn when it struck a 35-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection near 114 St. The pedestrian sustained a fracture, dislocation, and distortion to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end but sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior. This incident highlights the dangers posed by drivers neglecting to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 5 - 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

Feb 4 - A 28-year-old woman suffered back injuries and whiplash after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. Glare impaired the driver's vision, leading to a collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Rockaway Blvd in Queens was making a left turn at 7:56 AM when it struck a 28-year-old female pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies glare as a contributing factor impairing the driver's ability to see the pedestrian. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, indicating the pedestrian was hit directly by the front of the sedan. The driver was licensed and operating a 2006 Honda sedan with one occupant. The collision underscores the danger posed by environmental conditions like glare affecting driver perception and decision-making during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a Queens driver failed to yield right-of-way. The impact struck the pedestrian at an intersection on 109 Ave, leaving her bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:20 on 109 Ave in Queens. A 16-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal at an intersection when she was struck by a vehicle traveling east. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor on the driver's part. No damage was noted on the vehicle, and the pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions beyond the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 29 - A 23-year-old man crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens was struck by an SUV making a left turn. The impact injured his lower leg and foot. Police cite driver inexperience and failure to yield as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6 p.m. in Queens on 120 Street near Linden Boulevard. A 2018 Mazda SUV was making a left turn when it struck a 23-year-old male pedestrian crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front quarter panel, causing injuries to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian remained conscious but suffered internal complaints. The report explicitly identifies driver errors including 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. There is no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 27 - A northbound SUV collided with a parked vehicle’s right rear quarter panel on 135 St in Queens. The sedan driver suffered a head contusion and bruising. The crash involved multiple vehicles and caused significant damage to the parked SUV’s side doors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on 135 St near 109 Ave in Queens. A 39-year-old female sedan driver, licensed in New York, was injured with a head contusion and bruising. The report identifies the contributing factor as 'Other Vehicular,' indicating driver error related to vehicle movement. The northbound Honda SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, struck the right side doors of a parked Tesla SUV, which was stationary before impact. The Tesla SUV was hit on its right rear quarter panel by the sedan traveling westbound. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt. The collision caused damage to the parked SUV and injured the sedan driver, highlighting risks from vehicle interactions and driver errors in multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A Toyota SUV flipped on 135th Avenue. A 23-year-old woman, thrown from the back seat, lay unconscious and bleeding. A BMW struck head-on. A parked Dodge crumpled. Someone ran the light. Metal twisted. Lives upended in Queens before dawn.

According to the police report, a violent collision unfolded on 135th Avenue near Lefferts Boulevard in Queens at 2:55 a.m. A Toyota SUV, traveling north, overturned after a driver disregarded traffic control. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV flipped. A 23-year-old woman, unbelted in back, was thrown out. She lay bleeding, unconscious.' The SUV collided head-on with a BMW sedan, while a parked Dodge truck was struck and crumpled. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, pointing to a driver running a red light. The 23-year-old woman, a rear passenger in the SUV, suffered severe injuries after being ejected from the vehicle. No actions by the victim are listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers ignore traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - A sedan traveling south struck a parked vehicle's left rear quarter panel on 131st Street in Queens. The driver suffered neck injuries and shock, wearing a lap belt. Slippery pavement contributed to the collision, according to the police report.

According to the police report, at 2:53 AM in Queens, a sedan traveling southbound collided with the left rear quarter panel of a parked vehicle on 131st Street. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, was injured with neck contusions and experienced shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists slippery pavement as a contributing factor to the crash. The collision involved two sedans and a parked SUV, with damage focused on the left rear quarter panels and right front bumper. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited, but road conditions played a role in the impact. The victim was the driver of the moving sedan and was injured in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 22 - A sedan turning right collided head-on with an eastbound SUV on 107 Avenue in Queens. The sedan driver, 68, suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and improper turning as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:50 on 107 Avenue in Queens involving a 2023 Kia sedan and a 2019 Toyota SUV. The sedan was making a right turn while the SUV was traveling straight east. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. Both drivers were licensed in New York and operating their vehicles at the time. The police report does not indicate any victim fault or pedestrian involvement, focusing on driver errors that led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787638 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 22 - 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

Jan 12 - A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe injuries after his SUV collided with two parked vehicles on 121st Street in Queens. Steering failure and defective brakes caused the crash, striking the right front bumper and damaging both parked cars.

According to the police report, at 21:50 in Queens, a 51-year-old male driver operating a 2021 Chevrolet SUV traveling south on 121st Street experienced a steering failure and defective brakes. These mechanical failures led to the SUV colliding with two parked vehicles, a sedan and another SUV, impacting the right front bumper of the moving vehicle and damaging the left rear quarter panel and center back end of the parked cars. The driver was injured with internal complaints affecting his entire body but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly cites 'Steering Failure' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors, highlighting vehicle control loss as the cause. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - Three sedans crashed on Belt Parkway at night. Unsafe speed sent metal slamming into metal. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat took the worst of it. Neck pain. Whiplash. The road showed no mercy.

According to the police report, three sedans collided on Belt Parkway at 9:28 PM. One driver was changing lanes. Another was struck on the left side doors. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. A 17-year-old female passenger in the left rear seat suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She wore a lap belt. The crash left her hurt. Driver errors—unsafe speed and lane changes—caused the violent impact that injured the teen.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - 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