Auburndale Bleeds While City Waits
Auburndale: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll in Auburndale
Five dead. Six seriously hurt. In three and a half years, Auburndale’s streets have claimed lives both young and old. A 75-year-old woman, crossing 192nd Street, was struck and killed by a sedan. A 19-year-old, crossing with the signal on Utopia Parkway, was struck and injured by a car. A 40-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man, a 72-year-old driver—each lost in crashes that left families with empty chairs and silent phones. See the data.
Nearly 500 injured. The numbers do not flinch. In the last twelve months alone, 165 people were hurt in 265 crashes. No one was spared: children, elders, cyclists, drivers. The pain is spread wide, but it lands hardest on those with the least protection.
Who Bears the Brunt
Cars and SUVs do the most harm. Sedans and SUVs killed or seriously injured more pedestrians than any other vehicle. Trucks and buses are rare, but when they hit, the damage is deep. Bikes and motorcycles did not kill here, but the threat is always present. The street is a gauntlet, and the odds are not in your favor if you walk or ride.
Leadership: Progress and Delay
The city has tools. Albany passed Sammy’s Law. The city can now lower speed limits to 20 mph. Speed cameras, proven to cut speeding and injuries, are in place but need reauthorization. Yet the pace is slow. The law is there. The power is there. The will is not always there. Each day of delay is another day of risk.
What Comes Next
This is not fate. These are not accidents. They are the result of choices—by drivers, by lawmakers, by those who set the rules and draw the lines. The blood on the street is not washed away by words.
Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand more cameras. Demand streets that put people first.
Do not wait for another name to be added to the list.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
▸ Other Geographies
Auburndale Auburndale sits in Queens, Precinct 111, District 19, AD 26, SD 16, Queens CB11.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Auburndale
2Queens SUV Rear-Ends Sedan Injuring Two▸A sedan and an SUV collided on 201 Street in Queens. The SUV struck the sedan from behind. Two women in the sedan suffered face and back injuries. Both were conscious and not ejected. The crash was caused by following too closely.
According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 201 Street was rear-ended by an SUV also traveling west. The SUV driver was slowing or stopping when the collision occurred. Two female occupants in the sedan were injured: the 34-year-old driver sustained a facial contusion, and the 61-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash and back injuries. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4528629,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two Sedans Collide on 45 Avenue▸Two sedans crashed on 45 Avenue. One driver suffered back injuries and shock. The collision involved rear-end impact. Unsafe speed was a factor. Both vehicles traveled west. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No ejections occurred.
According to the police report, two sedans collided on 45 Avenue at 1:35 a.m. Both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. The impact was at the center back end of one sedan and the center front end of the other. One driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with back pain and shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash involved no pedestrians or cyclists, only vehicle occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515452,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
SUV Slams Parked Car, Driver Killed▸A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Chain Collision on Northern Boulevard Injures Driver▸Three vehicles collided on Northern Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of a pick-up truck, which then hit another truck. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The crash involved following too closely.
According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Northern Boulevard involving a sedan and two pick-up trucks all traveling east. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, along with whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. All drivers were licensed and slowing or stopping before impact. The sedan struck the center back end of the first pick-up truck, which then collided with the second truck. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506643,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Audi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian on Utopia Parkway▸A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A sedan and an SUV collided on 201 Street in Queens. The SUV struck the sedan from behind. Two women in the sedan suffered face and back injuries. Both were conscious and not ejected. The crash was caused by following too closely.
According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 201 Street was rear-ended by an SUV also traveling west. The SUV driver was slowing or stopping when the collision occurred. Two female occupants in the sedan were injured: the 34-year-old driver sustained a facial contusion, and the 61-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash and back injuries. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4528629, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Two Sedans Collide on 45 Avenue▸Two sedans crashed on 45 Avenue. One driver suffered back injuries and shock. The collision involved rear-end impact. Unsafe speed was a factor. Both vehicles traveled west. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No ejections occurred.
According to the police report, two sedans collided on 45 Avenue at 1:35 a.m. Both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. The impact was at the center back end of one sedan and the center front end of the other. One driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with back pain and shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash involved no pedestrians or cyclists, only vehicle occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515452,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
SUV Slams Parked Car, Driver Killed▸A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Chain Collision on Northern Boulevard Injures Driver▸Three vehicles collided on Northern Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of a pick-up truck, which then hit another truck. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The crash involved following too closely.
According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Northern Boulevard involving a sedan and two pick-up trucks all traveling east. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, along with whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. All drivers were licensed and slowing or stopping before impact. The sedan struck the center back end of the first pick-up truck, which then collided with the second truck. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506643,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Audi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian on Utopia Parkway▸A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two sedans crashed on 45 Avenue. One driver suffered back injuries and shock. The collision involved rear-end impact. Unsafe speed was a factor. Both vehicles traveled west. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No ejections occurred.
According to the police report, two sedans collided on 45 Avenue at 1:35 a.m. Both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. The impact was at the center back end of one sedan and the center front end of the other. One driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with back pain and shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash involved no pedestrians or cyclists, only vehicle occupants.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515452, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
SUV Slams Parked Car, Driver Killed▸A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Chain Collision on Northern Boulevard Injures Driver▸Three vehicles collided on Northern Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of a pick-up truck, which then hit another truck. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The crash involved following too closely.
According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Northern Boulevard involving a sedan and two pick-up trucks all traveling east. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, along with whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. All drivers were licensed and slowing or stopping before impact. The sedan struck the center back end of the first pick-up truck, which then collided with the second truck. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506643,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Audi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian on Utopia Parkway▸A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.
A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Chain Collision on Northern Boulevard Injures Driver▸Three vehicles collided on Northern Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of a pick-up truck, which then hit another truck. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The crash involved following too closely.
According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Northern Boulevard involving a sedan and two pick-up trucks all traveling east. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, along with whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. All drivers were licensed and slowing or stopping before impact. The sedan struck the center back end of the first pick-up truck, which then collided with the second truck. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506643,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Audi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian on Utopia Parkway▸A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Three vehicles collided on Northern Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of a pick-up truck, which then hit another truck. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The crash involved following too closely.
According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Northern Boulevard involving a sedan and two pick-up trucks all traveling east. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, along with whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. All drivers were licensed and slowing or stopping before impact. The sedan struck the center back end of the first pick-up truck, which then collided with the second truck. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506643, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Audi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian on Utopia Parkway▸A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 19-year-old crossed with the signal. An Audi turned left. Steel hit flesh. His hip broke. The driver kept going. The street stayed quiet. The wound did not.
A 2007 Audi sedan, driven by a 49-year-old woman, struck a 19-year-old man as he crossed Utopia Parkway with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when she failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact shattered the pedestrian’s hip and left him in pain. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained licensed and uninjured. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496432, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15