433 Hurt, Zero Dead—Complacency Is Killing Alley Pond Park

• Man struck and killed by two vehicles while trying to cross Belt Parkway in South Ozone Park: NYPD, amny, Published 2025-09-16

• Maniac NYC driver who mowed down teen girl after she rejected lewd advances had suspended license: docs, New York Post, Published 2025-09-14

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

Sep 5 - On Douglaston Parkway near the Long Island Expressway, a truck driver and an SUV driver collided. A 33-year-old driver suffered a head injury. Police recorded Failure to Yield.

An eastbound truck driver and a southbound SUV driver collided on Douglaston Parkway near the Long Island Expressway. A 33-year-old driver was injured with a reported head injury and was listed as conscious. According to the police report, officers recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way as a contributing factor for the drivers. Vehicle details list front-end impact for the SUV and damage to the truck’s left-side doors, indicating a side impact. Both drivers were licensed and were recorded as going straight ahead. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 25 - A sedan changing lanes at speed struck a pickup’s left rear on the Cross Island Parkway. One driver suffered neck injury and complained of whiplash. Police listed Unsafe Speed as a contributing factor.

One sedan changing lanes at speed struck the left rear bumper of a pickup on the southbound Cross Island Parkway in Queens. One driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and complained of whiplash; he was conscious and not ejected. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Unsafe Speed." Vehicle data show the sedan's pre-crash action as changing lanes and the pickup's point of impact as left rear bumper. Police-recorded driver errors include speeding during a lane change and striking another vehicle’s rear quarter. The injured occupant was restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors were recorded for the injured party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838287 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 17 - The driver of an SUV rear-ended a sedan on Northern Boulevard in Queens. Four sedan occupants reported neck injuries and whiplash. Police listed Driver Inattention/Distraction.

Two westbound vehicles collided at 232-01 Northern Boulevard in Queens. The driver of an SUV struck the sedan’s center back end while both vehicles were going straight ahead. The sedan carried four occupants; the SUV carried two. Four people in the sedan—the driver and three passengers—reported neck injuries and complaints of whiplash. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. Vehicle records show center front damage to the SUV and center back damage to the sedan, consistent with a rear-end collision. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Southbound drivers in SUVs stacked on the Cross Island Parkway. One driver hit the Toyota’s rear. Another driver struck that SUV. A passenger suffered a head injury; a driver had an arm abrasion.

Two drivers in southbound SUVs struck the rear of a Toyota SUV on the Cross Island Parkway in Queens. A 56-year-old male passenger suffered a head injury. A 42-year-old male driver reported an arm abrasion. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Following Too Closely, Following Too Closely." Police recorded Following Too Closely as the driver error for multiple striking vehicles. Police recorded front-end damage to the striking SUVs and center back-end damage to the Toyota. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Injuries to occupants were recorded as non-fatal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 14 - Paladino moves to cut the Streets Master Plan. The bill deletes bus- and bike-lane quotas and their definitions. Accountability drops. Riders and walkers lose clear targets. The car status quo holds.

Int 1362-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, and referral the same day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino. The bill amends Admin Code §19-199.1 to repeal the definitions of “protected bicycle lane” and “protected bus lane,” and to strip lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan. The matter summary says, “This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan.” It also deletes protected lane reporting from neighborhood investment lists, while keeping other benchmarks for APS, bus stop upgrades, TSP, intersection redesigns, ramps, and pedestrian space. Status: in committee; no vote yet.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino’s bill guts the Streets Master Plan. It repeals definitions for protected bike and bus lanes and deletes their quotas. Riders and walkers lose firm targets. The city trades clear commitments for vague promises.

Int 1362-2025 sits in committee. The Council introduced it on August 14, 2025 and referred it to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19). The bill repeals the definitions of protected bicycle lane and protected bus lane in Admin Code §19-199.1. It also strikes the Streets Master Plan benchmarks that required installing protected bike and bus lanes. As the matter summary states, "This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan." Other benchmarks remain: transit signal priority, bus stop upgrades, intersection redesigns, accessible pedestrian signals, pedestrian space, and ramps. The change erases clear lane targets for cyclists and bus riders.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino’s bill guts the Streets Master Plan. It repeals definitions for protected bike and bus lanes and deletes their quotas. Riders and walkers lose firm targets. The city trades clear commitments for vague promises.

Int 1362-2025 sits in committee. The Council introduced it on August 14, 2025 and referred it to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19). The bill repeals the definitions of protected bicycle lane and protected bus lane in Admin Code §19-199.1. It also strikes the Streets Master Plan benchmarks that required installing protected bike and bus lanes. As the matter summary states, "This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan." Other benchmarks remain: transit signal priority, bus stop upgrades, intersection redesigns, accessible pedestrian signals, pedestrian space, and ramps. The change erases clear lane targets for cyclists and bus riders.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Paladino moves to cut the Streets Master Plan. The bill deletes bus- and bike-lane quotas and their definitions. Accountability drops. Riders and walkers lose clear targets. The car status quo holds.

Int 1362-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, and referral the same day. Sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino. The bill amends Admin Code §19-199.1 to repeal the definitions of “protected bicycle lane” and “protected bus lane,” and to strip lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan. The matter summary says, “This bill would remove the bus lane and bike lane quotas from the Streets Master Plan.” It also deletes protected lane reporting from neighborhood investment lists, while keeping other benchmarks for APS, bus stop upgrades, TSP, intersection redesigns, ramps, and pedestrian space. Status: in committee; no vote yet.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The car sped off. Medics rushed the victim to the hospital. He died. Police searched for footage. No arrests. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th St. at South Conduit Ave. near JFK Airport around 2:30 a.m. The driver hit the man and fled. Police said, "The driver sped off without stopping. No arrests have been made." Officers searched for surveillance footage to identify the vehicle. The article notes 68 pedestrians have died in city crashes this year. The hit-and-run highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the challenge of holding drivers accountable.

• Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.

• Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two, New York Post, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.

• Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 8 - Floods drowned Bay Terrace. Streets vanished. Leaders demand signs and real fixes. Pedestrians and cyclists still face danger. Signs warn, but water keeps coming.

On August 8, 2025, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Vickie Paladino, joined by State Sen. John Liu and others, called for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation in Bay Terrace. They urged the Department of Transportation to act after flash floods submerged the Cross Island Parkway. The matter, described as a 'call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts,' saw Richards call signage a 'small step' and Paladino stress the need for warnings. The safety analyst notes these efforts may help general conditions but do not address the core safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists or shift burdens away from vulnerable users.

• Queens leaders call for flood signage and infrastructure in Bay Terrace, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - Queens leaders kill Creedmoor’s car-free dream. The city bows to drivers. Walkers and cyclists lose. Streets stay hostile. Safety gains vanish. The promise of a people-first neighborhood dies.

On August 7, 2025, Eastern Queens Greenway condemned the city’s decision to scale back the Creedmoor redevelopment. The plan, once a bold vision for a car-free, walkable neighborhood, was gutted after pressure from local politicians like Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and Council Member Joann Ariola. The original proposal called for 2,775 homes and limited parking. Now, density drops by 27 percent. Empire State Development claims compromise, but the statement is aspirational and lacks concrete safety measures for pedestrians or cyclists. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. The city missed its chance.

• NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 5 - Pre-dawn on Cross Island Parkway. A driver smashed the sedan’s nose. Three young passengers hurt—head, neck, blood. The driver scraped an arm. Police cite Other Vehicular and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle.

A northbound driver on Cross Island Parkway in Queens crashed. Three passengers were hurt: men 19, 22, and 24. Head wounds. Neck pain. Minor bleeding. The 30-year-old male driver suffered an arm abrasion. According to the police report, “Other Vehicular” and “Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle” were contributing factors. Impact was to the sedan’s center front end. The vehicle was going straight. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no driver errors beyond those factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832873 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 3 - A driver struck an e-bike rider in Queens. A scooter rider crashed in Brooklyn. Both died. Streets claimed them. Police investigate. Lives ended fast. Metal and speed left no room for error.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports two fatal e-vehicle crashes. On July 31, a 62-year-old Nissan Rogue driver hit Zhao Feng Zhen, 55, on Hollis Court Blvd in Queens. The driver remained at the scene; police continue to investigate. On July 12, Eusebio Quinones, 60, lost control of his electric scooter on Union Ave in Brooklyn and died from his injuries days later. The article notes, 'police are still investigating the crash.' These deaths highlight ongoing risks for vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 20 - A driver in a sedan hit two parked cars on Douglaston Parkway in Queens. Four people were hurt, including a 78‑year‑old woman with a neck contusion. Police listed a physical disability as a contributing factor.

A sedan traveling south on Douglaston Parkway struck two parked sedans. Four occupants were injured, including a 78‑year‑old woman who suffered a neck contusion. According to the police report, "Physical Disability" was listed as a contributing factor. Police recorded no other driver errors. The driver of the 2024 Hyundai was going straight ahead when her car struck the parked vehicles. The moving Hyundai’s center front end was crushed. The parked Ford (2004) and Jaguar (2009) sustained center‑back‑end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18