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

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 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 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

Jan 24 - Two SUVs collided head-to-tail on the Long Island Expressway. Driver inattention and tailgating caused the crash. A 32-year-old woman in the back seat suffered neck injuries and shock. Both vehicles moved east when impact struck.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway collided when one rear-ended the other. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The crash struck the center back end of the lead SUV and the center front end of the trailing SUV. A 32-year-old female passenger in the middle rear seat was injured, suffering neck trauma and shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed, one from New Jersey and one from New York. The crash underscores the risk of distraction and tailgating on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 16 - Three sedans collided northbound on Cross Island Parkway. The impact caused head injuries to a 22-year-old male driver, who was restrained. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor in this multi-vehicle collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:10 on Cross Island Parkway involving three sedans traveling north. The report identifies unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The impact points include the left rear bumper and quarter panel of one vehicle, the right front bumper and center front end of another, and the center back end and left rear bumper of the third. A 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining head contusions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash demonstrates the dangers of unsafe speed in multi-vehicle collisions on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 14 - Opponents of congestion pricing use subway crime to stir fear and block change. Data shows streets are deadlier than trains. Riders keep riding. Politicians and advocates clash. The real danger: distraction from fixing transit and protecting people on foot and bike.

""They laugh at your concerns because they don't care. Nothing changes because they don't care. And now this moron is going to get billions more dollars on the backs of working people to pad his completely dysfunctional and unaccountable agency -- and openly celebrate it."" -- Vickie Paladino

On January 14, 2025, a public debate erupted over congestion pricing and subway safety in New York City. The matter, titled "Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime," highlights how some council members and political groups use concerns about subway crime to oppose congestion pricing. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino voiced strong opposition, while advocates like Sara Lind and Ben Furnas countered that such arguments ignore real solutions and endanger transit funding. The article notes, 'Data shows the subway is statistically safer than city streets for both pedestrians and drivers.' Despite visible homelessness and high-profile crimes, most riders continue to use the subway. The debate exposes how fear is weaponized to block policies that could reduce traffic violence and improve safety for vulnerable road users. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-14

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Dec 19 - Council bill targets speed. Shared e-bikes and scooters must have speedometers. New riders get capped at 10 mph. Law aims to slow the city’s fastest wheels. Committee review underway.

Int 1145-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill would require all shared electric bikes and scooters to have working speedometers. For new riders, electric assist cuts out at 10 mph. The matter title reads: 'requiring that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, and Chris Banks back the bill. Brewer referred it to committee. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 1145-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Nov 27 - Two sedans traveling westbound collided on the Long Island Expressway. The front of one struck the rear of the other. A 65-year-old female driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on the Long Island Expressway at 18:03. Both vehicles were traveling westbound, with one sedan striking the center front end of the other’s center back end. The driver of the striking vehicle, a 65-year-old female occupant, sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers held valid licenses from New York and New Jersey respectively. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or improper maneuvers. The collision involved two vehicles traveling straight ahead, indicating a rear-end impact scenario. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 25 - A 2006 Infiniti raced north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal screamed, hips shattered. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, was crushed by the impact. The car lay demolished in the dark, the night echoing with pain and ruin.

According to the police report, a 2006 Infiniti sedan was traveling north on Cross Island Parkway at 2:40 a.m. when it crashed at high speed. The report states the vehicle was moving with 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as a contributing factor. The right front bumper took the brunt of the impact, leaving the car 'demolished.' A 17-year-old front passenger suffered severe crush injuries to his hips and upper legs. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and remained conscious after the collision. The report also notes 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as a secondary contributing factor. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The right front hit hard. Metal folded. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, screamed through crushed hips.' No actions by the passenger are listed as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the excessive speed and mechanical failure that led to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 21 - A 20-year-old male driver suffered back injuries when his sedan collided head-on at unsafe speed. The crash on Cross Island Parkway at 3:55 a.m. involved no ejection but deployed airbags. Driver inexperience and speeding caused the impact.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old male driver operating a 2015 Kia sedan on Cross Island Parkway at 3:55 a.m. was injured in a crash caused by unsafe speed and driver inexperience. The vehicle was traveling north, going straight ahead, when it sustained center front end damage from the collision. The driver was not ejected and was conscious with back injuries classified as severity level 3. Safety equipment including airbags and lap belt/harness deployed during the crash. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the collision. The driver held a New York permit license at the time. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved according to the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 5 - Two SUVs collided on Cross Island Parkway in Queens. The female driver of the rear vehicle suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage in a straight-ahead crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Cross Island Parkway in Queens at 12:30. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling straight ahead collided, with the rear vehicle striking the front vehicle's center back end. The female driver of the rear SUV was injured, sustaining head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the rear vehicle operator. Both vehicles showed damage at the center front and center back ends. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 28 - Three cars slammed together on Cross Island Parkway. A woman in the front seat took the hit. Abrasions, arm hurt. Rear-end chaos. No walkers or bikers. Metal and flesh paid the price.

According to the police report, three vehicles traveling south on Cross Island Parkway collided in a chain reaction. A 52-year-old woman riding as a front passenger in an SUV was injured, suffering abrasions and injuries to her arm and hand. She was conscious and wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. The sequence of rear-end impacts points to driver errors in maintaining safe distances. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal twisted and a passenger hurt, underscoring the danger of close traffic and inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767090 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 27 - SUV plowed into stopped traffic on the Long Island Expressway. Two hurt. A child and a woman. Chest injuries. Shock. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and pain on Queens asphalt.

A westbound SUV struck stopped vehicles on the Long Island Expressway in Queens, injuring a 5-year-old boy and a 29-year-old woman. According to the police report, the SUV hit a sedan, which then hit another SUV. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. Both injured were in shock and suffered chest injuries. The child was in a child restraint; the woman wore a lap belt and harness. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The impact left center front and back end damage on the vehicles. The crash underscores the danger of inattention behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 15 - A 31-year-old man stood in the dark on Cross Island Parkway. Two SUVs hit him, one after another. His body broke beneath the steel. No intersection. No chance. The night swallowed him whole.

A 31-year-old man was killed on Cross Island Parkway late at night after being struck by two SUVs in succession, according to the police report. The narrative states, 'A 31-year-old man stood in the roadway. Two SUVs struck him, one after the other. His body broke beneath the steel. No intersection. No chance.' The crash occurred away from any intersection, with the pedestrian listed as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Not at Intersection' and engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The first SUV, a 2023 Nissan, was 'Changing Lanes' before its right front bumper struck the man. The second SUV, a 2018 Jaguar, was described as 'Parked' with impact to its center back end. The police report lists both driver contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian's behavior. The sequence and violence of the impacts underscore the vulnerability of people on foot in high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26