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

Mar 21 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Mar 21 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Feb 16 - A sedan traveling east was struck in the right rear bumper by a pickup truck also heading east. The pickup driver, inexperienced and following too closely, caused the crash. Both drivers were injured, including a 9-year-old passenger suffering whiplash.

According to the police report, a pickup truck collided with the right rear bumper of a sedan on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan carried two occupants: a 44-year-old female driver and a 9-year-old male passenger. Both were injured, with complaints of whiplash and head injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was cited for driver inexperience and following too closely. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The passenger was secured with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash caused damage to the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the pickup truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606155 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 16 - Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.

On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.

• Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-16

Feb 13 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

Feb 10 - A sedan and SUV collided on Cross Island Parkway. Three people hurt. Police cite driver distraction and unsafe speed. Injuries: whiplash, facial abrasions, bruised leg. Metal twisted. No one ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV crashed on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan's left front bumper hit the SUV's right rear bumper. Three people were injured: a 44-year-old woman with neck whiplash, a 10-year-old boy with facial abrasions, and a 47-year-old man with a bruised leg. All were conscious and wore lap belts and harnesses. The report lists driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The sedan suffered center front end damage; the SUV's right rear bumper was hit. No one was ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 6 - A sedan traveling south on Cross Island Parkway rear-ended another vehicle. The driver, a 41-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The impact struck the center back end of the lead vehicle. Driver distraction was cited as a factor.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male driver in a 2017 Toyota sedan was injured in a rear-end collision on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan struck the center back end of the vehicle ahead while traveling south. The driver was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness but suffered neck injuries described as whiplash. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The lead vehicle was going straight ahead and slowing or stopping before impact. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4603754 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 5 - A 69-year-old female driver was injured in a multi-SUV crash on Cross Island Parkway. She was unconscious with chest injuries after her vehicle was struck from behind. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as causes.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old female driver was injured in a rear-end collision involving multiple SUVs on Cross Island Parkway. The injured driver was unconscious and suffered chest injuries but was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The crash involved a 2012 Toyota SUV traveling south that struck a stopped 2021 BMW SUV from behind, which in turn was hit by a 2022 Hyundai SUV. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report does not indicate any victim fault or other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4603315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 3 - A BMW SUV struck the rear of an Acura sedan traveling north on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan’s female driver, 29, suffered a head contusion. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping. The SUV’s center back end hit the sedan’s center front end.

According to the police report, a 2020 BMW SUV rear-ended a 2015 Acura sedan on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan’s 29-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining a head contusion but remained conscious. Both vehicles were traveling north and slowing or stopping before the collision. The point of impact was the SUV’s center back end striking the sedan’s center front end. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors. The sedan driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness, and the airbag deployed. No ejection occurred. The SUV driver was licensed in New York; the sedan driver was licensed in Massachusetts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602818 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 13 - A box truck slammed into the back of an SUV on the Long Island Expressway. The SUV was slowing when the truck, following too closely, hit it. A front passenger in the SUV suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling east on the Long Island Expressway rear-ended a slowing SUV going in the same direction. The collision caused center front-end damage to the truck and center back-end damage to the SUV. A 39-year-old female front passenger in the SUV was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors, indicating driver error on the truck's part. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor 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 measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Dec 30 - SUV crashed into SUV’s rear on Long Island Expressway. Nineteen-year-old woman behind the wheel hurt her neck, went into shock. Police cite tailgating and distraction. Metal twisted. No one else injured.

According to the police report, two SUVs were heading west on the Long Island Expressway when the rear vehicle struck the back of the front SUV. The 19-year-old woman driving the rear SUV suffered neck injuries and shock. She wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The front SUV’s male driver was not hurt. The crash damaged the front of the rear SUV and the back of the front SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 12 - A 20-year-old man stood near parked cars. Two SUVs trapped him. Metal slammed flesh. His hip shattered. His leg broke. He lay conscious in the cold. The night was quiet. The road was not.

A 20-year-old pedestrian was crushed between two SUVs on Cross Island Parkway. According to the police report, the man suffered a shattered hip and broken leg. He remained conscious after the impact. The crash involved a BMW SUV moving straight ahead and two parked SUVs. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The injured man was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The force of two SUVs left the pedestrian with severe crush injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - Three cars slammed together on Cross Island Parkway. Metal tore. A 41-year-old man, front seat, bled from the head and did not wake. Two drivers and two more passengers suffered neck and arm wounds. The night stayed silent. Engines cooled.

Three vehicles—an SUV and two sedans—collided southbound on Cross Island Parkway. According to the police report, 'Southbound on Cross Island Parkway, three cars collided in the dark. Metal screamed. A 41-year-old man, front passenger, lay bleeding from the head. His belt held him. He did not wake.' The crash left the 41-year-old male passenger unconscious with severe head bleeding. Two drivers and two other passengers suffered neck and arm injuries. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. No driver was reported as unlicensed. All injured persons wore lap belts and harnesses. The report does not list any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586647 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 30 - A sedan hit its own front passenger on the Long Island Expressway. The 63-year-old man suffered knee and leg bruises. Driver reacted to another vehicle. Impact hit the left front bumper. Passenger stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on the Long Island Expressway struck its front passenger, a 63-year-old man. The passenger suffered contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the main contributing factor, showing the driver’s response to another vehicle led to the crash. The impact was to the sedan’s left front bumper. The passenger was restrained with a lap belt and harness and remained conscious. No other driver errors or victim factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 25 - Two SUVs collided on Cross Island Parkway. A female driver stopped in traffic was rear-ended by a male driver distracted and following too closely. The female driver was injured and in shock. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female driver stopped in traffic on Cross Island Parkway was rear-ended by a male driver traveling north. The collision involved two SUVs. The female driver was injured and experienced shock but was not ejected. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely" by the male driver. The female driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. The impact occurred at the center front end of the striking vehicle and the center back end of the struck vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A tractor truck changed lanes unsafely on the Long Island Expressway. It struck a sedan from behind. The sedan driver, a 45-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash.

According to the police report, a tractor truck diesel traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway changed lanes unsafely and struck the center front end of a sedan, also westbound. The sedan's 45-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor. The sedan driver was conscious, not ejected, and wore a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572047 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 8 - A 23-year-old woman was hit by an SUV on Douglaston Parkway. She was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The vehicle failed to yield right-of-way, striking her in the knee and lower leg. She suffered fractures and dislocations.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Douglaston Parkway in Queens. The driver of a 2007 Honda SUV, traveling northeast, failed to yield right-of-way and disregarded traffic control, striking the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in significant injury and shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault, and no safety equipment or signals were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 7 - Two sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway. The trailing vehicle struck the lead car’s left rear bumper. The driver of the lead sedan suffered chest abrasions but was conscious and restrained. Following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Cross Island Parkway collided when the trailing vehicle hit the left rear bumper of the lead car. The lead vehicle’s driver, a 30-year-old woman, was injured with chest abrasions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash caused damage to the left rear bumper of the lead sedan and the right front bumper of the trailing sedan. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19