Mar 18 - A taxi traveling south on Van Wyck Expressway struck a parked sedan’s right rear bumper. The taxi driver and passenger suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor in the collision.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on Van Wyck Expressway collided with a parked sedan, impacting the sedan’s right rear bumper with the taxi’s left front bumper. The taxi driver and his passenger, both 27-year-old males, sustained injuries to their knees and lower legs, described as contusions and bruises. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and were not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. The sedan was stationary at the time, and no other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The taxi driver held a valid New Jersey license, and the sedan driver was licensed in New York. The collision occurred at 11:22 p.m., emphasizing the dangers of excessive speed even on controlled roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Mar 13 - A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13

Mar 13 - A bicyclist suffered a neck injury after an SUV making a right turn struck him on Rockaway Blvd in Queens. The crash resulted from the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The cyclist was conscious and not ejected, complaining of whiplash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rockaway Blvd in Queens at midnight. A 30-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was struck by a 2009 Honda SUV making a right turn eastbound. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist sustained a neck injury classified as severity level 3 and complained of whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report explicitly cites the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention/distraction as contributing factors. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during turning maneuvers in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798709 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Mar 4 - A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

Mar 2 - Two SUVs slammed together on 116 Ave. Five people hurt. Bruises, abrasions, shaken nerves. Police blame failure to yield. Metal twisted. No one ejected. All conscious. Streets stay dangerous.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided at 13:15 on 116 Ave in Queens. Five occupants were injured: a 27-year-old male driver with head contusions, a 17-year-old male front passenger, a 40-year-old female right rear passenger, and a 12-year-old female left rear passenger—all with abrasions. A 61-year-old female driver suffered neck contusions. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary cause. All victims were conscious and wore lap belts and harnesses. No one was ejected. The crash left damage to the front end and right side doors. Driver error—failure to yield—was the only contributing factor listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Mar 1 - A left-turning BMW sedan struck a westbound carry-all on Linden Blvd in Queens. The BMW driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield as causes, exposing critical risks in urban traffic flow.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:15 on Linden Blvd in Queens involving two vehicles: a northbound BMW sedan making a left turn and a westbound carry-all traveling straight. The BMW driver, a 57-year-old male occupant, sustained head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The collision impacted the right front quarter panel of the BMW and the left front bumper of the carry-all. The BMW driver’s failure to yield while executing the left turn directly caused the crash, highlighting the dangers of distracted driving and right-of-way violations in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797106 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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 26 - A firefighter sped through a red light in Queens. His Mercedes slammed into a BMW. The BMW driver died. The firefighter, drunk, refused a breath test. Passengers hurt. Bystanders rushed to help. The street stayed deadly, silent after.

According to NY Daily News (2025-02-26), FDNY firefighter Michael Pena, 28, faces charges after allegedly running a red light while intoxicated and T-boning a BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd., East Elmhurst. The crash killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz. Surveillance video showed Pena's Mercedes plowing into Diaz's BMW, which then struck a parked minivan. Pena refused a breath test and was uninjured. Two Mercedes passengers were hospitalized. The article notes, 'The FDNY stated Pena will be suspended without pay for 28 days during the investigation.' Video evidence indicated Diaz entered the intersection legally, with the pedestrian signal allowing crossing. The incident highlights the lethal risk of speeding and red-light running, even in early morning hours.

• FDNY Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 17 - A 12-year-old boy suffered a head injury after a sedan made a left turn and struck him at an intersection. The driver showed inexperience, while the pedestrian was confused, contributing to the collision. The boy was left in shock with visible injury.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 120 Avenue made a left turn and struck a 12-year-old male pedestrian crossing at the intersection near Sutphin Boulevard. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2008 Jeep sedan. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication, but the police report emphasizes driver inexperience and pedestrian confusion as primary causes. No safety equipment or helmet use was noted. The collision resulted in injury severity level 3 to the child.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793864 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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 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 23 - Two vehicles crashed on 116 Avenue in Queens, injuring a front-seat passenger. The SUV struck the sedan’s right front bumper with its left front. The passenger suffered back contusions but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:30 on 116 Avenue in Queens involving a 2019 Ford SUV traveling west and a 2014 Nissan sedan traveling north. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. A 37-year-old male front passenger in the sedan was injured, sustaining back contusions. He was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before the collision. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on driver disregard for traffic control as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788442 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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 15 - An 11-year-old boy playing in the roadway was struck by an SUV traveling west on 142 Street. The vehicle’s right front quarter panel made impact. Limited driver visibility contributed to the crash, leaving the child with abrasions and leg injuries.

According to the police report, an 11-year-old pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2020 Lexus SUV traveling westbound on 142 Street near Rockaway Boulevard. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right front quarter panel. The child, described as playing in the roadway at an intersection, suffered abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating the driver’s impaired visibility played a critical role. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian’s behavior was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. Vehicle damage was confined to the right front quarter panel, underscoring the point of collision. This incident highlights the dangers posed by limited driver sight lines in areas where children may be present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jan 11 - A sedan turned left on Linden. A cyclist rode straight. Metal slammed flesh. The rider, twenty-seven, flew. His leg shattered. Blood spread on cold asphalt. The driver’s improper lane use left pain behind.

A crash at Linden Boulevard and 155th Street in Queens left a 27-year-old cyclist with severe leg injuries. According to the police report, a 1996 Honda sedan was making a left turn while the cyclist was going straight. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The narrative states: 'A 1996 Honda turned left. A bike came straight. Metal hit bone. The rider, 27, flew. No helmet. His leg crushed. He lay conscious on cold asphalt, bleeding into the gray morning.' The sedan’s left front bumper struck the center front of the bicycle. The cyclist was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his lower leg. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but does not cite cyclist behavior as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03