No More Excuses: Slow Down or More Will Die

• 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

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 6 - In Queens, a driver in an SUV lost consciousness and hit two parked sedans at 134-41 155 St. He suffered neck pain. Police recorded illness and lost consciousness by the driver.

The driver of a 2012 Chevrolet SUV, traveling north and going straight, hit two parked sedans at 134-41 155 St in Queens. The 60-year-old male driver was injured with neck pain. A front-seat passenger was listed with unspecified status. No one was in the parked cars. According to the police report, police recorded illness and lost consciousness by the driver. The SUV had front-end damage; the parked sedans showed left-front damage. The report lists the driver as licensed in New York. The report does not list other injuries or pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 3 - An 81-year-old driver turned left at Guy R Brewer Blvd and 130 Ave and hit a 65-year-old woman in the intersection. She suffered leg and internal injuries. Impact was to the sedan’s left front bumper.

An 81-year-old woman driving a sedan made a left turn at Guy R Brewer Blvd and 130 Ave and hit a 65-year-old woman in the intersection. The pedestrian suffered a lower-leg injury and internal injuries. Police marked her as injured. Impact was to the sedan’s left front bumper. "According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and traveling west before the collision." The report lists no contributing factor for the driver or pedestrian. Two vehicle occupants were recorded, including a 72-year-old front-seat passenger. The driver held a valid New York license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - Two teens on a standing scooter crashed on 150 St at Rockaway Blvd. The teen driver was going straight north. Both were hurt. Police recorded driver inattention.

Two teenagers were injured in a standing scooter crash on 150 St at Rockaway Blvd in Queens. It happened at 10:25 a.m. The teen driver was traveling north, going straight. The passenger, 17, was riding on the outside and suffered a shoulder abrasion. The 16-year-old driver had minor bleeding to the shoulder and upper arm. “According to the police report …” contributing factors included Driver Inattention/Distraction. Police also listed Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion. Records show front-end damage. No other vehicles were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 13 - A teen at the wheel on 150 St struck a standing scooter at Rockaway Blvd. Two teens hurt. One bled from the arm. Police cite distraction and confusion. The street did its usual work: steel against skin.

A crash on 150 St at Rockaway Blvd in Queens injured two teenagers operating a standing scooter. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion” and “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” A 16-year-old male driver was injured with abrasions. A 17-year-old male passenger suffered bleeding to the arm and hand. The report lists the vehicle as a standing scooter struck at the center front while going straight. Driver Inattention/Distraction is a driver error that endangers riders and passengers. The police also cited pedestrian/bicyclist error/confusion, but only after noting driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 - Mayor Adams moves to veto Intro 1135. Instacart boasts profits from squeezing workers. Delivery riders face low pay and harsh streets. Council backs workers, but veto blocks fair wages.

Intro 1135, a bill to mandate minimum wage for grocery delivery workers, faces a mayoral veto as of August 12, 2025. The City Council passed the bill with a veto-proof majority. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and others support it. Instacart lobbied hard against the bill, bragging to shareholders about boosting profits by cutting worker pay. The bill's matter: 'pay parity for grocery delivery workers.' Olivia Bensimon reported the story. The safety analyst notes this event concerns labor policy, not direct street safety or conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

• As Mayor Adams Preps Veto of Minimum Wage Bill, Instacart Boasts ‘Squeezing’ Its Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

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 6 - A horse dies in Hell’s Kitchen. Photos spark outrage. The council stalls on banning horse-drawn carriages. Advocates warn: more crashes, more injuries, more deaths. Unions block change. Streets stay dangerous for all.

Bill 2025 to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City remains stalled as of August 6, 2025. Sponsored by Queens Councilman Robert Holden, the bill sits in the health committee, chaired by Lynn Schulman. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not stated her position. The bill, described as a push to end the city’s carriage industry, gained attention after the death of a horse named Lady. Animal rights groups rallied, warning, 'Without a ban there will be more crashes in traffic, there will be more injuries and possibly deaths.' TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. Safety analysts note that removing carriages would cut unpredictable, slow vehicles from streets, reducing crash risk and making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 3 - Council weighs a 20-foot parking ban at crosswalks. Supporters say it saves lives. Critics warn of lost parking and risk. Streets stand at a crossroads.

""The safety of pedestrians and all street users remains a top priority for Speaker Adams and the council. Intro. 1138 is going through the council’s legislative process, which is deliberative and allows for thorough public engagement and input."" -- Adrienne Adams

Intro. 1138, now before the City Council as of August 3, 2025, targets cars parked within 20 feet of crosswalks. The transportation committee leads the review. The bill's summary: 'ban vehicles from parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to improve visibility and street safety.' Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the measure. Council Member Julie Won and advocates back it. DOT officials and some lawmakers oppose, citing cost and risk. The bill could cut 300,000 parking spots. Banning parking near intersections improves visibility for all road users, reducing collisions and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, even if it reduces parking.

• NYC to lose 300,000 parking spots in City Council bid to boost street safety, AMNY, Published 2025-08-03

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 31 - A driver in an SUV turned left on Farmers Blvd at 144 Rd and hit a man in a marked crosswalk. His arm fractured. Police recorded driver inattention and failure to yield.

A 48-year-old man was hit by a driver in a Toyota SUV during a left turn at Farmers Blvd and 144 Rd in Queens. He was crossing in a marked crosswalk. He suffered a fractured arm. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and failed to yield the right of way. Police list Driver Inattention/Distraction and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way as contributing factors. The driver, a 44-year-old woman, was licensed and uninjured. The impact came at the right front quarter panel of the SUV. The crash occurred at 8:50 a.m.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 30 - Council moves to ban parking near corners. Sightlines clear. Crashes drop. Pedestrians and cyclists breathe easier. DOT doubts linger. Advocates press on. Streets could change fast.

On July 30, 2025, the NYC Council Progressive Caucus made a major push for Intro 1138, a bill to ban parking within 20 feet of intersections. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. Council Member Julie Won introduced it after deadly crashes in her district. Eighteen caucus members back the bill, aiming to force a vote this year. The matter: 'eliminate parking within 20 feet of an intersection.' Council Member Sandy Nurse called daylighting 'a proven, effective way to make our streets safer.' DOT raised doubts about non-hardened daylighting, but safety analysts say restricting parking near intersections improves visibility, reduces collisions, and protects people on foot and bike.

• NYC Council Progressive Caucus to make push for universal daylighting in 2025, City & State NY, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 28 - A driver in an SUV turned left at Guy R Brewer and Baisley and hit a 54-year-old woman. She suffered a bruised upper arm. Police recorded driver inattention and failure to yield.

A 54-year-old woman was injured at Guy R Brewer Blvd and Baisley Blvd in Queens when a driver in a 2013 SUV turned left and hit her with the front of the SUV. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and struck the pedestrian at the intersection, causing a contusion to her upper arm. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction and failure to yield right-of-way by the driver. The driver held a valid New York license. The report lists two occupants in the SUV. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 25 - Driver in a 2019 SUV turned right at 157 St and 132 Ave and hit a woman on a standing scooter. She suffered a leg bruise. Police recorded Traffic Control Disregarded.

A driver in a 2019 SUV made a right turn at 157 St and 132 Ave in Queens and hit a 31-year-old woman operating a standing scooter. She was going straight ahead. She suffered a knee and lower leg contusion and was listed as injured. According to the police report, "Traffic Control Disregarded" was recorded as a contributing factor. Police listed the SUV traveling south and turning right, and the smaller motorized device traveling north, going straight. Police recorded damage to the SUV's left rear bumper and to the scooter's center front. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18