No More Excuses: Slow Down or More Will Die

May 24 - Two SUVs slammed into stopped cars on Rockaway Boulevard. Two people suffered whiplash. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent.

Two SUVs and a sedan collided on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor. Two people, a 54-year-old male driver and a 60-year-old female passenger, were injured with whiplash and back or neck pain. The crash involved vehicles stopped in traffic and one SUV moving straight ahead. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the driver error. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - SUV and sedan collided on Baisley Blvd. Two people hurt. Police cite failure to yield and improper turn. Metal twisted. Lives changed in a blink.

A station wagon/SUV and a sedan crashed at Baisley Blvd and Merrill St in Queens. Two people were injured: a 44-year-old male driver suffered a shoulder injury, and a 33-year-old female passenger sustained a leg injury. According to the police report, both 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the crash. The sedan was making a left turn when it struck the SUV going straight. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810689 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 3 - SUV hit a woman crossing 133 Ave with the signal. She suffered neck whiplash. Police cite failure to yield. Impact at the center front of the vehicle. System failed to protect her.

A 31-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing 133 Ave at Bedell St in Queens. She was crossing with the signal and suffered neck whiplash. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way while making a left turn. The impact was at the center front of the vehicle. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810281 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 30 - A sedan hit a 24-year-old man crossing Baisley Blvd with the signal. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered leg injuries. Impact was center front. System failed to protect the walker.

A 24-year-old pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck him as he crossed Baisley Blvd with the signal in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan showed no damage. The system allowed distraction to endanger a person walking with the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Apr 30 - SUV and sedan collided at 137 Ave and 160 St. Two people bruised. Police cite failure to yield. Steel struck flesh. System failed again.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed at 137 Ave and 160 St in Queens. A 41-year-old woman driving and a 64-year-old man riding as passenger were injured with bruises to the hip, leg, and neck. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both vehicles were traveling straight. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The system allowed another preventable collision. No helmet or signal use was cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Apr 23 - SUV turned left on Merrick. E-scooter struck, rider thrown, chest injured. Police cite driver distraction. Streets stay dangerous for the young and old.

An SUV making a left turn on Merrick Blvd collided with a southbound e-scooter. The 22-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered chest injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV driver, a 70-year-old woman, and another occupant were not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the risk faced by vulnerable road users when drivers are distracted. Helmet use was not listed as a factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Apr 23 - A Brooklyn man lost control on Belt Parkway. His SUV struck a tree near JFK. Emergency crews arrived but could not save him. The road stayed quiet. Police kept watch. The investigation continues.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on April 23, 2025, that a 57-year-old Brooklyn man died after crashing his SUV on the Belt Parkway near JFK Airport. Police said the driver "failed to navigate the roadway and struck a tree." Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene. The NYPD's Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is handling the case, and no arrests have been made. The article highlights the crash location—westbound Belt Parkway, just west of 130th Street—and notes the ongoing investigation. The incident underscores the dangers present on high-speed parkways and the unforgiving design of tree-lined medians.

• Driver Dies After Belt Parkway Crash, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 21 - Metal bolts crashed through a windshield in Queens. Glass exploded over the passenger. The No. 7 train rumbled above. Danger rained down. This was not the first time. The system failed to shield those below.

ABC7 reported on April 21, 2025, that debris from the No. 7 subway train fell onto a car at Queens Plaza, shattering the windshield and denting the hood. Rahimi, the driver, said, "We were driving right off here. Something fell off the train, damaging the windshield." Passenger Malnick described, "A bolt hit and then right away just the sound of glass exploding and glass all over me." The incident echoes previous cases: in 2019, falling debris from elevated tracks struck vehicles three times in a month. The MTA responded then by intensifying inspections, but the problem persists. The agency now says it is investigating and will inspect the area. The repeated incidents highlight ongoing risks from aging infrastructure above city streets.

• Falling Subway Debris Strikes Car In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-21

Apr 20 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The driver struck a man on a bicycle. He died at the scene. Police closed the street. Another life ended in the crosswalk’s shadow. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The crash happened as the truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street. According to police, 'the truck was turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street in Middle Village when the collision occurred.' The cyclist, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists at intersections and the dangers of large vehicles turning across paths. Policy questions remain about intersection design and vehicle operation in dense neighborhoods.

• FDNY Truck Turns, Cyclist Killed In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-20

Apr 19 - A firetruck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The wheels crushed a cyclist. Sirens wailed. Sheets covered the scene. Two firefighters stood stunned. The body lay beneath the truck. One life ended. The street stayed silent.

According to the New York Post (April 19, 2025), an FDNY Rescue Company 4 firetruck struck and killed a cyclist while turning onto Juniper Boulevard near Juniper Valley Park in Queens. The truck was responding to a call with lights and sirens. The victim, reportedly in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene after being trapped under the rear wheels. Photos showed the aftermath, with sheets covering the truck’s back wheels. A witness told the Post, “We stopped at the red light and there was the FDNY truck... One of them seemed concerned, like shaken, like shocked.” The incident is under investigation. The article highlights the risks at intersections and the dangers large emergency vehicles pose to vulnerable road users in city traffic.

• Firetruck Kills Cyclist Near Queens Park, New York Post, Published 2025-04-19

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 4 - A driver lost control near a Queens school. The car struck two children and a man. A seven-year-old girl’s leg snapped. Sirens wailed. Police arrested the driver. The sidewalk bore the scars. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the New York Post (April 4, 2025), an unlicensed driver reversed into a box truck, then spun onto the sidewalk outside Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria, Queens. The crash injured three: a 7-year-old girl with a broken femur and head injury, a 14-year-old girl with leg injuries, and a 58-year-old man with bruises. The article states, 'Bah was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving without a license.' This incident follows another recent crash involving a suspended license, highlighting recurring risks from unlicensed drivers. The crash underscores the persistent threat cars pose to people on city sidewalks, especially near schools.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits Kids Outside School, New York Post, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 3 - Two cars struck Jorman Esparza-Olivares at a busy Rego Park crossing. He suffered head and body trauma. Medics rushed him to Elmhurst. He died six days later. Both drivers stayed. No charges. The intersection remains dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 3, 2025, that Jorman Esparza-Olivares, 23, was killed after being struck by two drivers while riding his e-bike north on 63rd Drive at Queens Blvd. The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on March 19. According to police, 'It wasn't clear if any of the men involved in the crash ran a red light.' Esparza-Olivares suffered severe injuries and died six days later at Elmhurst Medical Center. Both drivers, operating a Ford SUV and a Mercedes Benz, remained at the scene and were not immediately charged. The incident highlights persistent risks for cyclists at major intersections and raises questions about traffic controls and driver awareness on Queens Blvd.

• E-Bike Rider Killed At Queens Intersection, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 28 - A speeding Mercedes ran a red in Queens. The driver, high and drunk, struck a young airport worker headed to his job. The worker died. Two passengers survived. The driver, a probationary firefighter, now faces manslaughter charges.

NY Daily News reported on March 28, 2025, that Michael Pena, a probationary FDNY firefighter, was fired after being charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Queens crash. Prosecutors said Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and struck Justin Diaz, 23, who had the right-of-way. Pena's blood-alcohol content was 0.156%, nearly double the legal limit, and he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. The article states, 'Pena was driving nearly 60 mph above the speed limit after a night of drinking at a bar.' Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence. Two passengers in Pena's car were hospitalized. The crash highlights ongoing risks from impaired and reckless driving, even among public servants.

• Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28

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 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

Feb 28 - In Queens, two sedans collided head-on near Bedell Street. Three occupants suffered injuries, including knee and leg wounds. Police cite driver inexperience, inattention, and improper lane usage as causes. All occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:37 AM near 134-67 Bedell Street in Queens. Two sedans traveling east and west collided, both vehicles sustaining center front end damage. The drivers, a 47-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, along with a 34-year-old female passenger, were all injured. The report identifies driver errors including 'Driver Inexperience,' 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. None of the occupants were ejected, and all were restrained with lap belts. The injured suffered bodily harm ranging from unknown injuries to knee, lower leg, and foot injuries. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing instead on driver errors and systemic risks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795423 - 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