Hollis Bleeds While City Waits: Slow the Cars, Save a Life

A soul singer crossed Woodhaven at Myrtle. A Yamaha motorcycle struck her. She died at Jamaica Hospital. The rider kept going as the light changed. Police have not charged him. Dreams ended in the street. The city moves on.

NY Daily News reported on April 27, 2025, that Breanna Henderson, 23, was fatally struck by a Yamaha motorcycle while crossing Woodhaven Blvd. at Myrtle Ave. in Queens. The crash happened around 2:20 a.m. as the traffic light turned from yellow to red. The article notes, 'the motorcyclist hit her as the light turned from yellow to red.' Police have not charged the 34-year-old rider, and the investigation continues. Henderson was returning home from a performance. The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at major intersections and the risks posed by vehicles failing to yield during signal changes.

• Singer Killed Crossing Woodhaven Boulevard, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-27

Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

SUV turned left on Jamaica Ave. Cyclist hit, head struck, concussion. Police cite driver inattention. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A 31-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and concussion after an SUV struck him during a left turn at Jamaica Ave and 191 St in Queens. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The cyclist was traveling straight when the SUV, driven by a 52-year-old man, turned left and hit him. The crash left the cyclist in shock. The report lists no other contributing factors. The system allowed distraction to put a vulnerable road user in harm’s way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two cars slammed together on 205th Street. Four people hurt. Metal twisted. Neck, arm, and back injuries. Police cite driver distraction. The street stays dangerous.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided on 205th Street at 93rd Avenue in Queens. Four occupants suffered injuries: a 23-year-old female driver with shoulder pain, a 44-year-old female front passenger with neck trauma, a 42-year-old male driver with a fractured arm, and a 31-year-old male rear passenger with back injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash left metal bent and people shaken. The report did not mention any actions by those injured that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A sedan ran a control and hit a cyclist on 187 Place. The cyclist was ejected and injured. Police cite traffic control disregarded. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A sedan and a bike collided on 187 Place at 91 Avenue in Queens. The cyclist, a 43-year-old man, was ejected and suffered injuries to his leg and foot. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as the contributing factor. Both the sedan driver and a passenger were involved but had unspecified injuries. The crash highlights a failure to obey traffic controls, putting the cyclist at risk. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. It hit a man on a bike. He died there, on the street. Police are investigating. The crash happened in Middle Village, Queens. Metal met flesh. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The collision happened as the truck was 'turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street.' The victim, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating the incident. The article notes the truck's turning movement but does not detail further driver actions. This fatal crash highlights the risks at intersections where large vehicles and cyclists cross paths. No information was provided about charges or policy changes.

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

A firetruck struck a cyclist on Juniper Boulevard. The truck turned with lights and sirens. The cyclist was crushed under the rear wheels. Sheets covered the scene. Firefighters stood by, shaken. The victim died instantly. The investigation continues.

According to the New York Post (April 19, 2025), an FDNY Rescue Company 4 firetruck fatally struck a cyclist near Juniper Valley Park in Queens while responding to a call. The article states, "The truck was making a turn onto Juniper Boulevard...when the fatal accident occurred." Police reported the truck had lights and sirens activated. The cyclist ended up beneath the rear wheels and was pronounced dead at the scene. Photos showed emergency sheets covering the area. Witness Miguel Vega described firefighters as "shaken, like shocked." The incident highlights the dangers at intersections, especially when emergency vehicles turn. The crash is under investigation, with no details yet on policy or procedural changes.

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

A sedan turned left on Hillside Avenue. Its right front hit a 71-year-old man crossing. Blood ran from his head. He stayed conscious. The driver, 76, walked away. A baby rode in the car. Only the pedestrian was hurt.

A 71-year-old man was struck and injured by a sedan making a left turn at Hillside Avenue and 202nd Street. According to the police report, 'the right front struck a 71-year-old man crossing. Blood ran from his head. He was conscious.' The driver, age 76, and a baby passenger were not hurt. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other errors or factors are cited. The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding to the head but remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A former firefighter sped through a red light in Queens. He struck Justin Diaz’s car at 83 mph. Diaz died a block from home. The driver was drunk, high, and unregistered. The court revoked his bail. Diaz’s family mourns.

ABC7 reported on April 17, 2025, that ex-FDNY firefighter Michael Peña faces manslaughter and DWI charges after a deadly crash in Queens. Prosecutors allege Peña was drunk, high, and speeding at 83 mph—three times the limit—when he ran a red light and T-boned 23-year-old Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance and body camera footage show Peña admitting to running the light. Five hours after the crash, tests confirmed intoxication by alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Peña’s record includes prior arrests and 25 school zone speeding tickets. He also drove an unregistered vehicle with an obstructed plate and tinted windshield. The victim, Diaz, was headed to work and had just graduated college. The case highlights repeated driver violations and systemic failures in enforcement.

• Ex-Firefighter Charged In Queens Fatal Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-17

SUV and sedan collided on Jamaica Avenue. One driver suffered head injury and shock. Police cite unsafe speed as cause. Passengers, including children, were shaken but not seriously hurt.

A crash involving a station wagon/SUV and a sedan occurred on Jamaica Avenue at 193rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, one driver sustained a head injury and shock, while several passengers, including a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, were involved but not seriously hurt. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV was traveling straight, while the sedan was changing lanes. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use. The crash highlights the danger of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorbike and SUV collide on 188th Street. The bike shatters. A 19-year-old is thrown, crushed, killed. The SUV driver, sixty, survives with pain. Sirens echo. The street holds the silence of death.

A deadly crash unfolded at 188th Street and 90th Avenue in Queens. A 19-year-old motorbike rider was ejected and killed after a head-on collision with an Audi SUV. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old woman, suffered pain but survived. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The motorbike was demolished. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No blame is placed on the victims. The crash left one dead and one injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

A BMW and motorcycle collided on Woodhaven Boulevard. Both vehicles burned. The motorcyclist died at the scene. The BMW driver survived. No arrests. Police are investigating. Another life lost on a wide, fast Queens road.

According to NY Daily News (April 5, 2025), a fatal crash occurred at 60th Drive and Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park, Queens. A BMW SUV and a motorcycle, both heading south, collided around 9:22 a.m. Both vehicles caught fire. Police said, 'only the car driver survived the collision.' EMS pronounced the motorcycle rider dead at the scene. The BMW driver was hospitalized in stable condition. No arrests have been made, and police continue to investigate. The crash highlights the persistent dangers on major Queens thoroughfares, where high speeds and heavy traffic put vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motorcyclist Killed In Queens Collision Blaze, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-05

Two cars slam together on Hollis Ave. Metal buckles. A woman in back grips her neck, stunned. Alcohol lingers. The sedan’s nose is crushed. The SUV’s rear is torn open.

A sedan and an SUV collided on Hollis Ave at 200th Street. According to the police report, alcohol was involved. The crash left a 50-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, injured and in shock with neck pain. Both vehicles were traveling west when the sedan struck the SUV’s rear. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were cited. The injured passenger wore a harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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