Who Pays for Complacency? Bellerose Bleeds, Leaders Stall

• 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

Aug 25 - Two southbound sedans hit on Cross Island Parkway at Hillside Avenue. Metal tore. Airbags blew. Two drivers hurt, one with head trauma. A front-seat passenger suffered a concussion. Night road. High speed space. People bled; cars kept coming.

Two southbound sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway at Hillside Avenue in Queens. Two drivers were injured, including head injuries, and a front-seat passenger sustained a concussion. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead and the impacts hit the front bumpers, with one car showing left rear damage. The report lists contributing factors as “Unspecified” for all involved. No specific driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Unsafe Speed were documented in the data. Safety equipment was noted only as air bags deployed and a lap belt on one driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837754 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - Eastbound on the Grand Central. Cars slowed. A sedan plowed into a stopping Tesla, then an SUV took a hit. One driver was injured, partly ejected. Children rode in back seats. Following too closely and inexperience ruled the morning.

According to the police report, three eastbound vehicles on the Grand Central Parkway were involved when traffic slowed and a rear-end chain reaction followed. A Tesla slowing or stopping was struck from behind by a sedan; an SUV in the mix also sustained back-end damage. One male driver, 36, was injured and partially ejected. Other occupants, including a 7-year-old passenger, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report cites Following Too Closely, Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle, and Driver Inexperience as contributing factors. Multiple drivers are also noted individually for Driver Inexperience and Following Too Closely. No other contributing factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838293 - 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 - 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 7 - Two drivers in SUVs crashed on 89 Avenue near 248-55. Right-front to right-front. A 73-year-old woman driving east suffered neck pain. Police recorded unsafe speed by a driver.

Two drivers in SUVs crashed on 89 Avenue at 248-55 in Queens. Both right fronts took the hit. A 73-year-old woman driving east was injured with neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious. According to the police report, "Unsafe Speed" was the contributing factor. Police recorded unsafe speed by a driver. One driver was entering a parked position while heading east. The other drove west, going straight. Both vehicles showed right-front damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no other injuries were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 7 - Queens leaders kill Creedmoor’s car-free dream. The city bows to drivers. Walkers and cyclists lose. Streets stay hostile. Safety gains vanish. The promise of a people-first neighborhood dies.

On August 7, 2025, Eastern Queens Greenway condemned the city’s decision to scale back the Creedmoor redevelopment. The plan, once a bold vision for a car-free, walkable neighborhood, was gutted after pressure from local politicians like Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and Council Member Joann Ariola. The original proposal called for 2,775 homes and limited parking. Now, density drops by 27 percent. Empire State Development claims compromise, but the statement is aspirational and lacks concrete safety measures for pedestrians or cyclists. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. The city missed its chance.

• NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

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 turning left struck an oncoming SUV on Hillside Ave at Manor Rd in Queens. A 55-year-old male driver sustained a head abrasion. Police recorded "Turning Improperly." Two SUVs were damaged; other occupants were not reported injured.

According to the police report, one SUV was making a left turn and collided with an oncoming SUV that was going straight on Hillside Ave at Manor Rd in Queens. A 55-year-old male driver was injured, listed with a head abrasion and conscious. Police recorded "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor. The turning vehicle sustained damage to its left-side doors; the other vehicle sustained front-end damage at the right-front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Other occupants in the vehicles were not reported injured in the records provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - Two girls, 13 and 11, were injured when an SUV and two sedans collided near 245-19 Jericho Turnpike in Queens. They suffered leg and back injuries and were conscious after the crash.

An SUV and two sedans collided near 245-19 Jericho Turnpike in Queens. Two girls who were passengers were injured. According to the police report, "a 13-year-old girl in the front seat suffered abrasions to her leg and foot. An 11-year-old girl in the rear seat reported back pain and nausea. Both were conscious after the crash." The police report lists no specific driver errors and marks all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' Vehicle records show multiple parked vehicles and damage to right front panels and a roof. No ejections were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830684 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 22 - The driver of an SUV rear-ended a sedan on Cross Island Parkway. The sedan's 32-year-old driver was injured, reporting whole‑body pain and whiplash. Police recorded 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely'.

The driver of an SUV hit a sedan from behind on Cross Island Parkway northbound at Hillside Avenue. The sedan's driver, a 32-year-old man, was injured across his entire body and complained of whiplash; he was conscious and restrained with a lap belt. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' were listed as contributing factors. Both drivers were traveling straight when the SUV struck the sedan's center front end; the SUV sustained center back end damage. The report lists the crash as a rear-end collision and cites driver error as the primary cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 20 - A quadricycle and an SUV collided on 86 Ave at Commonwealth Blvd in Queens. Three men inside the quadricycle suffered neck and back injuries and contusions. According to police, driver inexperience was a contributing factor.

A quadricycle and an SUV collided on 86th Avenue at Commonwealth Boulevard in Queens. Three people inside the quadricycle were injured: the 20-year-old driver and two male passengers, ages 21 and 30. All three were conscious and suffered neck or back injuries and contusions. According to the police report, "Driver Inexperience" was listed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling west and both drivers were going straight ahead when the impact occurred. The SUV shows left front bumper damage; the quadricycle shows center back end and right rear quarter panel damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 20 - Four sedans crashed eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. A 35-year-old male passenger suffered chest trauma and whiplash. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. Police list contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

Four sedans collided eastbound on Grand Central Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, "a 35-year-old male passenger suffered chest injuries and whiplash." He was conscious and not ejected. He was seated in the middle front seat and wore a lap belt. Other occupants sustained unspecified injuries. The report shows heavy front and rear impact across multiple vehicles. Police recorded contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and did not name driver errors. Vehicle records list drivers as licensed. All four sedans were traveling straight ahead with impacts at center front and center back ends.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and park in bus lanes. Double-parking allowed to help passengers. Streets grow tighter. Danger for walkers and riders rises.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Members Julie Menin and Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' The bill grants ambulettes the right to drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes while helping passengers. Menin and Lee sponsor the measure, which was referred to committee on July 14. No safety analysis was provided. The change would squeeze vulnerable road users, making sidewalks and crossings riskier.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14