Queens Village: The Deaths Keep Coming. The Fixes Don’t.

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

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 double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

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

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

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

Jul 13 - A Lexus driver with a suspended license struck and killed a 15-year-old on an e-bike in Nassau County. The driver fled but was caught. The teen died at the scene. The car had dozens of prior violations.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-13), a 15-year-old fleeing police on an e-bike was killed by a Lexus driver with a suspended license and a long record of violations. The driver, Ruyan Ali, crossed into oncoming traffic to pass a stopped car and struck the teen, then tried to flee. Police said Ali had 'at least three license suspensions' and the Lexus had '53 speeding camera violations.' Ali faces charges for leaving the scene and unlicensed operation. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Teen On E-Bike, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 9 - A driver in an SUV hit a 14-year-old boy on a bike at 112 Ave and 221 St in Queens. The boy was ejected and left semiconscious with an upper-arm abrasion. SUV driver was reported uninjured. Police listed contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

The driver of an SUV struck a 14-year-old bicyclist at 112th Avenue and 221st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and left semiconscious with an upper arm abrasion. The SUV sustained damage to its right-side doors. Vehicle records show the SUV was traveling west and the bicyclist was making a left turn heading south before the impact. Police recorded contributing factors as "Unspecified" for the collision and listed the cyclist’s contributing factors as "Unspecified" as well. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 5 - Sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway. Unsafe lane change. One rear passenger killed. Three others injured. Metal and glass. Sudden violence. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

Two sedans crashed on Cross Island Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, the cause was 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' One rear passenger, a 76-year-old woman, was killed. Three others, including a 44-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man, suffered injuries to the neck, chest, and arm. The crash left metal twisted and lives changed. Driver error—unsafe lane change—was the sole contributing factor listed in the report. The system failed to shield passengers from deadly risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 2 - Two sedans collided on Hempstead Ave. One woman suffered chest abrasions. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass met hard. The system failed to keep her safe.

Two sedans crashed on Hempstead Ave near Cross Island Parkway in Queens. A 31-year-old woman, riding as a passenger, was injured with chest abrasions. According to the police report, the cause was 'Following Too Closely.' The impact struck the rear of one sedan and the front of the other. No other injuries were specified. Driver error—tailgating—was the only contributing factor listed in the report. The crash left one vulnerable road user hurt, underscoring the danger of close pursuit on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824838 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 1 - Two drivers collided at 220 St and 94 Ave. Both men injured. Airbags deployed. Metal bent. Pain and abrasions marked the scene. No clear cause named by police.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed at 220 St and 94 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, both drivers—men aged 36 and 63—were injured. One suffered back pain and nausea, the other abrasions to his arm. Both were conscious and not ejected. Airbags deployed in both vehicles. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or external causes were identified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - A van turned left at rush hour. The scooter rider flew from his device. He died at the hospital. The street stayed open. The investigation continues.

According to amny (2025-06-30), Shaun Lagredelle, 39, was riding a stand-up scooter west on 116th Avenue when a Ford Transit van, driven by a 43-year-old woman, turned left onto Nashville Boulevard and struck him. Police said, "As the van attempted to turn left onto Nashville Boulevard, it collided with the scooter, immediately propelling Lagredelle off the device." Lagredelle suffered fatal injuries. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The crash highlights ongoing risks at intersections for scooter riders.

• Scooter Rider Killed In Queens Collision, amny, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 24 - A pickup tore through Astoria. It struck Amanda Servedio, a cyclist with the right of way. She flew from her bike. The driver fled. Police found the truck later. Servedio died at Elmhurst Hospital. The city lost another rider.

Gothamist reported on June 24, 2025, that Bekim Fiseku was indicted for murder and manslaughter after fatally striking cyclist Amanda Servedio in Astoria. Prosecutors say Fiseku, fleeing police after an attempted burglary, sped through red lights and bike lanes, ultimately hitting Servedio at 37th Street and 34th Avenue. Surveillance captured the chase. The indictment states, 'The defendant allegedly led police on a 10-minute chase through the crowded streets.' Servedio, 36, was returning from a cycling event and had the right of way. Fiseku abandoned his truck and evaded arrest until February. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless drivers and high-speed police pursuits on city streets.

• Cyclist Killed In Astoria Police Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - Two SUVs collided on Hollis Ave. Three people, including a child, suffered shock and whiplash. Police cite improper turning. Metal crumpled. Lives jarred. Streets stay dangerous.

Two SUVs crashed at Hollis Ave and 215 St in Queens. Three people were injured: a 67-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man, and an 11-year-old boy. All suffered shock and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' The vehicles struck at the left front bumper and right side doors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors before the improper turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 20 - Two sedans crashed on Cross Island Parkway. Both drivers injured—one with head trauma, one with arm wounds. Metal twisted. Night air thick with sirens. System failed. Streets unforgiving.

Two sedans collided on Cross Island Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, both drivers were injured. A 30-year-old woman suffered head injuries and whiplash. A 25-year-old man sustained bleeding to his arm. The crash involved both vehicles' left front bumpers. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. No driver errors like speeding or failure to yield were specified. Both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses. The system left two people hurt, the street scarred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 18 - A black SUV struck a man on 101st Avenue. The driver fled. The man lay unresponsive. Sirens cut the night. Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital. Police searched for answers. The street stayed silent. The danger did not.

ABC7 reported on June 18, 2025, that a man in his 50s was critically injured in a hit-and-run at 101st Avenue and 116th Street in Ozone Park, Queens. The article states, 'Police say the victim was struck by a black SUV traveling eastbound on 101st Avenue that kept going.' Officers found the man unresponsive; he was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. The driver failed to remain at the scene, a violation of New York law. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent problem of drivers fleeing crash sites in New York City.

• Hit-and-Run Leaves Pedestrian Critical in Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - Two cars struck on Cross Island Parkway. One driver suffered head injury and shock. Police cite passing too closely and distraction. Metal bent. Pain followed.

A crash on Cross Island Parkway in Queens involved a sedan and an SUV. One driver, a 29-year-old woman, suffered a head injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' were listed as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling north when the collision occurred. The SUV was damaged on the right front quarter panel, the sedan on the left. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821409 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03