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

Apr 19 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Blvd North and struck a cyclist. The man died at the scene. No arrests. Police investigate. The street outside the park became a site of sudden, final impact.

According to NY Daily News (April 19, 2025), an FDNY fire truck fatally struck a cyclist at 80th St. and Juniper Blvd North in Middle Village, Queens. The article reports, "An FDNY fire truck was traveling north on 80th St. and was turning onto Juniper Blvd North just outside Juniper Valley Park when it collided with an unidentified man riding a bicycle." The cyclist died at the scene. Police have not made arrests. It is unclear if the truck was responding to an emergency. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The crash highlights the risk at intersections where large vehicles turn across paths used by cyclists. No information on traffic signals or right-of-way was provided.

• Cyclist Killed By FDNY Truck In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-19

Apr 16 - SUV hit parked sedan on Jamaica Ave. Two children and two adults injured. Faces, legs, and bodies bruised. Crash left pain and fear. Streets stay hard for passengers.

A station wagon/SUV traveling west struck a parked sedan on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, two children, ages 6 and 10, and two adults, ages 35 and 54, suffered injuries to the face, legs, and entire body. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. Passengers bore the brunt of the impact, with complaints of pain and visible abrasions. The crash underscores the risks faced by vehicle occupants in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 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 5 - 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

Apr 2 - Two sedans collided on Clearview Expressway. One driver, age 75, suffered neck whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass. Sudden stop. System failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on Clearview Expressway at Grand Central Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, a 75-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck whiplash. The crash involved both vehicles traveling east. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The impact struck the center back end of one sedan and the front of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not specify injuries for other occupants. Systemic danger remains when drivers follow too close.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802985 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 29 - Two sedans collided on 89 Avenue in Queens. The 75-year-old female driver making a left turn suffered chest injuries and shock. Police cite unsafe speed as a key factor. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 89 Avenue in Queens at 16:01. A 75-year-old female driver, traveling north and making a left turn in a 2023 Jeep sedan, collided with a southbound 2006 Honda sedan going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the Jeep and the left front bumper of the Honda. The female driver was injured, suffering chest injuries and shock, and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. The male driver of the Honda was licensed and traveling straight. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801941 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 29 - A 25-year-old man crossing a marked crosswalk in Queens was struck by an SUV traveling north on 92 Ave. The pedestrian suffered a fractured hip and upper leg. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing serious injury without vehicle damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred shortly after midnight on 92 Ave in Queens. A 25-year-old male pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal when he was struck by a northbound SUV. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the vehicle driver. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The driver, a licensed male operating a 2004 Toyota SUV, was slowing or stopping before the impact, but the vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 26 - A 53-year-old male SUV driver suffered back injuries and whiplash after his vehicle struck the rear of a sedan while making a right turn. Both vehicles sustained front and rear center-end damage in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:37 on 212 Street involving a 2024 SUV and a 2018 sedan. The SUV driver, a 53-year-old man, was making a right turn when his vehicle's center front end collided with the sedan's center back end. The SUV driver was injured, sustaining back pain and whiplash, and remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate any pedestrian involvement or victim fault. The collision highlights risks associated with turning maneuvers and rear-end impacts, with the SUV driver's actions preceding the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801384 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 25 - A northbound SUV struck the left front bumper of a sedan changing lanes on Cross Island Parkway. The impact injured a 70-year-old female passenger in the SUV, causing bruises and contusions to her arm. The crash stemmed from following too closely.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:40 on Cross Island Parkway. A 2020 GMC SUV traveling north rear-ended a 2007 Infiniti sedan that was changing lanes. The point of impact was the SUV's right rear bumper striking the sedan's left front bumper. The report cites "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The SUV carried three occupants; a 70-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear suffered contusions and bruises to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The sedan had one occupant, the male driver, who held a valid New York license. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The collision highlights the dangers of insufficient following distance on high-speed parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801214 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 23 - A 62-year-old male driver suffered neck abrasions after a collision in Queens. The sedan struck an object with its right front bumper. According to the police report, driver inattention caused the crash, resulting in moderate injury to the driver.

At 4:02 AM in Queens near 94-24 Hollis Court Blvd, a 62-year-old male driver operating a 2018 Nissan sedan traveling south went straight ahead when the vehicle's right front bumper struck an object. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The driver was not ejected and remained conscious but sustained neck abrasions classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists no other contributing factors or victim behaviors. The driver held a valid New York license. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. This incident highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to self-injury and vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800543 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 7 - A box truck and sedan collided head-on on Murdock Ave in Queens. The sedan driver, a 61-year-old man, suffered facial injuries and shock. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, at 11:33 AM on Murdock Ave in Queens, a box truck traveling east and a sedan traveling west collided head-on. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles, causing significant damage. The sedan driver, a 61-year-old male occupant, sustained facial injuries and was in shock, with minor bleeding reported. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. There is no mention of victim fault or contributing behaviors from the injured driver. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to severe impacts and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 27 - A firefighter ran a red. Metal struck metal. A young man died. The street echoed with sirens. Two more rode to the hospital. The city keeps count. The danger stays.

According to the New York Post (February 27, 2025), off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena drove through a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens, striking Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance video captured Pena’s Mercedes “passing a red light on Northern Boulevard and T-boning Diaz’s 2022 BMW.” Diaz, 23, died at Elmhurst Hospital. Pena faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breath test. Two passengers in Pena’s car were hospitalized. The FDNY suspended Pena for 28 days without pay. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of red-light running and impaired driving, raising questions about enforcement and accountability on city streets.

• Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 25 - Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Grand Central Parkway. A 21-year-old woman in the back seat suffered neck injuries. Both drivers were licensed. No vehicle damage reported. The passenger stayed conscious.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on Grand Central Parkway collided at 11:36 a.m. The second car struck the center back end of the first. A 21-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed men from New York, driving straight ahead. The report lists all contributing factors as unspecified and notes no vehicle damage. The crash shows how even low-speed rear-end impacts can leave passengers hurt, regardless of visible damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 14 - Senator Comrie backs a yellow alert system. Police would blast car details after deadly hit-and-runs. The goal: catch drivers who kill and flee. The bill stands at sponsorship. No safety review yet.

Senate Bill S 4946, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie, aims to create a 'yellow alert system' for law enforcement to publicize vehicle information after fatal hit-and-run crashes. The bill is at the sponsorship stage as of February 14, 2025. The official summary reads: 'Establishes a "yellow alert system" for law enforcement to publicize vehicle information in instances of hit-and-run accidents in which a person has been killed.' No committee action or vote has occurred. No safety analyst has reviewed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File S 4946, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - A sedan turning right on Francis Lewis Blvd struck a 15-year-old girl walking outside an intersection. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. Driver inattention caused the crash, with no visible damage to the vehicle.

According to the police report, at 8:45 AM on Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens, a 2020 sedan making a right turn struck a 15-year-old female pedestrian who was not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the driver's failure to maintain focus led to the collision. The vehicle showed no damage despite impact at the center front end. There is no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794704 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18