No Deaths Yet—But Laurelton Bleeds Every Day

• Nude Queens man indicted for kicking bike riders, attacking 3 NYPD officers, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-18

• Man accused of intentionally killing Queens teen with his car, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-16

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

• Queens bus network redesign draws mixed reviews from riders, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-02

Aug 19 - A southbound Jeep struck a man off the roadway on Merrick Boulevard at 220th Street. The SUV’s front end hit hard. The pedestrian went down with back pain. The driver was hurt too. Police cite illness as a factor.

A southbound 2021 Jeep SUV going straight on Merrick Boulevard at 220th Street struck a 41-year-old male pedestrian who was not in the roadway, injuring him. The driver, a 46-year-old woman, was also injured. According to the police report, the SUV sustained center-front damage and “Illnes” was listed as a contributing factor. The data show no pedestrian contributing factors. The listed driver factor points to impaired control behind the wheel. No other driver errors were noted in the file. The crash underscores the danger when a vehicle’s front end reaches people who are outside the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - A police pursuit on Springfield Blvd ended in a three-sedan crash. A 59-year-old driver suffered back injury and whiplash. Police recorded aggressive driving and improper passing.

Two sedans in a police pursuit and a third sedan collided on Springfield Blvd near Carson St in Queens. A 59-year-old male driver was injured. He complained of back pain and whiplash and was conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Aggressive Driving/Road Rage," and one vehicle was in "Police Pursuit." The report lists driver errors as Aggressive Driving/Road Rage and Passing or Lane Usage Improper. One involved driver held only a permit. Vehicles showed left and right front quarter panel damage consistent with front-quarter impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - Council moves to hit rogue vans hard. A checklist. Max fines for each breach. TLC, NYPD, DOT must act together. Crack down on illegal operators who imperil riders and people on the street. The bill sits in committee.

Int 1347-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to keep a compliance checklist. When officers stop an unlicensed van, they must check every rule and issue the maximum fine for each breach. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams. Co-sponsors Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, and Chris Banks. Status: Committee. If enacted, it takes effect 120 days later. It targets illegal operators who put riders and bystanders at risk.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council introduces Int 1347-2025 to curb rogue commuter vans. TLC, NYPD, and DOT must keep a safety checklist. Officers who spot an unlicensed van stack every charge and levy max fines. A push to shield riders and people on the street.

Int 1347-2025 is in Committee. It sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction and referral on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title reads, “A Local Law … in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to maintain a checklist of laws on vehicle and driver licensure, service authorization, insurance, and inspections. When an officer stops an unlicensed van, they must review the list and issue the maximum penalty for each violation. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams is joined by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, Chris Banks, and Farah N. Louis. The aim is to protect riders and bystanders from unlicensed operators who skip the rules.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 12 - A car slammed into a food truck in Astoria. Three people died. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street became a scene of sudden loss.

CBS New York reported on August 12, 2025, that a car crashed into a food truck at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street in Astoria, Queens, killing three people. The article quotes witnesses, including a man who 'narrowly escaped tragedy.' Details on the driver's actions remain scarce, but the crash highlights the lethal risk vehicles pose to people on city streets. The incident raises questions about street design and the exposure of workers and customers at curbside businesses.

• Car Plows Into Queens Food Truck, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 8 - Floods drowned Bay Terrace. Streets vanished. Leaders demand signs and real fixes. Pedestrians and cyclists still face danger. Signs warn, but water keeps coming.

"The signs that we’re asking for would warn drivers about flood-prone roads and encourage people not to park or drive in the event of heavy rain at this intersection and on the highway." -- Donovan J. Richards

On August 8, 2025, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Vickie Paladino, joined by State Sen. John Liu and others, called for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation in Bay Terrace. They urged the Department of Transportation to act after flash floods submerged the Cross Island Parkway. The matter, described as a 'call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts,' saw Richards call signage a 'small step' and Paladino stress the need for warnings. The safety analyst notes these efforts may help general conditions but do not address the core safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists or shift burdens away from vulnerable users.

• Queens leaders call for flood signage and infrastructure in Bay Terrace, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 4 - An SUV hit a sedan at 135 Avenue and 232 Street in Queens. A 53-year-old man driving was injured and in shock. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Other Vehicular as contributing factors. Both cars were going straight.

A station wagon/SUV and a sedan collided on 135 Avenue at 232 Street. One driver, a 53-year-old man, was injured and reported in shock. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Other Vehicular" factors contributed to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact. The sedan sustained left-side door damage; the SUV showed center front-end and right-front bumper damage. The injured occupant was the driver, wearing a lap belt and harness and not ejected. Police listed contributing factors as Other Vehicular on the occupant record as well. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 21 - Three people injured when SUV driver fell asleep near 133 Ave. Head and leg wounds. Metal twisted. No warning. Streets do not forgive mistakes.

Three people suffered injuries when two SUVs and a sedan collided near 219-10 133 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the crash was caused by a driver who 'Fell Asleep.' One driver reported pain throughout her body, another suffered head injuries, and a third had leg wounds. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the sole contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use. The crash left metal crushed and lives shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 20 - The driver of a pick-up truck struck a parked sedan on 131 Ave in Queens. The truck driver was found unconscious and injured. Police recorded illness as a contributing factor. The parked sedan had no occupants.

According to the police report, the driver of a pick-up truck struck a parked sedan on 131 Ave in Queens. One man — the truck driver, age 29 — was injured and found unconscious. The truck was traveling west; the sedan was parked. Impact was the truck’s left front bumper to the sedan’s right rear bumper. Police recorded "Illnes" as a contributing factor. The report lists no other driver errors and does not cite helmet or signal issues. The parked sedan carried no occupants at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829083 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 12 - A sedan merging on Francis Lewis Blvd hit a 50-year-old male cyclist. He suffered a contusion to his lower leg and remained conscious. Police recorded failure to yield and unsafe lane changing by the driver.

A driver in a sedan merging on Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens struck a 50-year-old male bicyclist who was traveling straight. The cyclist sustained a contusion to his knee and lower leg and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver and listed "Unsafe Lane Changing" as an additional contributing factor. The sedan struck the bicycle with its left front bumper; the bike showed no damage. The sedan carried two occupants; none were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - City aims to carve bike lanes into 31st Street. Merchants fear lost access. Residents cite danger. DOT points to dozens hurt, two killed. The street stays deadly. The fight over space continues.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), the NYC Department of Transportation plans to narrow lanes and add bike paths on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The DOT cites 126 injured vehicle occupants, 33 injured pedestrians, 24 injured cyclists, and two deaths from 2020 to 2024, calling it 'one of the most dangerous streets in Queens.' Business owners warn the changes will block deliveries and threaten livelihoods. Residents worry about access and safety, especially for the elderly and students. The plan highlights the tension between street redesigns and the needs of vulnerable road users.

• City Bike Lane Plan Sparks Queens Clash, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - Two rear passengers suffered head injuries on 234 St. Sedans collided. Police cite improper lane use. Impact was sharp. Streets failed to protect those inside.

Two women riding as rear passengers in a sedan on 234 St at 135 Ave were injured in a crash involving two sedans. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' Both injured passengers suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash occurred as one sedan made a left turn and the other traveled straight. Police listed no other contributing factors. The system allowed a simple lane error to bring pain to those riding in the back.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - A boy, 15, fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He landed on the tracks. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The NYPD is investigating. Two other subway incidents happened that morning.

ABC7 reported on July 4, 2025, that a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza station. The article states, "Police say the 15-year-old boy was riding on top of a No. 7 train around 2:45 a.m." and "He fell onto the tracks as it pulled into the Queensboro Plaza station." The NYPD is investigating this and two other incidents: a person struck by a J train and another killed while walking between cars on a No. 2 train. The events highlight ongoing dangers in the subway system and raise questions about platform and train safety.

• Teen Dies Falling From No. 7 Train, ABC7, Published 2025-07-04

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