Blood on the Asphalt: Springfield Gardens Pays for City Hall’s Delay

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

A Mercedes ran a red on Northern Boulevard. It hit a BMW. The BMW’s roof tore off. The driver, Justin Diaz, died. The Mercedes driver, off-duty FDNY, was arrested. Friends mourned by candles. The street stayed empty. Speed ruled the night.

ABC7 reported on February 26, 2025, that a fatal crash in East Elmhurst left one driver dead and another in custody. The article states, "It appears the driver of the Mercedes blew a red light and t-boned the BMW at a high rate of speed." The BMW’s driver, Justin Diaz, was killed. The Mercedes driver, an off-duty firefighter, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breathalyzer. The FDNY suspended him without pay. Witnesses noted frequent speeding on the boulevard at night. The crash highlights the persistent risks of high-speed driving and lax overnight enforcement on city streets.

• Red Light Run Kills Ramp Worker, ABC7, Published 2025-02-26

A 67-year-old man suffered back contusions after an SUV failed to yield while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at an intersection on N Conduit Ave. The vehicle's front center end bore the impact.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old male pedestrian was injured on N Conduit Ave at an intersection while crossing with the signal. The crash occurred at 19:20 when a 2017 Jeep SUV, traveling southwest and making a right turn, struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the vehicle driver. The pedestrian sustained back contusions and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle damage was concentrated at the center front end. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This incident underscores the critical role of driver errors, specifically failure to yield, in pedestrian injuries at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792715 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

After congestion pricing began, yellow cab trips jumped 10%. Council Member Brooks-Powers led the hearing. Taxi leaders worry about fare hikes. For-hire rides dipped 1%. Officials say it’s early. The city’s streets shift. Vulnerable road users brace for change.

On February 10, 2025, the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), held an oversight hearing on congestion pricing and its impact on the taxi industry. The matter, titled 'NYC yellow cab trips up 10% after launch of congestion pricing: taxi commission,' revealed that yellow cab trips rose by 10% during the first week after congestion pricing began. Brooks-Powers noted that new tolls will likely be passed to riders as higher fares. Commissioner David Do of the Taxi and Limousine Commission testified that for-hire vehicle trips dropped 1%. The data is preliminary, covering only the first month of the program. No safety analyst assessment was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NYC yellow cab trips up 10% after launch of congestion pricing: taxi commission, amny.com, Published 2025-02-10

A Toyota sedan sped east on Belt Parkway. Both driver and passenger were ejected. The driver died. The passenger was left unconscious, battered. Unsafe speed tore lives apart. The road fell silent.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway crashed at 3:47 a.m. The car struck with its front bumper. Both occupants—a 27-year-old woman driving and a 30-year-old man in the front passenger seat—were ejected. The driver died from head injuries. The passenger suffered severe injuries and was found unconscious. 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as the primary contributing factor. Neither occupant used safety equipment. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The report details a violent crash, with speed leading directly to ejection and fatal harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

A bus turning right struck an 18-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The victim suffered back abrasions but remained conscious. Police cited driver failure to yield right-of-way and inattention as causes. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, at 16:15 on N Conduit Ave near Springfield Blvd, a bus traveling west made a right turn and struck an 18-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained back abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies the bus driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The point of impact was the bus’s right front quarter panel. The bus sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The incident highlights driver errors—specifically failure to yield and distraction—as the primary causes of injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791071 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans struck at Belt Parkway. A 22-year-old man, standing at the intersection, took the hit. Bruised, arm hurt, but conscious. No driver errors listed. System failed to shield the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male pedestrian was injured at a Belt Parkway intersection. He was not in the roadway, but two westbound sedans collided, sending force to the intersection. The pedestrian suffered upper arm injuries and bruising but remained conscious. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The crash involved impacts to the left front and rear bumpers of the vehicles. No helmet or signal issues were cited. The system left a pedestrian exposed, and the crash left him hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793305 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Five people, including a child, injured in a violent crash on Belt Parkway. Drivers sped, ignored controls, and showed inexperience. Bodies slammed. Shock followed. Systemic danger exposed in Queens.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash on Belt Parkway at 19:52 left five occupants injured, including a 9-year-old passenger. All suffered shock and bodily injuries, with one struck in the face. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed,' 'Driver Inexperience,' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as key driver errors. Vehicles, including sedans and convertibles, collided at front and rear ends. All victims were restrained. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The incident highlights dangerous driver behavior and systemic risks on this busy Queens highway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two vehicles traveling south on S Conduit Ave collided head-on. The SUV driver’s inexperience and distraction caused the crash. A 37-year-old female passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage in the impact.

According to the police report, two vehicles—a 2018 Nissan SUV and a 2017 Toyota sedan—were traveling southbound on S Conduit Ave when they collided. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors, indicating errors by the SUV driver. A 37-year-old female occupant in the SUV was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash caused damage to the front bumpers of both vehicles. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger or other road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW slams into a 23-year-old crossing North Conduit Avenue. His head hits the hood. Blood stains the street. The convertible’s front end buckles. The man lies motionless, life ended in the rush of traffic.

According to the police report, a BMW convertible traveling west on North Conduit Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard struck a 23-year-old man at the intersection. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The impact was severe: the man’s head hit the hood, blood pooled on the asphalt, and the vehicle’s front end crumpled. The victim was found unconscious with fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The police report lists the contributing factors for both driver and pedestrian as 'Unspecified.' The report describes the driver as licensed and proceeding straight ahead at the time of the crash. The narrative centers the devastating outcome for the pedestrian, who died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans slammed together on 144 Avenue. A two-year-old girl in the back seat took the hit. Passing too close and failed signals fueled the crash. The child was strapped in but still bruised.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 144 Avenue at 7:45 AM. A two-year-old female passenger, seated in the middle rear seat and restrained by a child seat, suffered a shoulder contusion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors for both vehicles. The crash did not eject the child, but she was injured despite proper restraint. Driver errors—passing too closely and malfunctioning traffic controls—stand out in the report. The incident underscores the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance and when traffic signals do not work.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Chair Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing bike and bus lane targets. She pushed a bill to force public tracking. DOT made excuses. The city fell short for the third year. Vulnerable road users wait. The council wants answers, not promises.

""DOT gives us their word every hearing and we are not getting results,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

On January 22, 2025, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers confronted the Department of Transportation at a public hearing. She cited DOT's repeated failure to meet the 2019 Streets Master Plan benchmarks—50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles of bus lanes and 25.7 miles of bike lanes. Brooks-Powers introduced Intro 1105, a bill requiring DOT to publish a tracker of its progress. She declared, "DOT gives us their word every hearing and we are not getting results." DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione objected, claiming the tracker would add paperwork and reduce community engagement. Brooks-Powers countered, "DOT needs to be more transparent about its project pipeline so we can identify bottlenecks." The committee signaled intent to advance the bill. The city’s failure leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders exposed.

• Council Transportation Chair Tells DOT That She’s Sick of the Streets Plan Excuses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-22

A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Five sedans slammed together on Belt Parkway. Unsafe speed sent metal crunching. A 43-year-old woman in the back seat took the worst of it. Head injury. Whiplash. She stayed conscious. The road did not forgive.

According to the police report, five sedans collided on Belt Parkway in Queens around 2:00 a.m. All vehicles were heading west. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as the contributing factor for the crash. A 43-year-old female passenger, seated in the middle rear seat and secured with a lap belt and harness, suffered a head injury and whiplash. She was not ejected and remained conscious. The impact struck the center back end of one sedan and the center front end of another, showing a chain-reaction rear-end collision. No driver actions other than unsafe speed are cited. No contributing factors are attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus turning left struck a 59-year-old woman crossing 146 Avenue. She suffered head injuries and abrasions. The bus showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious but injured at the intersection. Driver errors remain unspecified in the report.

According to the police report, a 2010 Chevrolet bus was making a left turn on 146 Avenue at 5:28 a.m. when it struck a 59-year-old female pedestrian crossing at the intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The bus was impacted on its left side doors but showed no vehicle damage. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified and does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling eastbound. The lack of specified driver contributing factors leaves the exact cause unclear, but the collision occurred during the bus's left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786254 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04