Rosedale Bleeds While Leaders Hide: Demand Safe Streets Now

• 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

Sep 4 - A left‑turning driver and a southbound driver crashed at 253 St and 148 Rd. Both women were hurt; one with a concussion. According to the police report, police recorded “Turning Improperly.”

At 6:28 a.m. on September 4, 2025, at 253 St and 148 Rd, a driver traveling west and making a left turn collided with a southbound driver going straight ahead. Both drivers were women. The 39-year-old driver reported arm and hand pain. The 30-year-old driver suffered a shoulder injury and a concussion. According to the police report, police recorded “Turning Improperly.” The data show one driver was making a left turn and the other was proceeding straight. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839776 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 29 - A driver in a 2014 Jeep rear-ended a 2012 Honda on Brookville Boulevard at Rockaway Boulevard. Two children in the Honda’s rear seats suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention/distraction.

A driver in a 2014 Jeep struck the center rear of a 2012 Honda while both vehicles were traveling west on Brookville Boulevard at Rockaway Boulevard. Two rear-seat children, ages 8 and 5, suffered neck injuries and complained of whiplash; both were recorded as using lap belts and harnesses. According to the police report, the contributing factor was Driver Inattention/Distraction. The report lists the Jeep’s center front end striking the Honda’s center back end while both were going straight. Police data record driver inattention/distraction as the driver error. No helmet or signal factors are cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - Two sedans met at Rockaway Boulevard. One turned left across southbound traffic. Metal hit metal. The straight‑moving BMW took the blow on its left side. The turning car’s right front crumpled. Two people were hurt.

Two sedans collided at 252-18 Rockaway Blvd in Queens. The southbound BMW was going straight when a southbound Nissan made a left turn and struck it. The BMW’s left doors were hit; the Nissan’s right front was damaged. A 27-year-old male driver and a 29-year-old female front passenger were injured. According to the police report, both vehicles’ contributing factors are listed as “Unspecified.” The data point to a left-turn impact by the Nissan against a through-traveling BMW, a classic turning-across path crash. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 13 - Two SUVs crashed at Memphis Ave and 254 St. Two women drivers and a 9-year-old boy passenger were injured. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Traffic Control Disregarded."

Two SUVs collided at Memphis Ave and 254 St in Queens. Three people were injured: a 28-year-old female driver with a head contusion, a 55-year-old female driver with whole-body contusions, and a 9-year-old boy passenger with whole-body contusions. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Traffic Control Disregarded." Police recorded those driver errors for the involved vehicles. Vehicle damage reports show impact to left-front and center-front areas and left-side doors. Lap belts for the injured were noted in the report after the recorded driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835043 - 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 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 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 11 - Franklin Avenue shuts cars. Kids run. Cyclists glide. Merchants fill the street. Engines silenced. Brooklyn claims space for people. Safety rises. Streets pulse with life.

On July 11, 2025, Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights launched a new Open Streets program. No council bill number or committee was cited. The event, covered by BKReader, closed six blocks to cars two Saturdays each month through October. Organizers called it 'a commitment to strengthening neighborhoods through creative placemaking.' Local leaders like Gwen Woods and Tiara Robertson led the effort. The safety analyst notes: 'Open Streets programs reduce vehicle traffic, create safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists, and encourage mode shift by making streets more accessible and attractive for non-drivers.'

• New Brooklyn Open Streets Program Highlights Community And Commerce, BKReader, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 6 - E-bike rider thrown from bike after crash with SUV on 248 Street and Memphis Ave. Man, 33, suffers leg injury. No damage reported to vehicles. Police list cause as unspecified.

An e-bike and a station wagon or SUV collided at 248 Street and Memphis Ave in Queens. The 33-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured, suffering abrasions to his lower leg. According to the police report, both contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' No damage was reported to either vehicle. The police report does not identify any driver errors or specific causes for the crash. The SUV had no listed occupants at the time of the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 5 - A sedan turned left on Brookville Blvd, disregarding traffic control. A motorcycle struck. The rider was ejected, suffering a head injury. Metal, flesh, and error met at the intersection.

A sedan and a motorcycle collided at Brookville Blvd and 135 Ave in Queens. The motorcycle rider, a 50-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The sedan was making a left turn; the motorcycle was going straight. The report lists no other contributing factors before the crash. The sedan had two occupants; the motorcycle had one. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18