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 2025-11-02

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The driver fled. The man died at Jamaica Hospital. Police search for answers. Seventeen killed in Queens South this year. The toll climbs.

Gothamist (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th Street and South Conduit Avenue near JFK Airport at 2:30 a.m. The driver fled. Police said, "the driver hit the 52-year-old man as he crossed" and left the scene. No vehicle description was released. NYPD data shows 17 traffic deaths in Queens South this year, up from 13 last year. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers in the area.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - A speeding car tore through Astoria. The driver struck two men at a coffee cart. All three died. Parked cars blocked sightlines. The street was narrow. Danger came fast and left devastation.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-12) reports an 84-year-old driver sped onto 42nd Street in Astoria, hitting two pedestrians and a coffee cart. The crash killed the driver and both men. Streetsblog notes, 'The block has several auto repair shops that leave cars parked all over the sidewalk, limiting visibility.' The article highlights the city's power to lower speed limits to 20 mph, granted by the state legislature, but points out that local officials did not mention this in their initial responses. The crash underscores the risks of speeding and poor street design.

• Speeding Driver Kills Two Pedestrians in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 8 - Flash floods swamped Cross Island Parkway. Leaders demanded flood signage and storm fixes. Signs may warn drivers but do little for pedestrians and cyclists. Only real infrastructure will cut the risks they face.

"signage as a 'small step' and 'low-hanging fruit,'" -- Donovan J. Richards

Action: infrastructure request (no bill number). Status: public call on August 8, 2025; not advanced to committee or vote. The matter was described as a "call for flood-related street signage and storm mitigation efforts." Queens Borough President Donovan J. Richards called signage a "small step" and "low-hanging fruit." Council Member Vickie Paladino urged signs to warn drivers unfamiliar with the area. State Sen. John Liu pressed city, state and federal agencies and criticized federal funding cuts. Safety analyst note: "Flood warning signage may help alert motorists but does little to address the underlying risks to pedestrians and cyclists... only comprehensive infrastructure improvements would yield significant safety benefits for vulnerable road users."

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

Aug 1 - A teen drove a BMW at 100 mph without a license. He lost control. The car hit a truck. Fourteen-year-old Fortune Williams was ejected and killed. The driver now faces prison. Parents faced charges too.

Gothamist (2025-08-01) reports an 18-year-old Queens resident was sentenced to up to four years for a 2023 crash that killed 14-year-old Fortune Williams. The teen, unlicensed and speeding at over 100 mph in a 30-mph zone, lost control and struck a parked UPS truck. Prosecutors said he only had a learner's permit and had been previously ticketed for unlicensed driving. His parents, who gave him the BMW, were convicted of child endangerment. DA Melinda Katz called it 'a landmark case where both an unlicensed teenage driver and his parents were held responsible.' The case highlights failures in supervision and enforcement.

• Unlicensed Teen Driver Kills Passenger, Gothamist, 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 7 - Carlos Oliver, 15, fell from a train at Queensboro Plaza. Paramedics found him on the tracks. He died at Bellevue Hospital. Another teen fell last month. The rails remain deadly for the young.

NY Daily News reported on July 7, 2025, that Carlos Oliver, 15, died after falling from the top of a subway train at Queensboro Plaza in Queens. Police said it was unclear if he fell while climbing or lost balance as the train entered the station. The article notes, 'He was shy and quiet but at the end of the day he started hanging out with the wrong crowd.' Last month, another teen was critically injured in a similar incident. The report highlights ongoing risks for youth on city transit, but does not cite driver error. The incident underscores the dangers present in the subway system for young riders.

• Teen Dies Subway Surfing In Queens, 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 2025-11-02

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 2025-11-02

Jul 5 - BMW lost control, flew divider, struck two cars. Fire trapped five. Two critical. Belt Parkway shut. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-05), a 24-year-old BMW driver lost control near Cross Bay Blvd on the Belt Parkway. The car hit a divider, went airborne, and crashed into a Honda and a Hyundai. The article states, "their out-of-control luxury car vaulted into oncoming traffic... slamming into two unsuspecting motorists in a fiery crash." Two BMW occupants were critically injured; three others had minor injuries. Both drivers of the struck vehicles were hospitalized. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad closed the westbound lanes to probe the cause. The crash highlights the dangers of high-speed loss of control and the risk posed to all road users.

• BMW Vaults Divider, Slams Oncoming Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - A 15-year-old fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He lay on the tracks, lifeless. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Subway surfing kills. The city counts the bodies. The system endures.

NY Daily News (2025-07-04) reports a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. Police found him unconscious on the tracks at 2:45 a.m. and said he was 'either riding the top of a No. 7 train entering the station or attempting to get onto the top.' The article notes six people, mostly teens, died subway surfing last year. This year, three have died. The MTA and NYPD have launched campaigns and drone patrols to deter such incidents, but the deaths continue. No driver error is cited; the focus is on systemic risk and enforcement.

• Teen Dies Falling From Subway Train, NY Daily News, 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

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 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 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - Two sedans collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard near Belt Parkway. Alcohol played a role. Both drivers suffered head injuries. Metal twisted. Sirens cut the night.

Two sedans crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard near Belt Parkway in Queens. Both drivers, a 22-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, were injured with head wounds. According to the police report, 'Alcohol Involvement' was a contributing factor. The impact struck the front of one sedan and the back of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. Helmet or signal use is not mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16