Rosedale Bleeds While Leaders Hide: Demand Safe Streets Now

Two women suffered serious internal injuries in a multi-vehicle collision on 145 Ave. The impact struck the sedan’s right side doors. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both victims were conscious and restrained by seat belts.

According to the police report, at 10:21 a.m., a collision occurred on 145 Ave involving two SUVs and a sedan. One 2009 SUV was parked and struck on its center front end. A 2011 SUV traveling north sustained front-end damage. A 2010 sedan traveling east was hit on its right side doors. Two female occupants in the sedan were injured: a 22-year-old driver with head injuries and a 34-year-old front passenger with chest injuries. Both were conscious, not ejected, and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This crash underscores driver distraction as a critical cause of injury in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding Mercedes tore through a red light in Queens. The driver, off-duty FDNY, struck a BMW. The crash ripped off the roof. The 23-year-old inside died. The firefighter stayed at the scene, reeking of alcohol, unsteady, charged with manslaughter.

ABC7 reported on February 28, 2025, that off-duty firefighter Michael Pena was arraigned after a fatal crash in East Elmhurst, Queens. Prosecutors say Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and t-boned a BMW, killing 23-year-old Justin Diaz. The article quotes DA Melinda Katz: "An FDNY firefighter who was off duty is accused of driving under the influence, running a steady red light and slamming into a 23-year-old motorist, killing him, as he drove more than three times the posted speed limit." Pena's blood alcohol content was .156 percent, and he allegedly had drugs in his system. The BMW was sent flying into a parked car, its roof torn off. Pena faces manslaughter and related charges. The case highlights the lethal risk of extreme speeding and impaired driving on city streets.

• Firefighter Charged After Deadly Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-02-28

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 westbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Laurelton Parkway at 1 a.m. The sedan’s front passenger, a 57-year-old man, suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:00 a.m. on Laurelton Parkway. A 2011 SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, was traveling westbound and collided with the center back end of a 2015 sedan driven by a licensed male driver also heading west. The impact was at the sedan’s rear center. The sedan carried a front passenger, a 57-year-old man, who was injured with a fractured and dislocated elbow, described as a severe injury (level 3). The passenger was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report does not list specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the rear-end nature of the collision suggests failure to maintain safe distance or attention by the SUV driver. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794875 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted SUV driver struck a motorcycle turning right on 147 Ave. A 7-year-old passenger on the motorcycle suffered a bruised elbow. Both drivers showed inattention, with the motorcyclist unlicensed. The crash caused front-end damage to both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:42 on 147 Ave involving a 2024 SUV traveling east and a 2023 motorcycle making a right turn northbound. The SUV driver, a licensed female, was going straight ahead and impacted the motorcycle's center front end with her right front bumper. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. Both drivers had contributing factors listed as Driver Inattention/Distraction. A 7-year-old female passenger on the motorcycle, wearing a helmet, was injured with a contusion to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and not ejected. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the SUV and the center back end of the motorcycle. The report highlights driver distraction as the critical failure leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793828 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A female SUV driver was ejected and seriously injured in a collision with a parked box truck. The crash involved alcohol and left the driver with fractures to her lower leg and foot. The impact damaged both vehicles’ front centers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:20 AM on 244 Street near Merrick Boulevard. A female driver of a station wagon/SUV traveling west collided head-on with a parked box truck facing east. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV driver was ejected from her vehicle and sustained serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact caused damage to the center front ends of both vehicles. The driver was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The collision highlights the dangers posed by impaired driving and the severe consequences for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794031 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A minivan slammed head-on on Brookville Boulevard, crushing its front. A 78-year-old woman in the back seat took the full force and died at the scene. The impact shattered steel and bodies alike. The street kept moving. She did not.

According to the police report, a 2022 minivan traveling north on Brookville Boulevard near S Conduit Avenue crashed head-on, with the center front end absorbing the impact. The vehicle's front was crushed, confirming the violent collision. Inside, a 78-year-old female passenger seated in the rear left suffered fatal injuries to her entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor, indicating a vehicle-related error or malfunction played a role. The driver, a 74-year-old man, also sustained internal injuries but survived. Another occupant, a 71-year-old female front passenger, suffered fractures and dislocations. No driver errors beyond the unspecified vehicular factor are detailed, and no victim behaviors contributed according to the police report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of vehicle-related failures in head-on collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792680 - 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 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 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

A bus struck the left rear bumper of an SUV traveling east on Brookville Boulevard. The SUV driver, a 47-year-old woman, suffered injuries and shock. Police cited the bus driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, at 8:50 AM on Brookville Boulevard, a bus traveling east collided with the left rear bumper of a 2023 SUV also traveling east. The bus driver was changing lanes while the SUV driver was slowing or stopping. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the bus driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the SUV. The SUV driver, a 47-year-old woman, was injured and experienced shock, wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. She was not ejected and complained of pain or nausea. The collision caused damage to the SUV’s left rear quarter panel and the bus’s right front bumper. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV driver distracted by inattention struck a westbound e-scooter from behind on 149 Ave. The 20-year-old e-scooter rider suffered hip and upper leg injuries, shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The SUV sustained rear-end damage.

According to the police report, a 2023 Toyota SUV traveling westbound on 149 Ave rear-ended a westbound e-scooter. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the SUV driver. The e-scooter rider, a 20-year-old female with a permit license, was injured with hip and upper leg trauma and experienced shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The SUV sustained damage to its center back end, while the e-scooter showed no vehicle damage. The e-scooter driver was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The collision occurred with both vehicles traveling in the same direction, and the impact point was the center front end of the e-scooter. The report emphasizes the SUV driver's distraction as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790142 - 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

A 67-year-old bicyclist was injured when a sedan made a left turn and collided with him on Hook Creek Blvd. The bicyclist suffered hip and upper leg contusions. Police cited driver failure to yield and bicyclist confusion as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Hook Creek Blvd was making a left turn when it collided with a bicyclist going straight south. The bicyclist, a 67-year-old man wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, including contusions and bruises, and remained conscious after the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the sedan driver and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was not ejected and was the driver of the bike. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's center front end, while the sedan showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787630 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Brookville Blvd late at night. The impact injured a 55-year-old female passenger in the sedan, causing head trauma and whiplash. Driver distraction was cited as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, at 22:55 on Brookville Blvd, a southbound Toyota SUV collided with the center back end of a southbound Honda sedan. The SUV's left front bumper struck the sedan's rear, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan carried a 55-year-old female passenger seated in the right rear who sustained head injuries and whiplash, remaining conscious but injured. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed New York men traveling straight ahead. No contributing factors related to the passenger were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to rear-end crashes that severely injure vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04