Apr 19 - A firetruck struck a cyclist on Juniper Boulevard. The truck turned with lights and sirens. The cyclist was crushed under the rear wheels. Sheets covered the scene. Firefighters stood by, shaken. The victim died instantly. The investigation continues.

According to the New York Post (April 19, 2025), an FDNY Rescue Company 4 firetruck fatally struck a cyclist near Juniper Valley Park in Queens while responding to a call. The article states, "The truck was making a turn onto Juniper Boulevard...when the fatal accident occurred." Police reported the truck had lights and sirens activated. The cyclist ended up beneath the rear wheels and was pronounced dead at the scene. Photos showed emergency sheets covering the area. Witness Miguel Vega described firefighters as "shaken, like shocked." The incident highlights the dangers at intersections, especially when emergency vehicles turn. The crash is under investigation, with no details yet on policy or procedural changes.

• FDNY Firetruck Kills Cyclist Near Park, New York Post, Published 2025-04-19

Apr 11 - Council passed two bills forcing DOT to show its work. Lawmakers demand public trackers for street safety projects. DOT resists, citing complexity. Advocates want more than data—they want action. Transparency is a start, but not the finish.

On April 11, 2025, the City Council passed Intro 1105 and Intro 1114. Both bills require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create public trackers for capital projects tied to the Streets Master Plan. Intro 1105, sponsored by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, mandates a tracker for projects that count toward safety benchmarks. Intro 1114, sponsored by Council Member Julie Won, calls for a broader capital projects tracker. The bills respond to the Adams administration's failure to meet legal targets for bus and bike lanes. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said, 'Today’s legislation will advance greater transparency.' DOT officials pushed back, arguing project work is not linear and trackers have limited use. Won countered, 'It is [the DOT's] responsibility to take their capital plan and implement it.' Advocates and council members agree: tracking is only a first step. Without real follow-through, data alone will not save lives.

• Council To DOT: Do Better At Tracking Projects (So We Can See When You Fail), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 10 - Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 8 - A distracted SUV driver struck a man crossing 249th Street. The pedestrian suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention and obstructed view as causes.

A 57-year-old man was hit by a Honda SUV while crossing 141-38 249th Street in Queens. He suffered a head contusion. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and had a limited view. The driver, a 21-year-old woman, was going straight when the crash occurred. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or marked crosswalk. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Apr 4 - A driver lost control near a Queens school. The car struck two children and a man. A seven-year-old girl’s leg snapped. Sirens wailed. Police arrested the driver. The sidewalk bore the scars. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the New York Post (April 4, 2025), an unlicensed driver reversed into a box truck, then spun onto the sidewalk outside Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria, Queens. The crash injured three: a 7-year-old girl with a broken femur and head injury, a 14-year-old girl with leg injuries, and a 58-year-old man with bruises. The article states, 'Bah was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving without a license.' This incident follows another recent crash involving a suspended license, highlighting recurring risks from unlicensed drivers. The crash underscores the persistent threat cars pose to people on city sidewalks, especially near schools.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits Kids Outside School, New York Post, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 1 - Bus struck stopped SUV’s rear on North Conduit. One driver suffered neck injury. Police cite driver inattention. Metal, glass, pain. Streets hold the mark.

A bus crashed into the back of a stopped SUV at 241-09 North Conduit Avenue in Queens. One driver, a 21-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV was stopped in traffic when the bus, heading straight, hit its center back end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left four others with unspecified injuries. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803338 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 28 - A speeding Mercedes ran a red in Queens. The driver, high and drunk, struck a young airport worker headed to his job. The worker died. Two passengers survived. The driver, a probationary firefighter, now faces manslaughter charges.

NY Daily News reported on March 28, 2025, that Michael Pena, a probationary FDNY firefighter, was fired after being charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Queens crash. Prosecutors said Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and struck Justin Diaz, 23, who had the right-of-way. Pena's blood-alcohol content was 0.156%, nearly double the legal limit, and he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. The article states, 'Pena was driving nearly 60 mph above the speed limit after a night of drinking at a bar.' Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence. Two passengers in Pena's car were hospitalized. The crash highlights ongoing risks from impaired and reckless driving, even among public servants.

• Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28

Mar 25 - Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Blvd. The rear vehicle struck the left rear bumper of the front vehicle. A front passenger suffered a head injury and concussion. Driver inattention caused the crash, highlighting dangers of distracted driving in traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:10 on Francis Lewis Blvd involving two SUVs traveling south. The front vehicle was stopped in traffic when the rear vehicle, which was slowing or stopping, impacted the left rear bumper of the front SUV. The rear driver’s error was identified as driver inattention or distraction. A 27-year-old female front passenger in the rear vehicle sustained a head injury and concussion, wearing a lap belt and remaining conscious. The report explicitly cites driver inattention as the contributing factor, with no mention of victim fault or contributing victim behaviors. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving in congested traffic conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 24 - Three vehicles collided head-on and rear-end on Sunrise Highway. A 34-year-old male driver suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as the primary cause. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash involved three vehicles traveling westbound on Sunrise Highway near Francis Lewis Boulevard. The collision included a sedan, a 2024 Toyota sedan, and a 2027 Jeep SUV. The point of impact was the center front end and center back end of the vehicles. The 34-year-old male driver, an occupant of one vehicle, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, repeated twice for emphasis. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behavior. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 24 - Council Transportation Chair Brooks-Powers wants the Beach 20th Street protected bike lane gone. She blames illegal parking, not enforcement. Cyclists lose space. The city risks more danger. DOT says it will look at hardening the lane and boosting enforcement.

On March 24, 2025, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for the removal of the protected bike lane on Beach 20th Street in Arverne, Queens. At a community meeting, Brooks-Powers said, "We’ve been trying to get [the bike lane] removed for three years. It wasn’t supported by the community. ... In effect it’s not a bike lane quite honestly; no one uses it, they [drivers] park there. We would like to see the hard infrastructure removed." Instead of demanding enforcement against illegal parking, she wants the lane ripped out, returning the street to a more dangerous state for cyclists and pedestrians. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez replied that building safe bike lanes requires support from local leaders. DOT spokesperson Will Livingston said the agency remains committed to safety and will explore hardening the lane and increasing enforcement.

• Council Transportation Chair Asks DOT To Rip Up a Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-24

Mar 21 - Two sedans traveling south collided on Laurelton Parkway late at night. The impact struck the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. A 21-year-old male driver suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Laurelton Parkway collided at 11:10 p.m. The point of impact was the center back end of a 2014 Ford and the center front end of a 2021 BMW. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. A 21-year-old male occupant driving one of the vehicles was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision caused damage to both vehicles at the points of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801462 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 20 - A speeding unlicensed driver crashed head-on into an SUV on Brookville Blvd. The impact fractured his face. Police cite unsafe speed and ignored traffic controls. Systemic danger, reckless driving, hard consequences.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old unlicensed male driver in a BMW sedan crashed into a station wagon/SUV near 146-49 Brookville Blvd at 18:30. The sedan struck the SUV's left rear bumper while traveling southbound at unsafe speed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The driver suffered a facial fracture and was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was used by the driver. This crash shows the severe risks when unlicensed drivers ignore traffic controls and speed, putting everyone in harm’s way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 18 - A 37-year-old man on a motorcycle slammed the front end and suffered leg injuries on Francis Lewis Boulevard. He stayed conscious. No driver errors reported. The street left him wounded.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male motorcycle driver from Pennsylvania was traveling eastbound on Francis Lewis Boulevard when he crashed at 17:50. The 2024 KAWK-MCL motorcycle took a hard hit to its center front end. The rider suffered abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported injured. The crash underscores the risks faced by motorcyclists on city streets, even when no clear driver error is recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799767 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 16 - SUV hit sedan head-on late at night. Woman driver hurt, back injured, stayed conscious. Police cite other vehicular factors. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 2016 Nissan SUV and a 2013 Toyota sedan collided at 11:20 p.m. on Sunrise Highway. Both vehicles traveled west. The SUV struck the sedan’s front. The 46-year-old woman driving the sedan suffered back injuries and internal complaints but was not ejected and remained conscious. Police list 'Other Vehicular' factors as contributing causes, pointing to driver or vehicle-related errors without further detail. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any victim actions as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16

Mar 15 - A minivan struck a 78-year-old woman crossing Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. She died at the hospital. Police have not released her name. No arrests. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (published March 15, 2025), a 78-year-old woman was killed crossing Northern Blvd. near Parsons Blvd. in Flushing around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Police said, "A 78-year-old woman was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver as she crossed a Queens street." The dark-colored minivan was traveling west when it hit her mid-block. The driver did not stop. No arrests have been made. The victim was taken to New York Presbyterian-Queens Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her name has not been released. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for pedestrians on major city corridors and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing fatal scenes.

• Elderly Woman Killed In Queens Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-15

Mar 14 - Open Streets are shrinking. Volunteers warn more cuts loom unless City Hall steps up. Federal relief is gone. Groups want $48 million over three years. Current grants barely keep programs alive. The city’s inaction puts public space and safety at risk.

On March 14, 2025, a coalition of 16 volunteer open street groups sent a letter to City Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers. They warned, 'The limited funding and decreases in funding that have occurred over the years jeopardize the continuity and future of the program—funding pressure is already leading to downsizing and the disappearance of Open Streets programs.' The groups seek $48 million over three years, separate from the city’s $30 million contract with the Horticultural Society. Current grants max out at $20,000 per year, forcing cutbacks. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams are starting budget talks. Council spokesperson Julia Agos called Open Streets 'critical components of our city's public realm.' The Department of Transportation said suggestions will be reviewed. Volunteer groups handle most operations, but stalled redesigns and lack of resources threaten the program’s survival.

• Open Streets Won’t Survive Without More Money From the City, Organizers Warn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-14

Mar 13 - A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13

Mar 9 - Two sedans collided on Laurelton Parkway. A 24-year-old driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both cars took front-end damage. No driver errors listed in the police report.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Laurelton Parkway at 21:08. A 24-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. He was conscious and secured by a lap belt and harness. The sedans sustained damage to their front ends. The report notes an SUV was changing lanes and struck the left front bumper of another vehicle. No specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited as contributing factors. The injured driver was not ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors or other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799761 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-16