Rockaway Bleeds While City Sleeps

Nov 4 - A sedan backing unsafely struck a parked sedan on Beach 91st Street in Queens. The driver of the parked car suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage, highlighting driver error during vehicle maneuvering.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on Beach 91st Street, Queens. A sedan registered in Pennsylvania was backing up and collided with a parked New York-registered sedan. The point of impact was the center back end of the backing vehicle and the center front end of the parked vehicle. The driver of the parked sedan, a 37-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in vehicle maneuvering. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were reported. The collision caused damage to both vehicles, emphasizing the dangers of improper backing maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773421 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 31 - Two men suffered whiplash and upper leg injuries in a Queens rear-end crash. A 2023 Nissan struck a stopped 1972 Pontiac on Beach Channel Drive. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely as causes. Both drivers wore seat belts.

According to the police report, at 7:00 AM on Beach Channel Drive in Queens, a 2023 Nissan sedan traveling west slowed or stopped in traffic. A 1972 Pontiac sedan behind it, also traveling west, collided with the Nissan's center back end. The Pontiac driver was stopped in traffic. The Nissan driver, a 19-year-old male with a permit license, was cited for driver inattention/distraction and following too closely. Both drivers were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The 53-year-old Pontiac driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash, while the Nissan driver sustained hip and upper leg injuries and whiplash. Neither occupant was ejected. The crash highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and unsafe following distance—as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 22-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries when an SUV struck her on Beach Channel Drive. The driver’s aggressive driving and road rage caused the collision. The pedestrian was conscious but sustained abrasions and serious injury.

According to the police report, a 2023 Jeep SUV traveling north on Beach Channel Drive struck a 22-year-old female pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, damaging the SUV’s center front end. The pedestrian, who was not in the roadway, sustained hip and upper leg injuries classified as severity level 3 and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly cites aggressive driving and road rage as the contributing factors to the crash, identifying these driver errors as the cause. The pedestrian’s actions or safety equipment were not listed as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by aggressive driving behaviors in Queens, resulting in serious harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764800 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 15 - SUV driver, distracted, crashed into a parked sedan on Beach 45. Both drivers suffered head bruises. Metal hit metal. No one ejected. Both men conscious. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, at 17:45 on Beach 45 Street, a Station Wagon/SUV traveling east struck a parked sedan. The SUV’s center front end hit the sedan’s left rear bumper. Both drivers, men aged 53 and 27, suffered head contusions and bruises. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The sedan was parked at the time of impact. No victim actions contributed. Both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash shows the risk when drivers lose focus, even for a moment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A 77-year-old bicyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm after a Hyundai SUV collided with his bike while making a left turn. The impact occurred at the bike’s left front quarter panel and the SUV’s right front bumper in Queens.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:42 on Beach 67 Street in Queens. A 77-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a Hyundai SUV traveling south struck him while making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the bike and the right front bumper of the SUV. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm and was conscious at the scene. The report cites "Unsafe Speed" by the vehicle driver as a contributing factor, alongside "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion." The bicyclist was not ejected and was not reported to be using any safety equipment. The driver was licensed in New York. The collision highlights driver error in controlling speed and executing turns, contributing to the injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 1 - A sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash in a Queens crash. The collision involved multiple vehicles and was caused by failure to yield and unsafe speed. The driver was conscious and restrained at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Beach 68 Street in Queens at 3:29 PM. The injured party was a 40-year-old male sedan driver who sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. Multiple vehicles were involved, including sedans and an SUV, with damage noted on front and rear bumpers. The data highlights driver errors as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 12 - A 43-year-old woman suffered full-body injuries when an SUV executing a U-turn on Rockaway Beach Boulevard hit her outside a crosswalk. Glare and limited visibility contributed to the collision, leaving the pedestrian conscious but severely hurt.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2017 Honda SUV making a U-turn on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens at 6:25 p.m. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing outside a signal or crosswalk when the crash occurred. The report cites driver errors including glare and limited visibility obstructing the driver's view, contributing to the collision. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle westbound during the U-turn maneuver. No pedestrian fault or contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 11 - A deadly seven-way tangle in the Rockaways will get $25 million in upgrades. Protected bike lanes. Bigger pedestrian islands. Raised crosswalks. City officials promise change after 112 crashes since 2019. Construction starts 2027. No more waiting for blood on the asphalt.

The planned overhaul targets the chaotic intersection of Beach 35th Street, Seagirt Boulevard, Rockaway Freeway, and Beach Channel Drive. Announced September 11, 2024, the $24.8 million project includes protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and safer crossings. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $500,000, saying, "We're not waiting until someone loses their life to take action." Since 2019, 112 crashes have injured 54 people here—five of them pedestrians. The intersection currently favors cars, forcing pedestrians on long detours. The redesign will dead-end Beach 35th Street, add raised bike lanes, and expand pedestrian space. Final design is due next year, with construction set for 2027 and completion by 2029. The project includes a $2.6 million federal grant and is tied to Edgemere sewer upgrades.

• Chaotic Rockaways Intersection to Get Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades in 2027, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-11

Sep 10 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

Sep 3 - Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive. A six-year-old girl, strapped in back, took glass to the face. Blood marked the spot. Obstructed view left her wounded in daylight.

At Beach Channel Drive and Beach 45 Street in Queens, two SUVs collided at 12:05 PM. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they crashed. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the contributing factor. A six-year-old girl, riding in the rear seat, suffered severe facial lacerations from shattered glass. She was restrained in a child seat. The drivers were licensed and no other driver errors were cited. The crash shows how blocked sightlines at intersections put vulnerable passengers at risk when heavy vehicles collide.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752713 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

Sep 2 - A motorcycle fleeing police crashed into an SUV’s rear on Beach 45th Street. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, flew headfirst onto the asphalt. He bled from a torn scalp, conscious but alone. Aggressive driving and road rage tore through Queens.

According to the police report, a motorcycle operated by an unlicensed 27-year-old male was fleeing police on Beach 45th Street near Beach Channel Drive when it crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. The report states the motorcycle was involved in 'aggressive driving/road rage' and was being pursued by police at the time of the collision. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, described as a torn scalp, but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV, driven by a licensed male, sustained damage to the right rear quarter panel. The police report highlights 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor, underscoring the systemic danger posed by reckless vehicle operation. The victim’s lack of helmet use is noted in the report, but the focus remains on the aggressive driving and police pursuit that led to this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - Two sedans collided on Beach 56 Street in Queens after one driver made a left turn. The impact injured a rear passenger, causing a head contusion. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:29 AM on Beach 56 Street in Queens. A sedan traveling west attempted a left turn and collided with an eastbound sedan going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the eastbound vehicle and the center front end of the left-turning vehicle. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. A 29-year-old female rear passenger in the eastbound sedan sustained a head injury described as a contusion or bruise. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The drivers' license status was noted for the left-turning driver, who was licensed in New York. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 27 - Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

Aug 23 - Two vehicles collided on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. Both drivers, men, were traveling west when the SUV struck the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The SUV driver suffered a back contusion. Police cited driver inattention as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:24 AM on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41 Street in Queens. The collision involved a 2020 BMW SUV and a 2016 Ford sedan, both traveling westbound. The SUV impacted the sedan’s left rear quarter panel with its right front quarter panel. The sole occupant of the SUV, a 22-year-old male driver, sustained a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the crash. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 21 - A westbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped SUV on Rockaway Freeway. The impact injured an 85-year-old rear passenger, causing head trauma and whiplash. Police cite following too closely as the driver error behind the collision.

According to the police report, at 16:20 on Rockaway Freeway, a 2023 ACUR SUV traveling westbound struck the right rear bumper of a stopped 2023 HYUN SUV. The collision injured an 85-year-old female occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of the HYUN SUV. She sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating the striking vehicle failed to maintain a safe distance behind the stopped vehicle. The injured passenger was secured with a lap belt and harness. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating and the severe consequences for vehicle occupants even in low-speed rear-end collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 20 - A sedan backing north on Beach 100 Street hit a northbound e-bike rider. The e-bike driver suffered facial abrasions but remained conscious. The crash exposed dangers of unsafe vehicle maneuvers in Queens’ streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:33 in Queens near Beach 100 Street. A sedan was backing north when it struck an e-bike traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The sedan’s left rear bumper impacted the e-bike’s right front bumper. The e-bike rider, a 52-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his face but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies the sedan driver’s contributing factor as "Backing Unsafely," highlighting a critical driver error. The e-bike rider was licensed and traveling straight, with no contributing factors listed against him. This collision underscores the hazards posed by unsafe backing maneuvers by motor vehicles, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19