Rockaway Bleeds While City Sleeps

Aug 16 - A 16-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a vehicle struck him at an intersection on Rockaway Freeway. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian with the vehicle’s right front bumper at 8:20 p.m.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 69 Street in Queens at 8:20 p.m. The vehicle, traveling northeast, struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor in the collision. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian behavior or safety equipment were noted in the report. The crash underscores the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A sedan traveling west rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered a neck injury and whiplash. The collision caused center back end damage to the sedan. Driver errors were not specified.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old male driver wearing a lap belt and harness was injured with neck pain and whiplash after his vehicle was struck from behind. The sedan, a 2012 Nissan traveling west, was stopped in traffic before impacting the center back end of the other vehicle. The report lists no contributing driver factors or errors such as Failure to Yield or Distracted Driving. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected. Vehicle damage was limited to the center back end of the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of rear-end impacts in traffic congestion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748601 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 9 - Queens Borough President Donovan Richards rejects citywide parking reform. He backs lifting mandates in dense, transit-rich zones but blocks changes in car-dependent areas. Civic leaders echo him. The move keeps cars central, leaving pedestrians and cyclists exposed.

On August 9, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a public statement opposing the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning as it relates to eliminating mandatory parking requirements citywide. Richards said, "You can't use the one-size-fits-all approach here. There are really parts of Queens that are transit deserts." He supports removing parking mandates only in high-density, transit-rich areas, not in low-density, car-dependent neighborhoods. Community board leaders and civic groups in Queens joined him, arguing the reform threatens their way of life. Richards's stance contrasts with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx officials, who support ending parking minimums. The decision preserves car dominance in Queens, leaving vulnerable road users at risk and blocking safer, people-first streets.

• ‘City of No’: Queens Borough President Suddenly Joins ‘Suburban’ Crowd Demanding More Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-09

Aug 8 - A 76-year-old man driving a sedan suffered chest injuries and shock in a Queens crash. The vehicle’s left front quarter panel struck an unspecified object or vehicle. Air bags deployed, and the driver was not ejected. No driver errors were cited.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old male driver in Queens was injured in a crash involving a 2015 Buick sedan traveling east on Beach 80 Street. The vehicle sustained damage to its left front bumper and quarter panel. The driver suffered chest injuries and internal complaints, experiencing shock. Air bags deployed during the collision, and the driver was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No other vehicles or pedestrians were identified as involved or injured. The absence of cited driver errors or victim behaviors suggests the crash circumstances remain unclear from the available data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 29 - An unlicensed driver struck a parked SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens. The collision caused back injuries and shock to the driver of the moving vehicle. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 AM on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens. A Ford SUV traveling westbound, driven by a male with an unlicensed New York driver’s status, collided with a parked Nissan SUV. The point of impact was the center front end of the moving vehicle striking the center back end of the parked vehicle. The driver of the moving vehicle, a 49-year-old male occupant, suffered back injuries and was in shock, reporting complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. This crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed and distracted drivers in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - A 32-year-old man suffered abrasions and an elbow injury when an SUV passed too closely on Beach 94 Street in Queens. The vehicle’s right front bumper struck the pedestrian, causing damage to the SUV’s right side doors. The pedestrian remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Beach 94 Street in Queens at 3:35 PM. The report identifies 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and an injury to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, with an injury severity rated at 3. The SUV involved was traveling westbound, going straight ahead, and struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper, damaging its right side doors. Another parked SUV was also involved, sustaining damage to its left side doors. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report highlights the driver error of passing too closely, which led to the collision and injuries. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - Governor Hochul’s halt on congestion pricing guts $12 billion in MTA contracts. Thousands of jobs vanish. Local companies lose out. Lawmakers in affected districts stay silent or cheer. Trains and buses face deep cuts. Riders, workers, and streets pay the price.

On July 24, 2024, Governor Hochul’s official pause on congestion pricing triggered a $12 billion loss in MTA contracts, according to a Reinvent Albany report. The move slashes funding for the 2020-24 MTA capital plan, which was to be partly paid by congestion pricing. The report highlights that many companies losing contracts are in districts represented by lawmakers who either support the pause or have stayed silent. Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick called congestion pricing 'simply another tax' and demanded repeal. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow praised the pause, saying it allows time to address 'communities' concerns.' Frank Russo, president of Ozone Park Lumber, warned, 'You can't just say, 'We're not going to buy supplies and equipment.'' Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany said, 'Congestion pricing is an economic booster.' The pause means less money for transit, fewer jobs, and more risk for vulnerable road users who rely on safe, reliable public transportation.

• Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’ Will Cost Area Companies Billions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-24

Jul 23 - A sedan and a van collided head-on on Beach 54 Street in Queens. The sedan driver, a 61-year-old man, suffered chest injuries and abrasions. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:29 AM on Beach 54 Street near Rockaway Fwy in Queens. The collision involved a 2019 Nissan sedan traveling south and a 2021 International van traveling west. Both vehicles struck each other at their center front ends. The sedan driver, a 61-year-old male occupant, was injured with chest trauma and abrasions but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before impact. The sedan sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the van had damage to its center front end. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the police data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A man drowned off Rockaway Beach. He is the fifth this summer. Council Member Justin Brannan and others call for more lifeguards, longer hours, and more pools. The city refuses. Drones and patrols replace real protection. Swimmers keep dying.

On July 22, 2024, after a fifth drowning at a New York City beach, Council Member Justin Brannan (District 47) joined other officials to demand urgent action. The group called for expanded lifeguard hours, more staff, and new public pools. The Adams administration rejected these measures, relying instead on NYPD drones and Parks Enforcement Patrols. The matter, described as 'Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours,' highlights the deadly gap in city safety policy. Brannan, along with Council Member Shekar Krishnan and Borough Presidents Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso, urged the city to extend the beach season, increase lifeguard shifts, and offer universal swimming lessons. The city has only 870 lifeguards, far short of the 1,500 needed. Vulnerable swimmers remain at risk while officials debate. The toll mounts.

• Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours: ‘Going to get worse’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-22

Jul 21 - A 47-year-old male SUV driver suffered whiplash after a collision on Beach 56 Street. The SUV was making a left turn when it struck a pickup truck traveling straight. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the early morning crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:12 AM on Beach 56 Street in Queens. The 47-year-old male driver of a 2022 SUV was making a left turn when his vehicle's center front end collided with the right front bumper of a pickup truck traveling eastbound. The SUV driver was injured, reporting whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. The SUV driver was restrained with a lap belt and the airbag deployed. Both drivers were licensed, with the SUV driver from New York and the pickup truck driver from Georgia. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the SUV driver but does not assign fault to either party explicitly. The collision highlights the dangers of left-turn maneuvers involving large vehicles on busy Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A sedan backing south on Beach 98 Street struck a 50-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee and lower leg. Driver inattention and unsafe backing caused the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan was backing south on Beach 98 Street when it struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal and sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle's point of impact was the center back end, consistent with the driver’s unsafe backing maneuver. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. This collision highlights driver errors in backing and distraction, with no fault attributed to the pedestrian who was crossing lawfully.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - Two sedans collided on Beach Channel Drive. Three people hurt: both drivers and a passenger. Police cite passenger distraction. Injuries to limbs and hands. All conscious. All wore belts. Metal and flesh met hard in the dark.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 23:05 on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. One car went straight, the other turned left. The eastbound sedan struck the left side of the westbound car. Three people were injured: a female driver, a male driver, and a female front passenger. All were conscious and wore lap belts and harnesses. Injuries included abrasions and trauma to knees, legs, feet, elbows, and hands. The report lists 'Passenger Distraction' as the key contributing factor. No blame is placed on the victims. The crash shows the danger when attention slips behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 13 - A sedan traveling west collided with a southbound e-scooter on Beach 63 Street. The e-scooter driver, a 21-year-old woman, suffered a head injury and concussion. The sedan’s right front bumper struck the scooter’s front end, causing serious harm.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:44 on Beach 63 Street in Queens. A 21-year-old female e-scooter driver was injured, sustaining a head injury and concussion. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver from New York, was traveling west and struck the e-scooter, which was traveling south. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper hitting the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was not ejected but was in shock and suffered serious injury severity level 3. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the e-scooter driver but does not specify driver errors or violations by the sedan driver. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger posed to vulnerable road users by motor vehicles in mixed traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - A multi-wheeled parks department vehicle making a right turn struck two westbound bicyclists on Shore Front Parkway. Both cyclists were ejected and suffered head and face injuries. Driver inattention was cited as the contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 11:08 a.m. on Shore Front Parkway, a multi-wheeled vehicle operated by the parks department was making a right turn eastbound when it collided with two westbound bicyclists. Both bicyclists, aged 60 and 61, were ejected from their bikes and sustained injuries to the head and face, respectively. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The multi-wheeled vehicle showed no damage, while both bikes had front-end damage. The injured bicyclists were conscious but suffered abrasions and contusions. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclists were noted in the report. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers involving vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - Two sedans collided on Rockaway Freeway. Both drivers suffered head injuries and shock. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard. Impact tore metal and left both drivers hurt.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Rockaway Freeway in Queens at midnight. A 54-year-old unlicensed man drove east in a Dodge sedan. A 21-year-old licensed woman drove north in a Nissan sedan. The Dodge was struck on its right side doors; the Nissan took damage to its left front bumper. Both drivers suffered head injuries and shock, reporting pain and nausea. Police list driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with disregard for traffic control. The report highlights these driver errors as central to the crash. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740975 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - Queens council members slammed the City of Yes plan. They called new housing near transit a threat. They fought against ending parking mandates. Most public testimony backed the reforms. But Queens officials stood firm, defending car-centric streets and single-family homes.

On July 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on the City of Yes zoning reforms. The proposal aims to increase housing near transit, allow mixed-use zoning, and eliminate parking mandates. Council Members Joann Ariola and Vicki Paladino led opposition, calling the plan an 'unmitigated disaster' and disputing housing data. Ariola argued, 'That's what they bought in the suburbs for.' Other Queens officials and residents echoed fears for single-family homeowners and suburban 'character.' In contrast, Borough President Donovan Richards's spokesperson and some residents supported the reforms, citing the city's affordability crisis. The majority of public testimony favored the proposal, but entrenched opposition from Queens officials remains strong. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• ‘Suburban’ Queens Stalwarts Take Hard Line Against Housing — To Rest of City’s Detriment, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-11

Jul 10 - A dump truck backed unsafely on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and struck a 60-year-old man. The pedestrian suffered chest injuries. Driver inattention and unsafe backing caused the crash. Systemic risk remains high.

According to the police report, a dump truck traveling west on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens was backing up when it struck a 60-year-old male pedestrian. The impact occurred at the truck's right rear bumper, damaging the right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained internal chest injuries and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as driver errors that directly contributed to the crash. The pedestrian's actions were described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but no fault was assigned to the victim. The driver was licensed and operating a 2012 Mack truck. This crash highlights the danger of unsafe backing and distracted driving in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 5 - A sedan making an improper U-turn was struck on its right front bumper by a southbound taxi hitting its left side doors. The sedan’s right rear passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash, conscious but seriously hurt in the Queens crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 AM in Queens near Beach 67 Street. A sedan traveling southwest was making a U-turn when it was struck on the right front bumper by a taxi traveling straight south. The taxi impacted the sedan’s left side doors. The report cites "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the sedan driver. The injured party was a 35-year-old male occupant seated in the right rear passenger position of the sedan. He was conscious but suffered back injuries and whiplash. He was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The taxi driver was licensed in New York, while the sedan driver held a Florida license. The collision highlights the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in vehicle interactions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19