Crash Count for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,474
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 1,208
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 215
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 12
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 6
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 30, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park?

Park or Perish: Blood on Flushing Meadows’ Streets Demands Action Now

Park or Perish: Blood on Flushing Meadows’ Streets Demands Action Now

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 16, 2025

The Toll in the Park

The numbers do not lie. Since 2022, six people have died and 1,137 have been injured in crashes in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Ten of those injuries were serious. The dead include a 41-year-old man crushed on the Van Wyck, a 33-year-old woman struck on the Grand Central Parkway, and a 63-year-old woman thrown from her moped on Blossom Avenue. The park is ringed by highways. The danger is constant.

Buses jump curbs. Cars mount sidewalks. On July 11, an MTA bus in Flushing jumped the curb and smashed into a light pole and ticket machine, injuring eight. One rider described the chaos: “I was all the way in the back and all of a sudden the bus hit the curb, I guess, jumped the curb, I went this way and that way and banged into the side of the bus.” The driver, just 25, told investigators he misjudged the curb. Video later showed he had fallen asleep at the wheel. The MTA pulled him from service. The crash could have killed. It did not. This time.

Who Pays the Price

The most vulnerable bleed first. Pedestrians, cyclists, and moped riders are struck by SUVs, trucks, and buses. In the last twelve months, 367 people were hurt and one killed in 449 crashes. The dead are not numbers. They are fathers, mothers, children. A woman on a moped, ejected and left bleeding. A man walking, crushed by a truck. A passenger, dead from a head wound after a sedan slammed a parked rig. The park is a magnet for families. The roads around it are a trap.

What Leaders Have Done—and Not Done

Senator John Liu has voted yes on bills to curb repeat speeders and extend school speed zones. He co-sponsored the Stop Super Speeders Act, which would force the worst offenders to install speed limiters. But the carnage continues. The city has the power to lower speed limits to 20 mph. It has not done so. The MTA pulls a driver after a crash, but the system that put him there remains. “It must be very devastating for the people that were on the bus,” said a bystander. The devastation is routine.

The Next Step Is Yours

This is not fate. These deaths are not accidents. They are the result of choices. Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real protection for people outside cars. The park should be a place for families, not funerals. The time to act is now.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Sam Berger
Assembly Member Sam Berger
District 27
District Office:
159-06 71st Ave., Flushing, NY 11365
Legislative Office:
Room 818, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
James F. Gennaro
Council Member James F. Gennaro
District 24
District Office:
185-10 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366
718-217-4969
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1833, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6956
Twitter: JamesGennaro
John Liu
State Senator John Liu
District 16
District Office:
38-50 Bell Blvd. Suite C, Bayside, NY 11361
Legislative Office:
Room 915, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Flushing Meadows-Corona Park sits in Queens, Precinct 110, District 24, AD 27, SD 16, Queens CB81.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Distracted SUV Driver Slams Motorcycle on Parkway

SUV veered, struck a motorcyclist. Rider thrown, body broken. Police blame driver distraction. Helmet on, but bones shattered. Metal and flesh met at speed. The road did not forgive.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old male motorcyclist was traveling west on Grand Central Parkway when a 2023 SUV, also westbound, changed lanes and struck the motorcycle's center front end with its left rear bumper. The rider was ejected, suffering full-body injuries including fractures and dislocations. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, both attributed to the SUV driver. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, but helmet use was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger of driver distraction and careless lane changes.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
Armored Truck Rear-Ends Sedan on Vanwyck Expressway

An armored truck struck a sedan from behind on the Vanwyck Expressway in Queens. The sedan driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and whiplash. Tire failure on the truck was a contributing factor, according to police.

According to the police report, at 15:25 on the Vanwyck Expressway in Queens, an armored truck traveling north collided with the left rear quarter panel of a northbound sedan. The truck's center front end impacted the sedan's left rear quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 65-year-old man, was injured with shoulder and upper arm trauma and reported whiplash, remaining restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites tire failure or inadequacy on the armored truck as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the sedan driver. This crash highlights the systemic dangers posed by vehicle mechanical failures on busy expressways.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
S 9718
Liu votes yes, boosting street safety and access for everyone.

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.


S 9718
Liu votes yes, boosting street safety and access for everyone.

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.


Unsafe Speed and Lane Change Smash on Van Wyck

SUV slammed while changing lanes at speed. Metal twisted. A 61-year-old driver left unconscious, head battered. No pedestrians. No escape. Only impact and injury.

According to the police report, two SUVs and a sedan collided on Van Wyck Expressway at 8:25 a.m. The northbound SUV changed lanes at unsafe speed. The crash left the 61-year-old SUV driver unconscious with a severe head injury. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and a lane change as the causes. The SUV was demolished at impact. The driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No pedestrians were involved. The police report cites driver error—unsafe speed and improper lane change—as the cause of the crash.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728410 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
S 8607
Liu votes yes on Kingston school speed cameras, boosting pedestrian safety.

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.


Liu Supports Queens Express Bus Expansion for Safer Streets

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.


Int 0875-2024
Moya co-sponsors bill boosting step street lighting, improving pedestrian safety.

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.


3
Chain-Reaction Crash Injures Three on Parkway

Three people suffered neck injuries in a chain-reaction crash on Grand Central Parkway. Drivers followed too closely. Metal slammed metal. Whiplash and pain followed. No pedestrians involved. System failed the vulnerable again.

A multi-vehicle crash on Grand Central Parkway left three occupants injured with neck trauma. According to the police report, drivers were 'Following Too Closely' and showed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The collision involved sedans and SUVs, with impacts to both front and rear ends. The injured included a 23-year-old male passenger, a 37-year-old male passenger, and a 39-year-old female driver. All were conscious, not ejected, and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report highlights repeated failure to maintain safe distance and distraction as causes. No pedestrians were involved. The crash exposes the persistent dangers of tailgating and inattention on city highways.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
SUV Strikes Woman Head-On on Parkway

A 33-year-old woman died beneath the steel of an eastbound SUV on Grand Central Parkway. Her skull was crushed. She was walking outside the crosswalk, alone, in the darkness, when the vehicle hit her head-on. She died there.

A 33-year-old woman was killed on Grand Central Parkway near exit 24 when she was struck head-on by an eastbound SUV, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'walking outside the crosswalk' and was hit by the 'center front end' of a 2018 Toyota SUV. Her injuries were fatal, with the report noting her skull was crushed and she died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the available data. The narrative describes the woman as being alone and in the dark at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the impact and the deadly consequences of the collision.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
Unsafe Speed Triggers Sedan Crash on Parkway

Two sedans slammed together on Grand Central Parkway. Right side doors crushed. One driver hurt, neck pain and whiplash. Police blame unsafe speed and reaction to another vehicle. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 18:35. Both vehicles struck each other on the right side doors. A 30-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. He was conscious, restrained by a lap belt, and airbags deployed. The report cites unsafe speed and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle as contributing factors. No errors were assigned to the injured driver. The crash exposes driver mistakes and systemic risks on this busy Queens roadway.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
Garbage Truck Crushes Cyclist on College Point

A garbage truck struck a cyclist on College Point Boulevard, tearing his arm and mangling his bike. The man, conscious but bleeding, lost more than metal. The street bore witness to the violence of heavy machinery against flesh.

A 45-year-old man riding a bicycle was struck by a garbage truck on College Point Boulevard near 59th Avenue in Queens at 2:51 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the cyclist was 'thrown, conscious, bleeding,' with his arm torn and the bike mangled. The collision resulted in an amputation injury to the cyclist's upper arm. The point of impact for both vehicles was the center front end, indicating a direct collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'A garbage truck crushed a cyclist... He lost more than metal.' The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is not cited as a contributing factor. The data underscores the lethal risk posed by large vehicles sharing city streets with vulnerable road users.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
2
Dump Truck Rear-Ends Sedan Injuring Occupants

A northbound dump truck struck the rear of a sedan on Van Wyck Expressway. The sedan’s driver and a rear passenger suffered back injuries and shock. Both vehicles were traveling straight when the dump truck impacted the sedan’s center back end.

According to the police report, a 2017 KW-TRUCK/BUS dump truck traveling north on Van Wyck Expressway struck the center back end of a 2018 Nissan sedan also traveling north. The dump truck had one male licensed driver, and the sedan had three occupants including the male driver and a male rear passenger. Both the driver and rear passenger of the sedan sustained back injuries with injury severity rated 3; the driver complained of whiplash and was conscious, while the passenger was in shock. The dump truck showed no damage, while the sedan sustained damage to its center back end. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no explicit driver errors were recorded. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
2
Sedan Rear-Ends Truck on Long Island Expressway

A sedan traveling west struck the rear of a tractor truck on the Long Island Expressway. Two occupants in the sedan, including the driver and front passenger, suffered injuries and shock. The truck driver was unlicensed but not physically harmed.

According to the police report, a 2012 Nissan sedan traveling west on the Long Island Expressway collided with the center back end of a 2009 diesel tractor truck also traveling west. The sedan sustained damage to its center back end, while the truck showed no damage. The sedan's driver, a 74-year-old woman, and the front passenger, a 94-year-old man, were both injured with bodily trauma to the head and entire body respectively, and experienced shock. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and were not ejected. The truck driver, a man with an unlicensed status, was not injured and the truck showed no damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors but notes the truck driver was unlicensed. The collision appears to be a rear-end impact caused by the sedan striking the truck from behind.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
Int 0856-2024
Gennaro co-sponsors bill raising ATV and dirt bike fines, safety unchanged.

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.


Int 0857-2024
Gennaro co-sponsors bill to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.


S 4647
Liu votes yes on highway worker safety bill, overall safety unchanged.

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.


Taxi Driver Dies After Rear-Ending Stopped SUV

A taxi slammed into a stopped SUV on the Long Island Expressway before dawn. The 73-year-old driver died alone in his cab. Police cite illness and distraction. The airbag burst. The belt held. Headlights kept moving past.

A 73-year-old taxi driver was killed when his cab struck the rear of a stationary SUV on the Long Island Expressway, according to the police report. The crash occurred before dawn, with the taxi traveling westbound and the SUV stopped in traffic. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Illness' as contributing factors. The taxi's airbag deployed and the driver was restrained by a lap belt and harness, but he died at the scene. The police report notes the driver lost consciousness, and the narrative describes the aftermath: 'He died alone in the cab, silence pressing in as headlights passed.' No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The report highlights driver inattention and medical issues as key factors, underscoring the persistent dangers faced by all on New York City highways.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06
Int 0766-2024
Gennaro co-sponsors bill to ban obscured plates, boosting street safety.

Council targets hidden plates. Bill makes it a crime to park, stop, or drive with covered tags. Fines reach $1,000. Jail time possible. Committee weighs action. Streets demand accountability.

Int 0766-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 11, 2024. The bill reads: “prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.” Council Member Oswald Feliz leads, joined by Holden, Bottcher, Gennaro, Marte, Restler, Ung, and Paladino. The bill sets fines up to $1,000 and possible jail for violators. Each offense is a misdemeanor. The council aims to strip cover for reckless drivers, making it harder to dodge tickets and accountability. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear: end the shield for lawless driving.


Distracted Ambulance Driver Injured on Parkway

Ambulance struck on Grand Central Parkway. Driver, 44, suffered neck injury and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as cause. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 2020 ambulance traveling west on Grand Central Parkway was struck on its right side doors at 1:38 AM. The 44-year-old male driver, properly restrained with a lap belt and harness, suffered neck injuries and whiplash and was reported in shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim actions were listed. The ambulance sustained damage to its center back end. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead at the time of the crash.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06