JFK’s Deadly Loop: Crashes Rise, Leaders Hide, Victims Pay

Metal screamed on Nassau Expressway as a tractor truck slammed into the back of a Jeep SUV. A front-seat passenger clutched his neck, conscious but hurt, as traffic slowed and sirens echoed. The crash left him with whiplash and pain.

A collision occurred on Nassau Expressway involving a tractor truck and a Jeep SUV. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The impact struck the center front end of the truck and the center back end of the SUV. One front passenger in the SUV, a 40-year-old man, suffered a neck injury described as whiplash. The police report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, highlighting a clear driver error. No mention of helmet or turn signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 40-year-old male driver suffered a concussion and head injury after a single-vehicle crash on Van Wyck Expressway. Police report driver inattention and outside distraction as contributing factors. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred shortly after midnight on Van Wyck Expressway involving a 2020 Dodge SUV traveling southbound. The driver, a 40-year-old male occupant, was injured with a head injury and concussion but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The data highlights driver errors related to distraction as the primary cause of this single-vehicle collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787479, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV struck a sedan from behind on Nassau Expressway, injuring the sedan’s 62-year-old male driver. The impact caused back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, the SUV driver followed too closely, leading to the collision.

At 4 p.m., an SUV traveling east on Nassau Expressway rear-ended a sedan also moving east, according to the police report. The sedan’s 62-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The SUV’s point of impact was its center back end, while the sedan’s center front end absorbed the collision. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating on busy roadways and the severe consequences for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A left-turning SUV struck a westbound sedan at Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. Three vehicle occupants suffered moderate injuries including whiplash and fractures. Police report cites unspecified driver errors without victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at Rockaway Boulevard in Queens involving a 2016 SUV making a left turn and a 2020 sedan traveling straight west. The SUV struck the sedan on its right front quarter panel, damaging the right side doors of the SUV and the sedan's center front end. Three occupants were injured: the SUV driver, a 53-year-old male with neck whiplash; the sedan driver, a 39-year-old female with a fractured and dislocated elbow; and a 21-year-old male passenger with back whiplash. All were conscious and not ejected. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified driver errors but does not attribute fault to any victims or note pedestrian involvement. The collision highlights dangers posed by turning vehicles failing to yield or properly clear intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751077, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on 150 Drive in Queens. The rear driver, distracted and following too closely, struck the front vehicle. The front driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries, conscious and restrained. Both vehicles damaged at center impact points.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:40 on 150 Drive near Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. Two sedans traveling westbound collided, with the rear vehicle striking the front vehicle's center front end. The rear driver, a 30-year-old female with a learner's permit, was cited for driver inattention and following too closely. The front driver, a male with a valid license, was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Vehicle damage was concentrated at the center impact points, confirming the rear-end nature of the collision. The contributing factors listed include driver inattention and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle, highlighting driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746737, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A female driver suffered chest injuries and whiplash after her sedan was struck from behind by an SUV on the Van Wyck Expressway late at night. Both vehicles were traveling southbound when the collision occurred at unsafe speed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:23 p.m. on the Van Wyck Expressway. A 30-year-old female driver of a 2017 sedan was injured, sustaining chest trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The collision involved a 2010 SUV traveling southbound, which struck the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The point of impact on the sedan was the left front bumper. The report cites "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. Both drivers were licensed females from New York. The sedan had two occupants, and the SUV had one. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The data shows no contributing factors from the injured driver. The crash highlights the dangers of speeding on high-speed roadways like the Van Wyck Expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728336, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 33-year-old man suffered neck contusions after a sedan made a right turn and struck him at an intersection in Queens. The pedestrian was conscious but injured. The vehicle showed no damage, highlighting the severity of impact on the vulnerable pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 149 Road and Rockaway Boulevard in Queens around 3:30 PM. The pedestrian was located in the roadway and sustained contusions and bruising to his neck. The report states the sedan, a 2019 Volkswagen, was making a right turn when the collision occurred, impacting the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The vehicle sustained no damage. No specific driver errors such as Failure to Yield were cited, but the pedestrian's presence in the roadway during the vehicle's turn was noted with unspecified contributing factors. The pedestrian remained conscious after the crash. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708568, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans crashed on Farmers Boulevard in Queens. One driver suffered whiplash and injuries to her entire body. Both vehicles struck while traveling straight. Damage was limited to one car’s right side doors. The injured driver remained conscious and inside her vehicle.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Farmers Boulevard in Queens. Both drivers were female and licensed. One driver, age 53, was injured with whiplash and bodily injuries affecting her entire body. She was conscious and not ejected from her vehicle. The collision involved the center front end of one sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the other, causing damage to the right side doors. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any clear driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631684, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pick-up truck struck a parked dump truck on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The driver, a 49-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ front and rear panels.

According to the police report, a 2011 Ford pick-up truck traveling east on Rockaway Boulevard collided with a parked 2021 Mack dump truck. The point of impact was the pick-up’s left front bumper and the dump truck’s left rear quarter panel. The pick-up truck driver, a 49-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The dump truck was unoccupied and stationary at the time of the crash. Damage was reported on the right front quarter panel of the pick-up and the left rear quarter panel of the dump truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621097, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 42-year-old woman crossing Rockaway Boulevard with the signal was struck by a westbound sedan. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan's left front bumper was damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Rockaway Boulevard struck a pedestrian crossing at the intersection with Farmers Boulevard. The pedestrian, a 42-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions and trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor by the driver. The sedan's left front bumper was the point of impact and sustained damage. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, and no other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599688, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three vehicles collided while making left turns on Van Wyck Expressway. A 28-year-old female sedan driver suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. The crash involved slippery pavement and front-end impacts. Injuries were non-ejection and moderate.

According to the police report, three vehicles—two SUVs and one sedan—were making left turns on Van Wyck Expressway when they collided. The 28-year-old female sedan driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists slippery pavement as a contributing factor. No specific driver errors were identified in the data, but all vehicles impacted at their front ends during the left turns. The female driver’s injury severity was moderate, and she was not ejected from the vehicle. The crash highlights the dangers of left-turn maneuvers under poor road conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581019, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The unlicensed driver, speeding and intoxicated, struck the rear of another sedan. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected. Both vehicles traveled eastbound at impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The driver of the first sedan was unlicensed and involved with alcohol. The report lists contributing factors as Alcohol Involvement and Unsafe Speed. The unlicensed driver struck the rear end of the second sedan while both vehicles were traveling eastbound. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected from the vehicle. The driver was wearing a lap belt at the time of the crash. No other vehicles were damaged or involved in the collision. The crash highlights driver errors including driving while intoxicated, speeding, and lacking a valid license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4554741, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle rider was ejected and injured after colliding with an SUV changing lanes on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The rider, wearing a helmet, suffered bruises and whole-body trauma. The SUV struck the motorcycle’s front center while traveling westbound.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and an SUV collided on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The SUV was changing lanes westbound when it struck the motorcycle’s front center. The motorcycle rider, a 57-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but identifies the SUV driver’s lane change as the critical action preceding the crash. The motorcycle rider was semiconscious after the impact and suffered serious injuries. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead before the collision. No pedestrian involvement or other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529670, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A northbound SUV struck a parked sedan on Van Wyck Expressway. The SUV driver, a 53-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. No ejections occurred. Damage centered on the SUV’s front and sedan’s rear.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old male driver in a 2021 SUV traveling north on Van Wyck Expressway collided with a parked 2012 sedan. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end and the sedan's left rear bumper. The SUV driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to his elbow and lower arm, and remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor. The sedan was occupied by two males but no injuries to them are noted. The crash caused damage to both vehicles at the impact points. No other contributing factors or victim errors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4521156, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 49-year-old male driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a crash on Van Wyck Expressway. The SUV struck another vehicle with its right front bumper. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 49-year-old male driver in a 2020 Toyota SUV was injured in a collision on Van Wyck Expressway. The crash involved the SUV's right front bumper striking another vehicle. The driver sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Unsafe Lane Changing" as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513390, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV hit a sedan making a right turn on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The sedan driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered back injuries and bruises. Both vehicles traveled east. The sedan’s right rear quarter was damaged. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male driver in a sedan was making a right turn on Rockaway Boulevard when his vehicle was struck on the right rear quarter panel by an SUV traveling straight ahead. The sedan driver sustained back injuries and contusions but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt. The SUV’s left front bumper and the sedan’s right rear quarter panel were damaged in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4509089, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A southbound SUV struck a stopped sedan from behind on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s female driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage.

According to the police report, a 2021 Jeep SUV traveling south on Rockaway Boulevard rear-ended a stopped 2021 Toyota sedan. The sedan’s 50-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining head trauma and whiplash. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor in the crash. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV. Both drivers were licensed and the sedan driver was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The collision caused significant damage to both vehicles and left the sedan driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4499392, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14