Another Child Dead. Leaders Shrug. How Many More Before They Act?

A sedan stopped in traffic was rear-ended on Willow Road East. The driver and front passenger, both female, suffered whiplash and upper arm injuries. Alcohol and driver distraction contributed to the crash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 2010 Honda sedan stopped in traffic on Willow Road East was struck in the center back end by another vehicle making a right turn. The sedan carried two occupants: a 56-year-old female driver and a 19-year-old female front passenger. Both were injured, sustaining whiplash and upper arm injuries, and remained conscious. The driver and passenger were properly restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The crash caused damage to the sedan's center back end. No ejections occurred. The report does not specify the other vehicle's type or driver details.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

A 17-year-old female driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries in a crash involving an SUV and a sedan. The collision struck the SUV’s left front bumper and the sedan’s center front. Unsafe speed and other vehicular factors contributed.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Derby Court involving a 2021 SUV traveling east and a 2012 sedan traveling south. The 17-year-old female driver of the SUV was injured with whiplash and full-body trauma but was not ejected. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV was struck on its left front bumper, and the sedan sustained damage to its center front end. Both drivers were licensed. The report highlights driver errors related to unsafe speed and other vehicular factors, with no mention of victim fault or protective equipment failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656137 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A Toyota turned left on Forest Avenue. A Ford came straight. Metal crashed. Glass burst. The Toyota driver, a 26-year-old woman, bled from the head. Her view was blocked. Alcohol lingered. Both cars crumpled. Time stopped.

A crash unfolded at Forest Avenue and Decker Avenue. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan turned left while a Ford SUV drove straight. The two vehicles collided, shattering glass and crumpling metal. The 26-year-old woman driving the Toyota suffered severe head lacerations. Police noted her view was obstructed and alcohol was involved. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. Driver inattention and distraction also played a role. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged and the Toyota driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

The city’s KSI metric counts bodies, not danger. Thirty-seven killed on the Upper West Side in a decade. Streets stay deadly. A new, community-centered metric maps risk before blood is spilled. DOT must act before the next crash, not after.

On August 17, 2023, a Streetsblog NYC policy critique challenged the Department of Transportation’s reliance on the KSI (Killed or Severely Injured) metric. The article, titled 'Beyond KSI: How DOT Can Identify Unsafe Streets Before Tragedy Strikes,' exposes how KSI misses hidden dangers and fails to prevent future deaths. No council bill number is attached; this is a public call to action, not legislation. The critique highlights that, despite 37 road deaths on the Upper West Side in ten years, DOT’s 2023 plan ignored these corridors. The author mapped safety features and hazards, proposing a new, proactive metric based on accessibility, comfort, and livability. The piece urges DOT to shift from counting casualties to preventing them, stating, 'we need a different metric to fix the underlying problem of safety on city streets—one that is community-centered and doesn’t reduce our assessment of a certain street’s needs to grim numbers.'

• Beyond ‘KSI’: How DOT Can Identify Unsafe Streets Before Tragedy Strikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-17

A sedan struck a 30-year-old man walking off the roadway on Victory Boulevard. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. The driver, a permit holder, failed to yield and showed inexperience. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 2006 Toyota sedan driven by a female with a learner's permit struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian not in the roadway on Victory Boulevard, Staten Island. The pedestrian sustained a fractured knee, lower leg, and foot injuries. The report lists driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The driver was entering a parked position at the time of impact. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The crash highlights driver errors without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A dump truck driver turned right, struck Mariano Leonardo Victoriano on his e-bike, and fled. No charges. The Bronx bleeds: 21 cyclists dead this year, the most since Vision Zero began. Protected bike lanes are rare. City promises, broken. Cyclists pay.

""The administration cannot fall further behind on the NYC Streets Plan’s legal requirements to build protected places for people to bike in every neighborhood of our city."" -- Charles Fall

On August 9, 2023, a cyclist was killed by a hit-and-run dump truck driver in Council District 17, Bronx. The incident marks the 21st cyclist death this year, the highest since Vision Zero began in 2014. The matter highlights that only 1.64% of district streets have protected bike lanes, far below the city average. Jada Yeboah, Bronx/Uptown Organizer for Transportation Alternatives, condemned the city's failure: "Inaction is killing New Yorkers of color." She demanded Mayor Adams meet legal requirements for protected bike lanes, noting only five miles have been built in the Bronx out of 50 required citywide this year. The Bronx ranks third in traffic fatalities, eighth in injuries among 51 districts. The city's inaction leaves cyclists exposed. The toll mounts.

• UPDATE: Another Cyclist — 21st of the Year — Has Been Killed by a Driver, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-09

Two sedans crashed head-on on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. Three occupants suffered neck and chest injuries. Both drivers were distracted. Airbags deployed in one vehicle. All victims remained conscious and were not ejected from their cars.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on Victory Boulevard collided, impacting the center front end of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. Three occupants were injured: a 47-year-old female driver with neck injuries, a 54-year-old female driver with chest injuries, and a 40-year-old male front passenger with neck injuries. All were conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. One vehicle had airbags deployed. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans collided on Clove Road. A 55-year-old woman driving north suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction and following too closely. Both cars damaged. No one ejected.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Clove Road collided in a rear-end crash. The 55-year-old female driver of a 2020 Toyota sedan suffered back injuries and whiplash. She remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as driver errors. The first vehicle, a 2012 Jeep sedan, struck the center back end of the Toyota. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652305 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Council passed Intro. 289. The bill forces DOT to map every bike lane and show disruptions. Cyclists will see closures, detours, and hazards in real time. No more guessing. No more dead ends. Riders get the same alerts drivers do. Streets get safer.

On August 3, 2023, the New York City Council passed Intro. 289, a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to create a searchable map of every city bike lane. The map must show disruptions, detours, hazards, and closures in real time. The bill summary states: 'Cyclists deserve the same attention and information already given to the city's drivers and transit riders in the form of notifications, updates, and well-marked detours.' Council Member Carlina Rivera sponsored the bill and led its passage. Rivera and Bike New York’s Jon Orcutt wrote, 'Disruption of any city bikeway requires public information, working detours and operational attention—not just an unheralded shut-down.' The law aims to end the chaos and danger of sudden bike lane closures, giving half a million daily riders the information they need to stay safe and keep moving.

• OPINION: A Cycling ‘Current Conditions’ Report Will Keep Biking New Yorkers Safe and Informed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

Rep. Adriano Espaillat worked behind closed doors to stall Fordham Road bus lane improvements. Bronx lawmakers, once supportive, fell silent or opposed. The project, meant to speed up buses for 85,000 riders, now faces more delays. Vulnerable riders remain stuck in slow, dangerous traffic.

On August 3, 2023, Rep. Adriano Espaillat quietly lobbied Bronx officials against proposed Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. The project, under city review since 2022, aimed to speed up buses for 85,000 daily riders by installing dedicated busways or offset lanes. According to Streetsblog, Espaillat leaned on younger electeds to align with Council Member Oswald Feliz, a vocal critic. 'He defers to the local elected officials, and all of them seem to be in agreement,' said Espaillat’s chief of staff, Aneiry Batista. Lawmakers who once supported the upgrades grew silent or opposed them after Espaillat’s intervention. The Department of Transportation, MTA, and governor’s office met with Espaillat to discuss the project, but delays persisted. The opposition from Feliz and business groups led DOT to scrap the most ambitious safety options. Riders, many without cars, remain exposed to slow, hazardous conditions as cars block bus lanes and traffic crawls.

• Rep. Adriano Espaillat Rallying Bronx Pols Against Fordham Road Bus Lane Fixes: Sources, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

New York City will mount automated cameras on over 30 school buses this fall. The six-month pilot aims to catch drivers who ignore stopped buses. No fines yet, but a proposal is pending. Advocates say cameras save lives. Council pushed for action.

Bill: Automated Traffic Cameras Coming to Some NYC School Buses. Status: Pilot program launching fall 2023. Committee: Led by Department of Transportation, with Education and Finance. Key dates: Announced August 1, 2023; Finance Department hearing on fines pending. The matter targets 'drivers who fail to stop behind a school bus stopped to pick up or drop off passengers.' City Council members requested the trial last year, overcoming initial city reluctance. DOT spokesperson Vin Barone said, 'This effort will provide valuable information on reckless driving near schools.' D'Shandi Coombs of Transportation Alternatives called automated enforcement 'a proven tool to protect New Yorkers from crashes' and said expanding it to school buses is 'an important step to keeping our children safe.' The pilot collects data, but fines are not yet in place. Advocates praise the move as overdue.

• PASS, FAIL: Automated Traffic Cameras Coming to Some NYC School Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-01

Two vehicles collided head-on on Forest Avenue just after midnight. A 31-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided head-on on Forest Avenue. The sedan was traveling south, and the SUV was traveling west, both going straight ahead before impact. The 31-year-old male driver of the sedan was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. He was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles sustained center front-end damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the driver’s role in the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The driver was not ejected and remained in the vehicle. The crash highlights a dangerous intersection where two vehicles traveling straight collided, resulting in serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

MTA leaders press Mayor Adams to revive Fordham Road bus lane plans. Council Member Feliz stands opposed. Business groups resist. Eighty-five thousand daily riders face slow, crowded buses. City’s promise for safer, faster transit stalls. DOT offers compromise. Vulnerable commuters wait.

On July 20, 2023, the MTA called on Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support renewed bus lane expansion on Fordham Road. The city had canceled a planned busway after pushback from business owners and Council Member Oswald Feliz, who remains a vocal critic. MTA New York City Transit President Richard Davey said, "Our hope is that we DOT stays with us and we're implementing this, hopefully, later this year." MTA CEO Janno Lieber stressed, "We can't deemphasize and under-prioritize the lives of people of the Bronx and also Upper Manhattan who are trying to get east and west across this incredibly busy corridor." DOT spokesperson Vin Barone described a new proposal with dedicated curbside loading and minimal traffic diversions. The city’s earlier pledge for 20 new miles of bus lanes per year has not been met. Eighty-five thousand daily bus riders, many vulnerable, remain at risk on slow, crowded streets. No formal safety analysis was provided.

• MTA’s ‘Hope’ for Eric Adams: ‘Stay With Us’ On Fordham Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-20

A 21-year-old female driver crashed her sedan into a parked SUV on Leonard Avenue. The impact hit the SUV’s left rear quarter panel. She suffered a back contusion but was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience and distraction contributed.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver with a learner's permit collided with a parked SUV on Leonard Avenue. The sedan struck the SUV’s left rear quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The driver sustained a back contusion and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other parties were injured. The crash involved two sedans and one SUV, with the SUV stationary at the time of impact. The driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant of her vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 43-year-old man riding a 2021 Harley-Davidson motorbike crashed on Decker Avenue. He suffered a head injury and was incoherent at the scene. The motorbike sustained front-end damage. No safety equipment was used. Contributing factors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male driver on a 2021 Harley-Davidson motorbike was injured in a crash on Decker Avenue. The driver was not ejected but suffered a head injury and was incoherent, complaining of pain or nausea. The motorbike sustained damage to its center front end. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no mention of helmet use or other safety equipment. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 17-year-old male pedestrian was struck while crossing Victory Boulevard at a marked crosswalk. The driver, distracted and inexperienced, failed to stop. The teen suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male pedestrian was injured crossing Victory Boulevard at a marked crosswalk on Staten Island. The pedestrian was conscious but suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash occurred at 11:02 p.m. The driver was traveling north, going straight ahead, and caused the collision due to inattention and distraction, compounded by driver inexperience. The vehicle, an Infiniti car or SUV, showed no damage. The pedestrian was not at fault. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Driver Inexperience" as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 31-year-old male driver fell asleep behind the wheel on the Staten Island Expressway. His sedan struck an object head-on. He suffered neck abrasions but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The crash caused front-end damage to the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male driver was involved in a crash on the Staten Island Expressway at 5:15 p.m. The driver fell asleep, causing a collision with front-end impact. The driver was injured, sustaining neck abrasions, but was not ejected and remained conscious. He was restrained by a lap belt. The vehicle, a 2018 Nissan sedan traveling east, sustained damage to its center front end. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans collided on Constant Avenue. Both drivers, women, were hurt—one in the back, one across her body. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Shock followed.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling west on Constant Avenue collided. The first car struck the center front end; the second was hit on the right rear quarter panel, damaging its left side doors. Both drivers, women aged 27 and 31, suffered injuries—one to her back, the other to her entire body. Both experienced shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, pointing to a driver error involving ignored signals or signs. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A cyclist hit a 27-year-old man crossing Victory Boulevard at Clove Road. The man suffered a head contusion but stayed conscious. No driver errors or bike damage reported. Danger at the Staten Island intersection remains.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a cyclist struck him at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Clove Road in Staten Island. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk with no signal. The cyclist was traveling straight ahead. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. No damage was reported to the bicycle. Both contributing factors for the pedestrian are unspecified, and no safety equipment or signals were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09