Blood on the Hills: Cars Kill, Leaders Look Away

Jan 22 - A sedan lost control on Ocean Terrace. Wet pavement sent the car into a crash. The driver and a child passenger suffered full-body injuries and shock. Both complained of pain and nausea after the impact.

According to the police report, a 2007 sedan traveling west on Ocean Terrace lost control due to slippery pavement. The car struck an object with its right front bumper. The driver, a 32-year-old woman, and a 10-year-old boy in the front seat were both injured, suffering trauma to their entire bodies and shock. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as the sole contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. Both victims reported pain and nausea after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787857 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jan 22 - A 22-year-old woman was injured crossing Meisner Avenue away from an intersection. The sedan, traveling north at unsafe speed, struck her with its front center. She suffered a shoulder contusion and remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Meisner Avenue near Lowell Street in Staten Island. The pedestrian was struck while performing 'Other Actions in Roadway' and not at an intersection. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2024 Nissan sedan traveling north and going straight ahead, impacted the pedestrian with the vehicle's center front end. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for the driver. The pedestrian sustained an upper arm and shoulder contusion but remained conscious. No vehicle damage was reported. The police report explicitly identifies the driver's unsafe speed as a key cause of the collision. There are no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Republican lawmakers blasted MTA chief Janno Lieber. They called for his resignation. They slammed the new $9 congestion toll. They dismissed claims of safer subways. They warned of more taxes. Riders and walkers remain caught in the crossfire.

""We are asking for something that we believe is very necessary for the well-being of the people of the state of New York, especially for those who live in the MTA region. We believe that under these circumstances it is very warranted."" -- Andrew Lanza

On January 8, 2025, Republican state legislators, including Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (District 9), held a press conference demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber. The lawmakers, joined by Senators Steven Rhoads and Bill Weber, criticized Lieber for 'losing the trust of commuters' and downplaying subway crime. They condemned the new $9 congestion pricing toll for Midtown, with Weber calling it 'tone deaf' and demanding repeal. The event summary reads: 'GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees.' The lawmakers oppose further taxes and fees to close the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate leaves the city’s most exposed—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—uncertain and unprotected.

• GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-08

Dec 30 - Two parked vehicles collided on Washington Ave, injuring a 52-year-old female driver. The crash involved a failure to yield and alcohol involvement. The injured driver suffered upper arm injuries and shock, highlighting driver errors as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:09 on Washington Ave involving a station wagon/SUV and a sedan. Both vehicles were parked before the collision. The female SUV driver, aged 52, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and experienced shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The female driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The sedan driver was licensed and male. Vehicle damage was noted on the front ends of both vehicles. The report explicitly cites driver errors, including failure to yield, as the cause, with no victim fault indicated.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 26 - SUV turned right. Sedan went straight. Pavement slick. Metal slammed metal. Three men hurt, necks whipped. Speed and road conditions fueled the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided on Richmond Hill Rd near Old Mill Rd. The SUV was making a right turn northbound. The sedan traveled straight south. The crash struck the SUV's center front and the sedan's left front bumper. Three men were injured: both drivers and a right rear passenger. All suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. These driver errors stand out as central causes. No contributing factors are attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782467 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 22 - Two sedans collided on Staten Island Expressway. The 24-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles struck center to rear and front ends, causing significant damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Staten Island Expressway at 11:00 AM involving two sedans traveling westbound. The 24-year-old male driver of a 2018 Toyota sedan was injured, sustaining back injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The collision involved a center back-end impact on the Toyota and a center front-end impact on a 2024 Acura sedan with a female driver. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed. The injured driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The crash narrative and contributing factors emphasize the role of driver error, specifically inattention, without implicating the injured occupant or other systemic issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 22 - SUV driver lost focus on Lighthouse Ave. Smashed into another car. Twenty-year-old man behind the wheel took a blow to the face. Blood on the street. Distraction did the damage.

According to the police report, a crash took place at 10:37 a.m. on Lighthouse Ave, Staten Island. A 2021 SUV, heading west, struck another vehicle. The driver of that car, a 20-year-old man, suffered a facial contusion but stayed conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. The SUV hit the center front end of the other vehicle, damaging its right front bumper. The injured man wore a lap belt and harness. No contributing factors are listed for the victim. The crash shows how a distracted driver can leave another person bruised and bleeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781135 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 16 - A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

Dec 5 - Two SUVs crashed on Willowbrook Road at 8:05 a.m., striking each other’s left sides. A 4-year-old child occupant suffered a fractured knee and leg, restrained but injured. Police cite driver failure to obey traffic controls as cause.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Willowbrook Road near Buchanan Avenue at 8:05 a.m. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead—one westbound, the other northbound—when impact occurred on the left side doors of the Ford SUV and the front bumper of the Mazda SUV. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in obeying traffic signals or signs. A 4-year-old female occupant in the rear left seat of one SUV was injured, sustaining fractures and dislocations to her knee and lower leg despite being secured in a child restraint. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls, resulting in serious injury to a young passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 27 - A tractor truck plowed into a stopped SUV on Staten Island Expressway. The SUV driver, age 72, suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Heavy metal, heavy cost.

According to the police report, a tractor truck traveling west struck the rear of a stopped SUV on Staten Island Expressway at 18:45. The SUV’s driver, a 72-year-old man, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause, pointing to the truck driver's failure to pay attention in traffic. No actions by the SUV driver contributed to the crash. The impact highlights the risk posed by distracted commercial drivers in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774735 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 20 - A bus hit a sedan on Richmond Road. The sedan’s 90-year-old driver suffered neck injuries and abrasions. Police blame driver inattention and distraction. Both vehicles took damage. No one was ejected.

According to the police report, a bus traveling south collided with an eastbound sedan on Richmond Road at 18:40. The sedan’s driver, a 90-year-old woman, was injured in the crash, suffering neck injuries and abrasions. She was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The sedan’s right front bumper and the bus’s right side doors were damaged. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash underscores the risk to older drivers when driver distraction leads to violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 13 - Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Oct 27 - A 58-year-old male bicyclist was injured after a collision with a golf cart traveling north on Richmond Hill Road. The bicyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The crash involved following too closely, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:30 AM on Richmond Hill Road in Staten Island. A golf cart and a bicycle, both traveling north, collided when the golf cart struck the bicyclist from behind. The bicyclist, a 58-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the golf cart operator. The golf cart had no visible damage, while the bicycle sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767227 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Oct 26 - A 56-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a pick-up truck failed to yield while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the truck struck her with its left front bumper at an intersection on Bradley Ave.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling south on Bradley Ave was making a left turn when it struck a 56-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection with S Gannon Ave. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and improper turning as contributing factors. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its left front bumper. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The driver’s errors in yielding and turning improperly directly led to the collision, underscoring systemic dangers at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Oct 18 - A tanker truck made a right turn into the path of a northbound sedan on Staten Island Expressway. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the tanker’s right front quarter panel. The sedan occupant suffered back injuries and whiplash, shocked but restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:23 on Staten Island Expressway near Bradley Avenue. A tanker truck was making a right turn when it collided with a northbound sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the tanker’s right front quarter panel and the sedan’s left front bumper. The sedan’s sole occupant, a 37-year-old male driver, was injured with back pain and whiplash, remaining in shock but properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor, indicating the tanker driver failed to yield or properly observe the sedan’s approach. No contributing factors were assigned to the sedan driver. The collision highlights the danger of large vehicles turning across lanes with inattentive drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764765 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Oct 3 - A sedan traveling north on Clove Road rear-ended a pick-up truck also heading north. The impact injured a 7-year-old child passenger in the sedan, who suffered a neck contusion. Driver inattention and inexperience caused the crash.

According to the police report, at 20:14 on Clove Road, a sedan struck the center back end of a pick-up truck traveling in the same direction. The collision caused injuries to a 7-year-old male occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of the sedan. The child, restrained by a lap belt, sustained a neck contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the sedan impacted the truck's rear. The sedan sustained damage to its center back end, while the truck was damaged at its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Sep 27 - Two SUVs traveling west on Westwood Avenue crashed head-on. The impact struck the center front ends of both vehicles. The driver of one SUV suffered unconsciousness and full-body injuries, signaling severe trauma from the collision.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided on Westwood Avenue, both traveling west and going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles, indicating a head-on collision. One driver, a 30-year-old male, was injured with full-body trauma and was unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the cause. The injured driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused significant damage to the center front ends of both SUVs, underscoring the violent nature of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

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 19 - A bus and an SUV collided on Rockland Avenue in Staten Island at 6:40 AM. Both male drivers suffered serious injuries including fractures and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rockland Avenue near Manor Road in Staten Island at 6:40 AM. The collision involved a 2023 Blue Bird bus traveling north and a 2018 Toyota SUV traveling west. The point of impact was the left front bumper on both vehicles. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers, males aged 50 and 45, were injured but not ejected. The SUV driver sustained a fracture and dislocation to the knee-lower leg-foot area, while the bus driver suffered whiplash and chest injuries. Both drivers were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on driver errors and unsafe speed as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17