A Yamaha motorcycle collided with a turning Chevy SUV on Richmond Avenue. The 21-year-old rider, helmeted, was ejected and killed. Speed and ignored traffic controls carved a fatal path through Staten Island’s night.

According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck the side of a Chevy SUV making a left turn on Richmond Avenue near Amboy Road. The 21-year-old motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from his seat and died at the scene. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors in the crash. The motorcyclist’s individual record also lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' as factors. The SUV was turning left when the collision occurred, with the point of impact on its right side doors. The report describes the motorcycle as demolished and the rider suffering crush injuries to the entire body. The data highlights driver errors—failure to obey traffic controls and improper turning—as central to the deadly outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762313, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Gary Eckstein stood on Prospect Park West. He spoke for his son, killed by a driver. He called for 20 mph limits everywhere. Politicians thanked advocates. The city began lowering speeds below Canal Street. Slower cars mean fewer deaths. The fight continues.

On October 9, 2024, the Department of Transportation began lowering speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on select Manhattan streets, starting below Canal Street. At a Prospect Park West event, Gary Eckstein, father of crash victim Sammy Cohen-Eckstein, marked 11 years since his son's death. He declared, 'A mistake by a driver or someone walking or biking should not be a death sentence.' Eckstein urged the city to expand 20 mph limits, saying, 'Many more lives can be saved and communities enriched.' Politicians credited advocates for the change. The event highlighted the urgent need for lower speeds to protect pedestrians and cyclists. No council bill number or committee was cited, but the advocacy targets citywide policy.

• A Father Speaks: Here’s Why The Speed Limit Must Be 20 MPH Everywhere, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-09

A 26-year-old man slammed headfirst onto Whitestone Expressway near Grand Central Parkway. The motorcycle’s front end crumpled. He was ejected and did not get up. The road stayed hard. The crash left him dead at the scene.

A fatal crash occurred on Whitestone Expressway near Grand Central Parkway, where a 26-year-old man riding a motorcycle was thrown from his vehicle, according to the police report. The report states, 'A 26-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle. He hit headfirst. The front end crumpled. The road stayed hard. He did not get up.' The impact was severe, with the motorcycle sustaining center front-end damage and the rider suffering fatal head injuries. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The victim was ejected from the motorcycle and killed instantly, with apparent death noted at the scene. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and the report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of high-speed impacts and the unforgiving nature of city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761900, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Canal Street kills. Seniors and advocates demand action. The city drags its feet. Pedestrians choke on fumes, dodge cars, trip on broken sidewalks. Most don’t own cars. Most walk. Still, cars rule the street. The danger remains. The city studies. People die.

This advocacy campaign, highlighted on October 4, 2024, calls for a full redesign of Canal Street. Manhattan Community Board 1, Transportation Alternatives, and local seniors demand urgent action. The matter: 'transforming Canal Street into a safer, more accessible space for everyone, especially seniors.' Emily Jacobi of Transportation Alternatives says, 'Canal is dangerous, it's deadly, and it's killing us.' Wellington Chen of the Chinatown Partnership points to pollution and stress harming elders. The Department of Transportation claims improvements are coming, but progress is slow. Community Board 1 voted for expanded pedestrian space and a protected bike lane years ago. Most residents walk or use transit. Still, the street favors cars. Since 2014, Canal has seen 10 deaths and 700 injuries. The city’s inaction leaves seniors and all vulnerable users at risk.

• Seniors to City: Fix Canal Street Now!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-04

A new video lays it bare. Cars and trucks kill. Politicians fret about mopeds, but the real threat barrels down every street. The numbers do not lie. Nearly every injury and death comes from drivers behind the wheel. The danger is clear.

On October 4, 2024, Streetsblog NYC released a media editorial titled 'Friday Video: Car and Truck Drivers are the Cause of Virtually All Road Violence.' The piece does not reference a council bill, but it issues a sharp rebuke to politicians who fixate on moped riders while ignoring the main threat. The editorial states, 'Virtually all of the injuries and deaths on our roadways are caused by the drivers of cars and trucks.' The video, created by Streetsblog Engagement Editor, shows graphic evidence of this violence. The editorial calls for road safety redesigns that protect the most vulnerable—pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, children, people in wheelchairs. It demands accountability from car and truck drivers, not scapegoating of two-wheelers. The message is blunt: the crisis is behind the wheel, not on the sidewalk.

• Friday Video: Car and Truck Drivers are the Cause of Virtually All Road Violence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-04

DOT will fill a mile-long bike lane gap on Sixth Avenue. One car lane goes. Cyclists get wide, protected paths. Riders must switch sides twice for tunnel traffic and firehouse parking. 469 crashes, 187 hurt in five years. Locals back the change.

On October 1, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a plan to close the protected bike lane gap along Soho’s Sixth Avenue. The proposal, discussed with Community Board 2’s Transportation Committee, removes one of four car lanes to install a curbside protected bike lane between Lispenard and W. Eighth streets. DOT project manager Preston Johnson called it 'the last gap between the Financial District and Central Park.' The plan forces cyclists to switch sides twice to accommodate Holland Tunnel traffic and firehouse parking. Over five years, 469 crashes injured 187 people on this stretch. Community Board 2 Transportation Chair Shirley Secunda said, 'Eight years ago we did a resolution asking DOT to reduce Sixth Avenue to three travel lanes from four [so] we’re very happy that it’s finally happening.' The project adds eight-to-ten-foot bike lanes, pedestrianizes a slip lane, and builds bus boarding islands. Local support is strong.

• City To Close Bike Lane Gap in Lower Sixth Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-01

A Chrysler sedan crashed into the back of a backhoe on the Triborough Bridge before dawn. The unbelted driver suffered fatal head injuries in the violent impact. The front of the sedan crumpled, killing the lone occupant instantly.

According to the police report, at 3:50 a.m. on the Triborough Bridge, a Chrysler sedan collided with the rear of a Caterpillar backhoe. The sedan's 55-year-old driver, the sole occupant, was killed after the vehicle "slammed into the back" of the backhoe. The report states the driver wore no seatbelt and suffered fatal head injuries as the "front crumpled like paper." Both vehicles were traveling north, with the backhoe going straight ahead when struck. The police report lists contributing factors as "Unspecified," providing no further detail on driver errors or conditions. The violent collision and lack of restraint contributed to the driver's death. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758955, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Eighty-seven pedestrians killed in NYC by September. Deaths up 28 percent from last year. Cars and trucks are the main killers. Not e-bikes. Not mopeds. City pushes plazas, daylighting, and enforcement. Streets remain deadly. Drivers escape blame. Victims pay.

This report, published September 26, 2024, details a surge in pedestrian deaths: 87 killed in NYC between January 1 and September 23, up from 68 in the same period last year—a 28 percent jump. The NYPD and DOT confirm a double-digit rise in deaths and injuries, with 23 pedestrians hurt daily. The matter summary states, 'The 2024 Pedestrian Death Crisis is Due to Driving.' Jon Orcutt, former DOT official, calls for targeted enforcement against drivers, especially those dodging accountability. DOT spokesman Vin Barone says, 'Cars are heavier and faster and still pose a far greater risk.' The Adams administration is expanding pedestrian plazas, daylighting intersections, and cracking down on reckless driving. Data show cars and trucks cause most deaths, not micromobility. Only 5.5% of injuries involve e-bikes or mopeds. The city focuses on driver accountability and infrastructure, but the toll climbs. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• Make No Mistake: The 2024 Pedestrian Death Crisis is Due to Driving, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-26

A Ford SUV tore through Westchester Avenue, its right front bumper crushing a 56-year-old man in the marked crosswalk. He died instantly, the morning sun rising over broken bones and shattered calm at East 163rd Street.

A 56-year-old man was killed at the intersection of Westchester Avenue and East 163rd Street in the Bronx when a northbound Ford SUV struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The report states the victim was crossing in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. The SUV was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative details that the pedestrian died at the scene from crush injuries to his entire body. No driver actions such as yielding or speed are specified in the report, but the impact location and the victim's presence in a marked crosswalk underscore the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians at Bronx intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758741, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A flatbed truck turned left at Bronxwood Avenue. A 64-year-old man crossed with the light. Steel crushed flesh. The truck stopped. The man lay still. The intersection fell silent, marked by violence and the weight of machinery.

A 64-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck struck him at the intersection of Bronxwood Avenue and East 229th Street in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash occurred as the truck was making a left turn. The report states, 'A flatbed truck turned left. A 64-year-old man crossed with the light. The front end struck him. His body crushed beneath steel.' The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection, as explicitly noted in the police data. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative and vehicle data confirm the truck's left turn and the pedestrian's lawful crossing. The man suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. No driver errors beyond the left turn are specified, but the sequence underscores the lethal risk posed by turning vehicles to people in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758508, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A garbage truck swung wide for a U-turn on Douglaston Parkway, slamming into a parked truck. The unbelted driver was thrown from his cab, his head striking the pavement. He died alone, under the evening sky.

According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling south on Douglaston Parkway near the Grand Central Parkway overpass attempted a U-turn and collided with a parked garbage truck. The report states that the driver, a 54-year-old man, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the cab upon impact. His head struck the pavement, resulting in fatal injuries. The police narrative notes, 'He died alone, under the evening sky.' The report lists the pre-crash action as 'Making U Turn' and the point of impact as 'Center Front End.' No specific contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified' are cited in the official data. The only person injured or killed in this crash was the driver of the moving truck. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757575, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup truck struck a man head-on at dawn on the Gowanus Ramp. Steel met flesh. The pedestrian died, his body broken. No witnesses, no names. Only silence and the cold certainty of impact remain.

A 46-year-old man was killed when a 2012 Nissan pickup truck struck him head-on on the Gowanus Ramp in the early morning, according to the police report. The narrative states, 'A man walked where no lines marked safe passage. A 2012 Nissan pickup struck him head-on. His body broke beneath the steel.' The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The vehicle, registered in New Jersey, was traveling straight ahead when it hit the pedestrian, with the point of impact at the center front end. No witness accounts are noted. The report does not cite any specific driver error, but the fatal outcome underscores the lethal danger present when pedestrians and large vehicles meet on unprotected roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757583, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by a sedan on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue. Thrown, crushed against a parked car. Head trauma. He died there. The driver disregarded traffic control, according to the police report.

A 26-year-old e-bike rider was killed on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue in Brooklyn when a sedan struck him, according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred at 2:48 a.m. The e-bike rider was thrown and crushed against a parked car, suffering fatal head trauma. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The sedan's driver failed to obey traffic controls, leading directly to the deadly impact. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was ejected and died at the scene. The crash involved two sedans—one moving, one parked—and an e-bike. The focus remains on the sedan driver's disregard for traffic control, which proved fatal for the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757577, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Intro 941 targets the Citizen Air Complaint Program. It weakens citizen power to report illegal idling. The bill opens loopholes for polluters. It lets agencies ban whistleblowers. Clean air gains are at risk. Vulnerable New Yorkers will breathe more danger.

Intro 941 is a New York City Council bill now before the Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts. The committee will hear it on September 17, 2024. The bill summary warns: 'Intro 941 threatens to upend [the Citizen Air Complaint Program] by discouraging and outright banning participation.' Chris Hartmann, in a Streetsblog NYC opinion, opposes the bill. He says it imposes harsh deadlines on citizen reporters, lets the Department of Environmental Protection ban complainants for vague reasons, and undermines school bus idling limits. The bill also allows retroactive fine reductions for polluters. Hartmann urges Speaker Adrienne Adams and all Council members to reject Intro 941. He stresses that citizen enforcement is vital to public health and that this bill would erase hard-won clean air progress.

• Opinion: A Lethal Threat to New York City’s Air and Citizen Enforcement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

A parked KIA sedan on Saint Pauls Avenue was struck head-on. Inside, a 58-year-old woman sat belted and unmoving. No skid marks, no warning. The crash left silence and death on Grant Street.

According to the police report, a parked KIA sedan was struck head-on near Saint Pauls Avenue and Grant Street in Staten Island. Inside the vehicle, a 58-year-old woman, who was wearing a lap belt, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. The report notes, 'No skid marks, no second chance.' The point of impact was the center front end of the parked sedan. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the police report, and no driver errors are explicitly cited. The narrative emphasizes the suddenness and severity of the crash, with the vehicle at rest before being struck. No mention is made of any actions by the victim contributing to the collision. The focus remains on the impact and the fatal outcome for the woman inside the parked car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756590, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus veered off 94th Street, metal shrieked, and a 33-year-old man died behind the wheel. Evening light fell on twisted steel and silence. Driver inattention ended a life in Queens, leaving only wreckage and unanswered questions.

According to the police report, a Lexus sedan traveling north on 94th Street at the corner of 60th Avenue veered into two parked sedans. The report states, 'A Lexus veered into two parked sedans. Metal tore. A 33-year-old man slumped behind the wheel, lap belt tight, head struck. Evening light caught the silence. He did not move again.' The sole occupant and driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The parked vehicles, a Kia and a Honda, were unoccupied at the time. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, as cited in the official report. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756153, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan’s front bumper slammed into a 43-year-old cyclist on Belt Parkway. The man was ejected, suffering fatal head trauma. He died alone in the darkness, the highway silent but for the hum of passing cars.

A 43-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Belt Parkway was killed when a sedan, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma, dying at the scene before dawn. The narrative states, 'A 43-year-old man on a bike, no helmet, struck by a sedan’s front bumper. Ejected. Head trauma. He died there in the dark, alone, the road lit only by headlights and the hush before dawn.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' are cited in the data. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears after the description of the collision and is not listed as a contributing factor. The impact and fatality underscore the lethal consequences when cars and vulnerable road users collide on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755430, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 74-year-old man crossed Bay Ridge Avenue. A northbound Honda SUV hit him with its right front bumper. His body broke on metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise. The crash ended one life in Brooklyn’s dark.

A 74-year-old man was killed while crossing Bay Ridge Avenue near Ridge Boulevard in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:56 p.m. when a northbound Honda SUV struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report states, 'A 74-year-old man stepped into the dark against the light. A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. His body broke against metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The pedestrian was noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but no driver errors or additional contributing factors were cited by police. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An ambulance turned left on Southern Boulevard and hit a parked SUV. Inside, a baby girl died. The Bronx street fell silent. Metal met metal, and a life ended before it began. No warning. Only aftermath.

According to the police report, an ambulance making a left turn on Southern Boulevard near Bedford Park Boulevard struck a parked SUV. Inside the SUV, a baby girl was killed. The report states, 'An ambulance turned left and struck a parked SUV. Inside, a baby girl died.' The crash occurred in the Bronx at 16:08. No contributing factors were specified by police, but the narrative makes clear the ambulance was in motion, executing a left turn, while the SUV was stationary and parked. The infant, listed as a passenger, suffered fatal injuries. No driver errors or victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors in the report. The silence after the crash underscores the sudden, devastating impact of a moment’s action on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759668, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two mopeds collided in the intersection. One ignored the signal. A 64-year-old man crossing was struck, his hip shattered. He died nameless in the street, engines ticking down, the city moving on, the danger unyielding.

According to the police report, two mopeds collided mid-intersection on Grand Concourse. One of the mopeds ran the light, disregarding traffic control devices. As the vehicles crashed, a 64-year-old man was crossing the intersection. Both mopeds struck him, causing fatal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report states the pedestrian died at the scene. The contributing factor listed is Traffic Control Disregarded, highlighting a clear driver error: failure to obey the traffic signal. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. The report does not mention any actions by the victim that contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by drivers who ignore traffic controls, with tragic consequences for those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754769, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15