Police and city workers park illegally in Access-A-Ride drop-off zones. Disabled riders lose curb access. Warnings and signs fail. City agencies ignore pleas. Placard abuse strips away hard-won safety for vulnerable New Yorkers. Officials express frustration. Nothing changes. Danger remains.

On January 26, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported widespread illegal parking in Access-A-Ride drop-off zones by police officers and city workers. The matter, titled 'They Don’t Care: Cops, Placard Perps Block Disabled Drop-Off Zones,' highlights how city employees, including NYPD and Fire Department staff, routinely block spaces meant for disabled transit users. Activists and organizations like Independence Care System and the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled say these spots are almost never available. Julianne Munford, a wheelchair user, said, 'To me, their attitude is like, So what you’re in a wheelchair. Deal with it.' Despite repeated complaints to the local precinct, DOT, and Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, enforcement is absent. Official warnings and signage have failed. City officials, including Rich Davey, express frustration but admit, 'Ultimately, nothing real has happened.' The ongoing placard abuse strips away safety and dignity from vulnerable New Yorkers.

• ‘They Don’t Care’: Cops, Placard Perps Block Disabled Drop-Off Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-26

A Ford pickup turned left on Avenue X. Its bumper hit a 62-year-old woman crossing at East 16th Street. She died there, head struck, as the light faded. The street held her last breath. Brooklyn lost another pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old woman entered the marked crosswalk at Avenue X and East 16th Street. A westbound Ford pickup truck, making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper, causing fatal head injuries. The report states she was crossing at the intersection, with no signal present. The driver was licensed and operating a 2010 Ford pickup. The police narrative notes the woman died at the scene. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the report, but the sequence of events centers on the driver’s left turn into the crosswalk where the pedestrian was present. The impact location and vehicle damage confirm the collision point. No driver error is explicitly named, but the facts highlight the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696753, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A sedan tore into a parked tanker on Viele Avenue. Steel crushed flesh. Two young passengers died. Two others, battered and bleeding, drifted in and out of consciousness. The tanker never moved. The street bore the cost.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Viele Avenue near Bryant Avenue in the Bronx crashed into a parked tanker at 3:18 a.m. The report states, 'A sedan slammed into a parked tanker.' The impact killed a 15-year-old girl and a 21-year-old man, both passengers in the sedan. Two others—a 23-year-old male driver and a 17-year-old female passenger—were left semiconscious, suffering head injuries and severe bleeding. The tanker, registered as parked and unoccupied, 'never moved,' per the narrative. The police report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, listing them as 'Unspecified.' No victim behaviors are cited as contributing to the crash. The narrative and data make clear: the sedan struck a stationary vehicle, resulting in catastrophic loss for its occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696748, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Dodge truck turned left on Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 52-year-old woman head-on. She died beneath the streetlight. The crash left blood on the asphalt and silence in the street.

According to the police report, a Dodge truck making a left turn on Bay Ridge Avenue near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 52-year-old woman standing in the roadway. The impact was direct, hitting her with the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver, licensed in New York, was operating a 2019 Dodge truck and was the sole occupant. The police narrative states, 'The driver was distracted.' No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions are cited in the report. The fatal collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695644, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A 53-year-old woman entered the Melrose Avenue crosswalk. Two Jeeps, steel and speed, converged from opposite sides. She was struck and killed at the intersection. The street claimed her life in the cold Bronx night.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old woman was killed while crossing Melrose Avenue at East 157th Street in the Bronx. The incident occurred at 19:11, when two Jeeps—one traveling south, the other north—approached the intersection. Both vehicles struck the woman as she was in the crosswalk. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, providing no evidence of evasive action or yielding. The narrative states, 'Steel met flesh. She died where she fell.' The victim's action is noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the absence of any driver error cited in the data. The report underscores the lethal danger at this intersection, with two vehicles converging and a pedestrian left dead in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695464, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A 68-year-old man lost consciousness behind the wheel on Schley Avenue. His sedan slammed into three parked cars. The hood crumpled. No screech, no warning, only silence and a single life ended in the Bronx morning.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old male driver lost consciousness while traveling southwest on Schley Avenue in the Bronx. His sedan veered off course and struck three parked sedans. The report states, 'His sedan veered into three parked cars. The front end folded. He died at the scene. No skid marks. No sound. Just stillness and a crumpled hood.' The contributing factor listed is 'Lost Consciousness,' with 'Illness' also noted. The crash resulted in the death of the driver, who was the sole occupant of the moving vehicle. No pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicle occupants were injured. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the dangers that arise when a driver loses control, even momentarily, in a densely parked urban environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702402, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Gov. Hochul pushes Sammy’s Law again. She wants New York City to set its own speed limits. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a driver in Brooklyn. Advocates and Mayor Adams back the move. Last year, Albany blocked it.

On January 9, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her renewed push for legislation known as Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City control its own speed limits. The bill, named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a driver in 2013, failed in Albany last year. Hochul included the measure in her executive budget, stating, “I think it’s ridiculous that the City of New York is forced to ask the State’s permission to reduce speed limits.” Mayor Adams, advocates, and lawmakers rallied for the bill. Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother, said, “We can’t wait any longer. People like Sammy, and so many others are dying on our streets.” The bill would allow, but not require, the city to lower its speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph. In 2014, a similar change led to a 36-percent drop in pedestrian deaths.

• EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Hochul Again Seeks to Let New York City Lower its Speed Limits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-09

A Mercedes SUV struck a 61-year-old man crossing Capodanno Boulevard. Head trauma, internal bleeding, death in the cold dark. Police cite driver inattention. The street offered no crosswalk, no light, only danger and silence.

A 61-year-old man was killed while crossing Capodanno Boulevard near Lincoln Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, the man stepped into the street where there was 'no light, no crosswalk.' A northbound Mercedes SUV struck him head-on. The pedestrian suffered head trauma and internal bleeding and died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' but lists driver inattention as the primary cause. The deadly outcome unfolded on a street lacking basic pedestrian infrastructure, with driver error at its core.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693584, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

An SUV turned on 89th Avenue, its front end striking an 85-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the pavement. She died there, in the cold winter sun, her life ended by a driver’s failure to yield.

According to the police report, an 85-year-old woman was crossing 89th Avenue at an intersection, walking with the signal, when a Honda SUV made a left turn and struck her with its center front end. The report states the pedestrian suffered a fatal head injury, with blood pooling on the pavement. She died at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, underscoring the driver's responsibility in the crash. 'Glare' is also listed as a contributing factor. The victim was crossing legally, with the light, when she was hit. The SUV was driven by a licensed driver and was occupied by two people at the time. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians, even when those pedestrians are following the law.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693594, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Toyota sedan ripped down Irving Avenue, smashing into parked cars. Metal screamed. A 29-year-old man was hurled onto the street and died. Two more men, heads bloodied, lay broken beside him. The driver had no license. Night turned deadly.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan traveling east on Irving Avenue near Stockholm Street in Brooklyn crashed into a line of parked vehicles in the early morning hours. The report states, 'A Toyota sedan tore through the quiet night, slamming parked cars. A 29-year-old man was ejected and died in the street. Two others lay bleeding beside him, heads crushed.' The driver of the Toyota was unlicensed, as confirmed by the vehicle data: 'driver_license_status: Unlicensed.' Three passengers suffered severe injuries—one killed, two with major head trauma. The report does not list any contributing factors beyond the unlicensed driver. The parked vehicles were struck with enough force to cause fatal and life-altering injuries to the sedan's occupants. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s presence behind the wheel and the catastrophic results.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693583, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Mercedes, northbound on Gerritsen Avenue, struck a garbage truck mid–U-turn. The unlicensed driver, alone, died from head injuries. The streetlamp flickered above. Speed and alcohol fueled the impact. Metal twisted. The city kept moving.

A fatal crash occurred on Gerritsen Avenue near Florence Avenue in Brooklyn, involving a northbound Mercedes sedan and a garbage truck making a U-turn, according to the police report. The report states the Mercedes, driven by a 42-year-old unlicensed male, was traveling at an unsafe speed and collided with the garbage truck's right rear quarter panel. The driver was the sole occupant and was not wearing a seatbelt. Police cite 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The crash resulted in fatal head injuries to the sedan driver, who died at the scene. The garbage truck, registered in New York and operated by a licensed driver, was struck during its maneuver. The report does not list any contributing victim behavior. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error and systemic danger on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692848, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Tirana bans cars from 20 streets near schools. One million euros buys safety for kids. Play spaces, benches, and trees replace traffic. City leaders say this doubles safe corridors. They urge the world to follow. Children come first, not cars.

On January 4, 2024, Tirana announced a €1 million plan to convert 20 streets near schools into permanent 'school streets.' The project, highlighted in Streetsblog NYC, aims to double the number of car-free corridors for children. Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani and Mayor Erion Veliaj lead the effort, stressing the need to shift street space from cars to people. The official summary states: 'Streets near schools should be for kids, not cars.' Simon Battisti, an urban planner, says school streets 'improve safety where children and parents need it most.' The program adds play spaces, lighting, benches, trees, and stormwater management. Tirana’s leaders call this a legacy of safety and a model for cities worldwide, including New York.

• This Albanian City Should Inspire America to Go Big on ‘School Streets’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-04

A BMW sedan plowed into a moped on Mosholu Parkway, shattering the night. The rider, thrown and killed, lay motionless. The police report cites traffic control disregarded. The moped twisted, the street stained, danger unchecked.

A deadly collision unfolded on Mosholu Parkway near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx at 12:05 a.m. According to the police report, a BMW sedan struck a moped at the front, ejecting the 35-year-old moped rider and causing fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Traffic signal ignored.' The moped lay twisted in the dark, its rider showing no pulse. The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the BMW driver's failure to obey a traffic signal. The moped rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the police report, but these details are mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls, with the vulnerable moped rider bearing the brunt of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Lexus SUV hit a man lying on Belt Parkway. The impact was direct. He suffered a head wound, lost consciousness, and died on the cold, still road. The night was quiet. The SUV kept eastbound. The man did not survive.

A man was killed on Belt Parkway when a 2015 Lexus SUV traveling eastbound struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the man was 'lying in the roadway' at the time of the crash. He suffered a head wound, lost consciousness, and died at the scene. The report describes the night as cold and the road as still. No driver errors or contributing factors are listed for either party; both are marked as 'Unspecified.' The man was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' The police report does not cite speeding, distraction, or failure to yield. The focus remains on the fatal impact between the SUV and the vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692041, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A man, 47, crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. A Toyota hit him head-on. A Jeep struck next. His head broke the silence. He died there, between two sedans and the cold.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was killed on Woodhaven Boulevard in the early morning. The report states he was crossing outside the crosswalk when a Toyota sedan struck him head-on. A Jeep sedan hit him next. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, with no further detail on specific driver errors. The victim’s location—crossing not at an intersection and not at a signal or crosswalk—is described, but not listed as a contributing factor. The lethal impact of two sedans in rapid succession highlights the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692381, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Two cars met head-on on Cross Island Parkway. Five people died. A baby was thrown from the wreck. One driver was trapped. Glass rained. Steel folded. Speed and alcohol drove the carnage. The wreckage left no survivors.

According to the police report, a Mazda sedan and a Honda SUV collided head-on on Cross Island Parkway in the early morning. Five people were killed, including a baby who was ejected from the car. One driver was trapped in the wreck. The report states, 'Glass rained. Steel folded.' Both vehicles were demolished, with the point of impact listed as 'center front end.' The police report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for multiple victims, including the driver. No victim actions are listed as contributing factors. The data points to driver actions—specifically, driving under the influence and excessive speed—as the primary causes of this deadly crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692043, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Tesla sedan struck a newborn boy head-on on 3rd Avenue. The baby lay motionless in the street. No sound followed. The car kept straight. The city’s silence grew heavier. A life ended before it began.

A newborn boy was killed when a northbound Tesla sedan struck him head-on on 3rd Avenue. According to the police report, 'A newborn boy, not yet a day old, struck head-on by a northbound Tesla. The car kept straight. The baby lay still. No cry. No breath. Just silence in the street.' The child, a pedestrian not at an intersection, suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factors for both the driver and the crash. No driver errors were specified in the data. The Tesla sustained damage to its center front end. The tragedy unfolded in the early morning, leaving a silent street and a life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692038, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A sedan struck a man crossing the Cross Bronx Extension after midnight. The driver did not stop. The man died alone in the road. The impact crushed his body. The street stayed dark and empty.

A 36-year-old man was killed while crossing the Cross Bronx Extension just after midnight. According to the police report, a 2005 Chrysler sedan hit him head-on. The driver did not stop and left the scene. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body and died at the location. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The man was not at an intersection or crosswalk when struck. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. The crash left a man dead and a driver gone into the night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692040, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A Lexus turned left. An e-bike kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 23, flew and hit the street. Blood pooled. He died under the cold Manhattan sky. The driver disregarded traffic control. The city swallowed another cyclist.

A deadly crash unfolded at Park Avenue South and East 27th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a Lexus sedan made a left turn while an e-bike rider, 23, continued straight. The sedan struck the cyclist, ejecting him from the bike. He suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. He died at the scene. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The data shows the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691254, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Steel met flesh on Northern Boulevard. An 81-year-old man, turning left on his e-bike, collided with a flatbed truck. He was thrown, crushed, his head struck the pavement. The truck stopped. The man did not rise. Death came fast.

An 81-year-old man was killed while turning left on his e-bike on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street. According to the police report, a flatbed truck traveling straight struck the cyclist, ejecting him and causing fatal head and crush injuries. The report states: 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The truck stopped after the crash. The data lists no helmet or signaling issues for the cyclist. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when large vehicles and vulnerable road users meet and traffic controls are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690833, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20