Blood on Their Hands: Precinct 10’s Deadly Indifference

Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

Two sedans slammed together on 11th Avenue. Drivers suffered head and body injuries. Police cite following too closely and oversized vehicle as causes. Metal twisted. Shock followed.

Two sedans and an oversized vehicle crashed on 11th Avenue at West 16th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, two drivers were injured—one with head trauma, another with injuries to the entire body. Both drivers experienced shock. Police list 'Following Too Closely' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The report also notes 'Other Vehicular' errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal bent and people hurt, with driver actions at the center of the danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811272 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Three dead in two weeks. Cyclist crushed in Soho. Pedestrian killed crossing Woodhaven. Another cyclist struck by fire truck in Queens. Protected lanes grow, but streets remain perilous. City claims progress. The toll mounts. The danger persists.

amNY reported on May 4, 2025, that a surge in deadly collisions has struck New York City as spring brings more cyclists and pedestrians to the streets. On May 1, a cyclist died after hitting a van's open door and being thrown under a truck at Broome and Centre Streets. On April 25, a motorcyclist struck and killed Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard. On April 19, a fire truck responding to an emergency collided with a cyclist, who died at the scene. The article notes, 'each of which is under investigation by the NYPD.' The city’s Department of Transportation points to expanded protected bike lanes—87.5 miles added in three years—and new barriers, but the recent deaths highlight ongoing systemic risks for vulnerable road users.

• Spring Collisions Expose Street Dangers, amny, Published 2025-05-04

A van door swung open. The cyclist struck it. He fell. A truck crushed him. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The street stayed busy. The drivers waited. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (May 3, 2025), Georgios Smaragdis, 44, was killed while riding his e-bike west on Broome Street in Soho. The article states, "he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had just flung open," sending him into the path of a red delivery truck that ran him over. Both drivers remained at the scene. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy." Police have not announced charges. The crash highlights the persistent danger of dooring and the lethal consequences for cyclists when drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors. The incident underscores ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in Manhattan’s dense traffic.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Dooring in Soho, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

A man on an e-bike struck a van door on Broome Street. The door swung open. He fell into the path of a box truck. The truck ran him over. Medics tried to save him. He died at Bellevue Hospital.

NY Daily News reported on May 1, 2025, that an e-bike rider died in Manhattan after being doored by a Mercedes van and then run over by a box truck. The crash happened around 10:10 a.m. on Broome Street near Centre Street. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy. I only saw the accident." The collision forced the cyclist into the path of a red delivery truck, which then struck him. The 54-year-old truck driver stayed at the scene. Police had not determined if charges would be filed. The article highlights the lethal risk of dooring and the vulnerability of cyclists in mixed traffic. The incident underscores systemic dangers at curbside and the consequences of inattentive door opening.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Van Door Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-01

A driver turned wrong on West 14th. The car struck a man walking against traffic. His leg broke. Police cite improper turn and distraction. The street stayed open. The pain did not.

A pedestrian, age 43, was struck and injured by a vehicle making a U-turn near 351 W 14th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver turned improperly and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated lower leg. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights the danger to people on foot when drivers fail to follow basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809469 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman crossed Amsterdam Avenue. An ambulance turned left. Metal struck flesh. Bones broke. Blood spilled. She died in the hospital. The driver stayed, but charges followed. The street remains wide, busy, and dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 29, 2025, that Juan Santana, an ambulance driver, was arrested months after fatally striking Miriam Reinharth, 69, in Manhattan. Police said Santana failed to yield as Reinharth crossed Amsterdam Avenue at West 96th Street. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad found Santana turned left into her path. He was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Reinharth died from severe injuries, including a broken leg and pelvis fractures. The article notes, 'The police officer said the accident was not Miriam's fault at all.' The crash occurred on a double-wide, truck route artery, highlighting ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy intersections.

• Ambulance Driver Charged After Fatal Turn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-29

A bus and pick-up truck collided on West 33rd. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass scattered. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A bus and pick-up truck crashed on West 33rd Street near 10th Avenue in Manhattan. One driver, a 42-year-old man, was injured in the head and left in shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the collision. The report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left vehicles damaged and a driver hurt. The toll of distraction on city streets is clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan veered on 8th Avenue. E-scooter rider thrown, bruised arm, in shock. Unsafe lane change cut through the night. Metal struck flesh. Streets stayed cold.

A sedan and an e-scooter collided on 8th Avenue near West 28th Street in Manhattan. The e-scooter rider, a 40-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a shoulder contusion and shock. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was a contributing factor. The sedan was merging when it struck the e-scooter. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash left him injured. No blame is assigned to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811269 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Taxi and pickup truck crashed on West 29th. Rear passenger hurt. Improper lane use cited. Metal and glass, sudden stop, pain in the arm.

A taxi and a pickup truck collided while both were making right turns on West 29th Street at 10th Avenue in Manhattan. One rear passenger, a 62-year-old woman, suffered a shoulder injury and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was listed as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal twisted and a passenger in pain. Driver errors were noted in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist struck a 66-year-old woman crossing with the signal on 11th Avenue. She suffered arm injuries. Police cite failure to yield as the cause.

A cyclist traveling south on 11th Avenue at West 42nd Street struck a 66-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her arm. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was licensed in Florida. No other factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807357 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

E-scooter struck a woman crossing with the signal. She took the hit in her shoulder. Bruised, conscious, left in pain. Driver failed to yield. Traffic control ignored.

An e-scooter traveling south on 9th Avenue struck a 38-year-old woman crossing W 23rd Street with the signal. She suffered a shoulder contusion but remained conscious. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic control. The impact hit the pedestrian at the intersection’s center front. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The woman was injured while lawfully crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

A sedan struck a cyclist on West 34th. The cyclist, 22, suffered leg injuries. Police cite improper lane usage. The crash left the cyclist in shock. No damage to vehicles. System failed to protect.

A 22-year-old cyclist was injured when a sedan struck him at 408 W 34th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and a sedan, both traveling east. The cyclist suffered injuries to his leg and was left in shock. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No vehicle damage was reported. The report highlights driver error and a system that left a vulnerable road user hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

A 29-year-old bicyclist was violently thrown after colliding with a moped on West 28th Street near Ninth Avenue. The rider suffered a fractured, dislocated upper arm and was ejected from his bike. Driver errors included improper turning and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM on West 28th Street at Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. A bicyclist and a moped collided while traveling at speed. The bicyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm. The report identifies the primary contributing factors as "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Speed" by the drivers involved. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The moped was traveling east going straight ahead, and the bike was traveling south. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike but not on the moped. The incident highlights driver errors, specifically improper turning maneuvers and excessive speed, as central causes of the severe injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling west collided with a northbound bicyclist on West 35th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cite the sedan driver’s disregard for traffic control as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:10 on West 35th Street near 10th Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan traveling west struck a bicyclist going north. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. Additionally, the bicyclist’s confusion or error was noted but driver error was primary. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. This collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two cyclists traveling south on W 40 St collided when one followed too closely. The trailing rider partially ejected, suffering abrasions and lower leg injuries. Both bikes showed no damage, but the impact left one rider injured and conscious.

According to the police report, two bicycles traveling south on W 40 St collided in Manhattan at 17:35. The crash involved a rear-end impact where the trailing bicyclist struck the lead cyclist. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the collision. The injured bicyclist, a 27-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He remained conscious during the incident. Both bicycles showed no damage despite the impact. The trailing cyclist was unlicensed, but no other driver errors were noted. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers of close following distances among cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge Charger struck a street sweeper, spun out, and pinned an NYPD officer against his patrol car in the West Village. Both the officer and the driver landed in the hospital. The street saw chaos, metal, and speed.

NY Daily News (March 14, 2025) reports a crash at W. 13th St and Seventh Ave. A Dodge Charger, heading south, changed lanes and hit a street sweeper. The car spun several times and pinned a uniformed officer between vehicles. Surveillance footage showed the Charger 'appeared to be speeding,' according to a witness. The officer tried to escape but was struck. Both the officer and driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed. The incident highlights the dangers of lane changes and speed on city streets, raising questions about enforcement and street design.

• Officer Pinned By Spinning Dodge Charger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-14