No More Casualties: Demand Action on Streets Built for Death

May 29 - A taxi struck a man crossing at West 42nd and 12th Avenue. The pedestrian suffered a head injury. The driver was unlicensed. Passengers in the taxi were unharmed. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A taxi making a left turn at West 42nd Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan struck a 48-year-old man who was crossing at the intersection. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and was listed as conscious, with a contusion. The driver of the taxi was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported among the taxi's passengers. The police report lists no specific contributing factors for the crash. The only traffic violation documented is the driver's unlicensed status. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816946 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 29 - A cyclist hit a woman crossing with the signal on 10th Avenue at West 41st Street. She suffered a bruised shoulder and was semiconscious. Police cited improper passing or lane usage. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed busy. Danger lingered.

A crash occurred at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West 41st Street in Manhattan. A 54-year-old woman, crossing with the signal, was struck by a cyclist. According to the police report, she suffered a contusion to her upper arm and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s bike had no reported damage. No other injuries were specified. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the risks pedestrians face even when following traffic signals, especially when drivers or cyclists fail to use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816954 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 27 - A judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

May 23 - A truck slammed into two sedans stopped in traffic on West 30th Street. One driver suffered a head injury. The crash left metal twisted and nerves frayed. Following too closely turned a line of cars into a scene of pain.

A crash unfolded on West 30th Street at 12th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling north struck two sedans that were stopped in traffic. One driver, a 43-year-old man, suffered a head injury and was in shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The truck's right front bumper hit the rear bumpers of both sedans. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors. The data shows the truck driver failed to maintain safe distance, leading to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21

May 20 - Two bikes crashed head-on. One rider, age 59, suffered leg abrasions. Police cite traffic control ignored. Both wore helmets. The street saw blood and confusion.

Two bicyclists collided head-on at 220 W 26th Street in Manhattan. One cyclist, a 59-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions to her leg. The other, age 35, was not reported injured. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Other Vehicular' factors and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' Both riders were wearing helmets, as noted in the report. The collision left one cyclist partially ejected and hurt. The data points to ignored traffic control as a key factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 14 - A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 13 - Police now hand out criminal summonses to cyclists for traffic violations. Fines become court dates. Advocates warn of escalation. Lawmakers push for e-bike registration after a fatal crash. Streets grow tense. Riders and pedestrians caught in the crossfire.

West Side Spirit reported on May 13, 2025, that NYPD has begun issuing criminal summonses, not just traffic tickets, to cyclists and e-bike riders for violations like running red lights or riding on sidewalks. The change means accused riders must appear in criminal court, not just pay a fine. The move follows the death of Priscilla Loke, struck by an e-bike in 2023. Advocates like Transportation Alternatives call the new policy 'a dangerous escalation.' The NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance urges lawmakers to require license plates for e-bikes and scooters. The article notes, 'Under the new policy, a person issued a criminal summons must turn up in person in criminal court.' The shift highlights growing tension over enforcement and the push for stricter regulation after high-profile crashes.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses To Cyclists, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-13

May 10 - A cyclist struck a man crossing 11th Avenue. The rider hit headfirst, left unconscious, bones broken. The pedestrian was hurt. The crash left the bike undamaged. Both lives changed in a moment.

A cyclist traveling south on 11th Avenue collided with a male pedestrian who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a head injury and lost consciousness, with fractures and dislocation. The pedestrian was also injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the lack of specified driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 8 - A taxi hit a cyclist at West 23rd and Ninth. The cyclist was thrown, injured in the head, left in shock. The crash left the cab’s front end damaged. Police cite confusion as a factor.

A taxi and a cyclist collided at West 23rd Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. The 31-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury, leaving him in shock. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. The taxi’s right front bumper struck the cyclist, damaging the cab’s center front end. No other injuries were specified. The report does not list any driver errors or mention helmet use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 7 - 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

May 6 - 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 2025-09-18

May 3 - 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

Apr 29 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 23 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 23 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 23 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 19 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 15 - 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 2025-09-18

Apr 12 - 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