Rockaway’s open wound: three pedestrian deaths, no margin for error

Mar 13 - A car hit a man and a child in Flushing. The man lay trapped under the vehicle. Both went to the hospital. The man’s injuries were critical. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are still investigating.

ABC7 reported on March 13, 2025, that a car struck two pedestrians at 32nd Avenue and 138th Street in Queens. Police found an adult man pinned under the vehicle and a child, aged 8 to 10, also injured. Both were hospitalized, with the man in critical condition. The article states, 'Police responded...and found an adult man pinned under a vehicle.' The driver remained at the scene, and the investigation continues. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections. No charges or details on driver actions were released at the time of reporting.

• Man And Child Struck In Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-03-13

Mar 4 - A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

Feb 27 - A firefighter ran a red. Metal struck metal. A young man died. The street echoed with sirens. Two more rode to the hospital. The city keeps count. The danger stays.

According to the New York Post (February 27, 2025), off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena drove through a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens, striking Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance video captured Pena’s Mercedes “passing a red light on Northern Boulevard and T-boning Diaz’s 2022 BMW.” Diaz, 23, died at Elmhurst Hospital. Pena faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breath test. Two passengers in Pena’s car were hospitalized. The FDNY suspended Pena for 28 days without pay. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of red-light running and impaired driving, raising questions about enforcement and accountability on city streets.

• Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 19 - A Toyota SUV turned left on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, metal striking a woman’s chest as she crossed with the signal. She fell hard, crushed and silent, the car untouched. The sea waited beyond, indifferent to blood on the street.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV made a left turn at Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 73rd Street in Queens. As the vehicle turned, it struck a 36-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'She crossed with the light. The Toyota turned left. Metal met chest. She dropped to the pavement. Crush injuries.' The pedestrian suffered severe chest injuries and fell to the ground. The SUV sustained no damage, and the report notes silence after the impact. The driver’s action—turning left while a pedestrian was lawfully in the crosswalk—created the deadly conflict. The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing With Signal,' underscoring that she had the right of way. No driver error is specified in the contributing factors, but the narrative and sequence of events center the danger of turning vehicles at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 8 - A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Feb 5 - A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Jan 30 - A sedan traveling south on Cross Bay Blvd overturned after the driver reacted to an uninvolved vehicle. The 32-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash caused serious harm despite the driver wearing a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male driver in a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling south on Cross Bay Blvd overturned the vehicle after reacting to an uninvolved vehicle. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the driver's response to external traffic conditions led to the crash. The driver was not ejected and was conscious but sustained neck injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and the crash resulted in the sedan overturning. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 22 - A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Jan 19 - An SUV traveling east on Rockaway Fwy struck an object or vehicle, injuring two child passengers. Both suffered bruises and contusions to chest and lower limbs. The driver was using a hands-free cell phone, contributing to the crash.

According to the police report, a 2012 Honda SUV driven by a licensed female driver was traveling east on Rockaway Fwy in Queens at 19:27 when it crashed. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. Two child occupants, ages 6 and 14, seated in the right rear and front passenger seats respectively, were injured with contusions and bruises to the chest and lower leg areas. Both children were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report identifies the driver’s use of a hands-free cell phone as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver distraction. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The injuries occurred inside the vehicle, with no ejections reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 17 - Two sedans collided on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens. The striking vehicle disregarded traffic control and followed too closely, hitting the stopped car from behind. Five occupants suffered whiplash and back injuries, all conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, at 12:44 PM on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens, a sedan traveling south struck another sedan stopped in traffic from behind. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the striking vehicle. The impact occurred at the center front end of the striking vehicle and the center back end of the struck vehicle. Five occupants were injured: the striking vehicle's driver and four passengers in the struck vehicle. Injuries included whiplash and back pain, with bodily injuries to the head, back, and elbow-lower-arm-hand areas. All injured parties were conscious and none were ejected. Safety equipment use varied, with some passengers wearing lap belts and harnesses. The crash highlights driver errors in traffic control compliance and maintaining safe following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 12 - Steel buckled on Cross Bay Boulevard. A Chevy SUV, driver inattentive, rammed a stopped Jeep. The Jeep’s driver, thirty-four, strapped in, crushed and stunned, hurt everywhere. The crash left pain and shock in its wake.

A 2010 Chevy SUV struck a stopped Jeep from behind near 125th on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The report states that the Chevy SUV was 'going straight ahead' when it collided with the Jeep, which was 'stopped in traffic.' The impact crumpled steel and left the 34-year-old Jeep driver with crush injuries to his entire body. He was found in shock, still strapped in his seat. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the injured Jeep driver. The collision highlights the risks posed by distracted drivers to everyone on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 9 - A 51-year-old woman suffered facial abrasions after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Beach 90 Street. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without signal. The driver’s failure to yield caused the collision.

According to the police report, at 20:38 a sedan traveling east on Beach 90 Street made a left turn and struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without signal. The pedestrian was conscious and sustained abrasions to her face. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The pedestrian’s crossing without signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 7 - A 50-year-old woman crossing without signal was struck by a sedan backing up with limited visibility. The impact caused upper leg and hip injuries, leaving her in shock and pain. The driver’s obstructed view was a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south in Queens was backing up near Beach 129th Street at 16:21 when it struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and suffered upper leg and hip injuries, resulting in shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report identifies the driver’s failure to see the pedestrian due to a "View Obstructed/Limited" contributing factor. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian’s crossing without signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by limited driver visibility during backing maneuvers in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 4 - A 38-year-old woman driving a sedan on Cross Bay Blvd suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The driver was conscious and restrained, sustaining moderate injury in a front-end collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens was involved in a crash at 18:41. The driver, a 38-year-old female occupant, was injured with back trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained center front-end damage. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver’s actions under the influence represent a critical element in the collision, underscoring the systemic danger posed by impaired driving. The report does not assign fault to any other party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789912 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 27 - Two sedans collided at Beach 116 Street in Queens. A male driver turning left suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 23:07 on Beach 116 Street in Queens. One sedan was traveling east, going straight. The other, heading west, was making a left turn. The impact struck the center front end of the eastbound car and the right front quarter panel of the westbound car. The male driver making the left turn was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite explicit driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 26 - Steel met skull on Beach 116th. A sedan reversed. A 79-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car. He fell, head torn open, blood pooling on cold Queens pavement. The car showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and alone.

A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations when a sedan reversed and struck him near Beach 116th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man 'stepped from behind a parked car.' The report states the sedan was 'backing unsafely,' directly citing this driver action as a contributing factor. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. He fell. Blood spread on the cold street.' Despite the impact, the vehicle showed 'no damage.' The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene, his 'head torn open.' The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe reversing maneuver by the driver. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed when drivers back unsafely, especially in areas with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 21 - A sedan collided head-on with a bicyclist traveling west on Newport Avenue in Queens. The 36-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided at the center front ends on Newport Avenue near Beach 121 Street in Queens at 7:40 p.m. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old male, was riding westbound and was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, classified as injury severity level 3. The cyclist was not ejected but experienced shock and complained of pain or nausea. The report notes the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan sustained other damage to its front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, providing no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights systemic dangers for vulnerable road users where driver errors remain unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - An 18-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck at an intersection on Beach 101 Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a Ford sedan making a right turn hit him, causing shock and serious injury.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Beach 101 Street and Beach Channel Drive in Queens at 8:10 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a Ford sedan making a right turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver, but the collision occurred during the vehicle's right turn maneuver. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or other violations are explicitly cited in the data. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 30 - Two sedans collided on Beach 128 St in Queens under conditions of glare and limited visibility. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved a westbound sedan striking a southbound sedan making a left turn, damaging both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:07 AM on Beach 128 St in Queens. A westbound sedan driven by a 63-year-old man was traveling straight when it collided with a southbound sedan making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the westbound vehicle and the right side doors of the southbound vehicle. The report cites 'Glare' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, indicating driver visibility issues. The male driver of the westbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, was conscious, and was wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by environmental conditions impairing driver sight and decision-making.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18