No One Is Safe Until the Streets Are Safe

Aug 13 - A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The car sped off. Medics rushed the victim to the hospital. He died. Police searched for footage. No arrests. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th St. at South Conduit Ave. near JFK Airport around 2:30 a.m. The driver hit the man and fled. Police said, "The driver sped off without stopping. No arrests have been made." Officers searched for surveillance footage to identify the vehicle. The article notes 68 pedestrians have died in city crashes this year. The hit-and-run highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the challenge of holding drivers accountable.

• Queens Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 12 - A Lexus sedan turned left on Mott and hit a woman in the crosswalk at Beach 20th. She stayed conscious, clutching her bruised arm. The car showed no damage. The street showed the truth: a person hurt at an intersection.

A 2021 Lexus sedan, driven by a licensed woman, was making a left turn from Mott Ave at Beach 20 St in Queens when it struck a 38-year-old woman in the intersection. The pedestrian suffered a bruised arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as “Unspecified” for all parties. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, and the car showed no damage. The driver was turning left, a high-risk maneuver for people on foot at intersections. No driver errors were recorded beyond the unspecified factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 12 - A car tore through an Astoria intersection. It struck a food truck. Two men died on the sidewalk. The driver died too. Metal, flesh, coffee, blood. The street swallowed them. It happened fast. No one stood a chance.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-12), an 84-year-old driver sped through 42nd Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, crashing into a food truck and killing two customers and himself. Surveillance showed the car "going about 60 miles an hour" before impact. The article quotes a witness: "Someone screamed really loudly, and I just had stepped back, like right up to the sidewalk." The force severed a victim's foot. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose control at high speed in pedestrian zones. No charges were filed; the driver died at the scene.

• Speeding Car Slams Food Truck, Kills Two, New York Post, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A car thief fled cops, leaping into the Atlantic. Officers dove in, fought him in the water, and dragged him to shore. The chase began with a stolen sedan, ended in cold surf, cuffs snapping shut.

NY Daily News (2025-08-11) reports a car thief jumped into the Atlantic off Far Rockaway after police caught him with a stolen Honda. The suspect, Matthew Swafford, used a stolen North Carolina plate. Officers pursued him into the water, as shown in NYPD video. Detective Demerest called, 'Take my belt!' before diving in. Swafford was charged with possession of stolen property and other offenses. The incident highlights risks when suspects flee in stolen vehicles, raising questions about pursuit protocols and the dangers posed by car theft in dense urban areas.

• Car Thief Jumps Far Rockaway Dock, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 4 - A left-turning SUV hit the right side of a southbound SUV on Rockaway Freeway. Four people were injured. Drivers and front passengers suffered head trauma, a fractured arm, concussions, and bleeding amid night sirens.

According to the police report ... two Ford SUVs collided on Rockaway Freeway at Seagirt Boulevard. One vehicle was making a left turn northbound; the other was going straight southbound. Four occupants were injured: both drivers and both front passengers. Reported injuries included head trauma, a concussion, a fractured arm, and bleeding. The southbound SUV shows left-front bumper damage; the left-turning SUV shows right-side door damage. The police report lists all contributing factors as "Unspecified." No driver errors were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832910 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 3 - A driver struck an e-bike rider in Queens. A scooter rider crashed in Brooklyn. Both died. Streets claimed them. Police investigate. Lives ended fast. Metal and speed left no room for error.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports two fatal e-vehicle crashes. On July 31, a 62-year-old Nissan Rogue driver hit Zhao Feng Zhen, 55, on Hollis Court Blvd in Queens. The driver remained at the scene; police continue to investigate. On July 12, Eusebio Quinones, 60, lost control of his electric scooter on Union Ave in Brooklyn and died from his injuries days later. The article notes, 'police are still investigating the crash.' These deaths highlight ongoing risks for vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 28 - SUV driver turned left on Brookhaven Ave at Beach 20 St and hit a northbound cyclist. The rider, 18, suffered a head injury. Police recorded driver inattention.

In Queens, the driver of an SUV making a left turn on Brookhaven Ave at Beach 20 St hit a northbound cyclist who was making a right turn. The cyclist, 18, sustained a head injury and reported a bruise. He was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. Impact points were the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s front end. No other injuries were specified for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 27 - A driver in a sedan turned left and hit a 64-year-old woman at Beach 54 Street and Beach Channel Drive in Queens. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. She suffered knee, lower leg, and foot injuries and was in shock.

A driver in a sedan made a left turn at Beach 54 Street and Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The driver hit a 64-year-old woman in the intersection. "According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way." Police recorded "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor. The left front bumper was the point of impact. The woman suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock at the scene. The driver was licensed and had no reported injuries. Another occupant was also uninjured. No other causes were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - A sedan making a right turn hit two pedestrians crossing with the signal on Seagirt Ave. A 34-year-old man was injured. A 6-year-old girl and two car occupants were also involved.

A sedan traveling south on Seagirt Ave made a right turn and struck two pedestrians, a 34-year-old man and a 6-year-old girl, who were crossing at the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the man suffered an elbow and arm injury with abrasions. The girl’s injuries were unspecified. Two occupants in the sedan, including the driver, were also listed but not reported as injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield are noted in the data. Both pedestrians were crossing with the signal at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - Two SUVs crashed on Beach Channel Drive. A driver and passenger suffered back injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and glass. No pedestrians. No escape.

Two SUVs collided on Beach Channel Drive at Dix Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when the crash occurred. A 28-year-old male driver and a 30-year-old female passenger were injured, both suffering whiplash and back injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other contributing factors, such as helmet or signal use, are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827301 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 4 - Two SUVs crashed at Rockaway Freeway and Cornaga Avenue. One driver and one passenger suffered injuries. Both vehicles failed to yield. Metal struck metal. The system failed the people inside.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at Rockaway Freeway and Cornaga Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles failed to yield the right-of-way. A 44-year-old female driver suffered a head injury and whiplash. A 37-year-old female passenger sustained a back injury. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling east; one was making a left turn, the other going straight. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No other factors are cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jun 30 - Two sedans collided on Beach 54th Street. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. One driver suffered leg injuries. Shock and pain followed. The street stayed silent. Metal and bodies bore the cost.

Two sedans crashed at Beach 54th Street in Queens just before midnight. According to the police report, aggressive driving and road rage led to the collision. One driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was in shock. Three other occupants, including a 55-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, were listed with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles showed damage to the left side and front bumper. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the main contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 29 - Two cars met hard on Mott Avenue. One driver hurt, back injured. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Streets stay dangerous.

A collision between a sedan and an SUV on Mott Avenue in Queens left one driver, a 62-year-old woman, injured with back pain. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The SUV was heading straight, while the sedan was starting from parking. The impact struck the right side of the SUV and the left front of the sedan. Police list unsafe speed as a contributing factor for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825688 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 18 - Two SUVs collided on Nameoke Avenue. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite illness as a factor. Metal struck metal. The street bore the mark.

Two SUVs crashed at 22-08 Nameoke Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a 47-year-old driver suffered a head contusion. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor. One SUV was stopped in traffic, the other was moving straight ahead. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors before listing safety equipment. No further injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 13 - A Chevy Tahoe struck a 74-year-old man crossing Northern Blvd. Hours later, a BMW hit a moped rider turning in Brooklyn. Both victims died. Both drivers stayed. No charges. The Tahoe had a record of violations. The city streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (June 13, 2025) reports two fatal crashes in New York City within 24 hours. Eric Wexler, 74, was hit by a 2017 Chevy Tahoe while crossing Northern Blvd. in Queens. Police said the Tahoe had 'six speeding and one red light violation,' though it was unclear who drove during those incidents. The driver stayed at the scene; no charges were filed. Less than a day later, Rino El-Saieh, 42, was killed when a 17-year-old BMW driver struck his moped during a left turn in Brooklyn. The BMW then crashed into parked cars. The teen also remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. Both crashes highlight persistent dangers for pedestrians and riders, and raise questions about enforcement and vehicle histories.

• Two Killed In Separate NYC Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-13