Precinct 111: Twelve Dead, The Same Roads

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 8 - A box truck struck the rear of a sedan traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway. Three sedan occupants suffered neck and head contusions. The crash caused left front bumper damage to the truck and rear damage to the sedan.

According to the police report, at 8:11 AM on the Long Island Expressway, a box truck traveling westbound collided with the center back end of a westbound sedan. The point of impact was the truck's left front bumper striking the sedan's rear. The sedan carried three occupants: a 23-year-old male driver, a 38-year-old female rear passenger, and a 55-year-old male front passenger. All three sustained contusions and bruises to the neck or head but were conscious and not ejected. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. Vehicle damage included left front bumper damage to the truck and rear-end damage to the sedan. The report does not attribute fault to the victims or note any victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 28 - A distracted driver slammed a sedan into parked cars on Francis Lewis Blvd. The sedan flipped. Four people inside were hurt. Blood, shock, broken rhythm. Night in Queens, metal twisted, lives changed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens struck parked vehicles and overturned at 9:00 PM. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. Four occupants in the sedan, including a 70-year-old man and three others aged 33 to 71, suffered injuries to their entire bodies. Some bled, all were in shock. All wore lap belts and harnesses. No contributing factors were attributed to the victims. The crash shows the brutal cost of driver distraction: a violent collision, an overturned car, and four injured people on a busy Queens street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - A firefighter, drunk and high, sped through a red light at 83 mph. He smashed into Justin Diaz’s BMW. Diaz died. The crash tore a family apart. The driver walked free on bail. The street stayed deadly.

NY Daily News reported on February 27, 2025, that off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena, 28, killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz in Queens. Prosecutors said Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and driving 83 mph in a 25 mph zone when he ran a red light and struck Diaz’s BMW. Surveillance footage showed the Mercedes 'barreled through an East Elmhurst intersection' at 4:15 a.m. Diaz, headed to work at LaGuardia, died at the scene. Pena refused a breath test; a blood draw later confirmed drug use. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to submit to testing, but posted $50,000 bail. The article highlights family grief and outrage at bail laws, quoting Diaz’s brother: 'Pena will walk the streets for a $50,000 bail... Justin will never walk the streets again.'

• Drunk Firefighter Kills Driver In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 26 - A sedan traveling south on Cross Island Parkway struck the rear of a southbound SUV. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles showed front and rear end damage.

According to the police report, at 16:55 on Cross Island Parkway in Queens, a sedan driven by a 49-year-old woman collided with the rear of a southbound SUV. The sedan's point of impact was the center front end, while the SUV sustained damage to its center back end. The sedan driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, was conscious but injured with neck pain and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, repeated twice for emphasis. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time. No other contributing factors, such as victim behavior, were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - A 43-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV made a left turn and struck him at a Queens intersection. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal. The vehicle showed no damage, highlighting the impact on the vulnerable pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing an intersection on Bell Blvd in Queens at approximately 8:30 PM. The report states the pedestrian was crossing without a signal when a 2016 Honda SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, was making a left turn. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the point of impact was noted as 'No Damage,' indicating the pedestrian absorbed the force. The report lists no specific driver contributing factors but highlights the pedestrian's crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated as moderate. The driver’s left turn maneuver and failure to yield to a pedestrian crossing the street created a hazardous situation resulting in injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794944 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 24 - A 22-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn. The driver’s inattention and failure to yield caused the collision at a Queens intersection, leaving the pedestrian conscious with abrasions.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Utopia Parkway in Queens struck a 22-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection while she was crossing with the signal. The driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as abrasions, and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle showed no damage despite striking the pedestrian with its center front end. The driver was licensed and operating a 2007 Lexus sedan. This crash highlights driver errors in yielding and attentiveness as central causes of harm to a lawful pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794706 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 23 - BMW sedan struck a 66-year-old man crossing Northern Boulevard outside a crosswalk. The impact broke his knee and lower leg. The driver went straight, hitting him with the right front bumper.

According to the police report, a 66-year-old male pedestrian was hit by a BMW sedan while crossing Northern Boulevard in Queens, not at an intersection. The man suffered a fractured and dislocated knee and lower leg. The crash happened at 18:52 as the eastbound sedan went straight and struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper, damaging the car’s right front quarter panel. The driver was licensed. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not identify any pedestrian error. The data shows the pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk, underscoring the risks for those on foot amid traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - Three people hurt in a chain-reaction crash on the Long Island Expressway. Unsafe lane change slammed vehicles. Drivers and a passenger suffered whiplash and back or neck injuries. All stayed conscious. No one was ejected.

According to the police report, a crash struck the Long Island Expressway at 5:52 a.m. Multiple vehicles, including sedans, a pickup, and a pallet truck, collided after unsafe lane changing. Three were injured: a 53-year-old woman driving, a 52-year-old man driving, and a 39-year-old woman riding as a passenger. All suffered whiplash and either back or neck injuries. Each remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe lane changing as the driver error that caused the crash. No victim actions or helmet use were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 7 - A box truck struck the rear of a slowing sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Three passengers suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. Driver inattention and following too closely caused the crash, leaving occupants conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, at 3:00 PM on the Long Island Expressway, a box truck traveling east rear-ended a sedan also heading east. The sedan was slowing or stopping when the truck impacted its center back end with the truck's center front end. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors to the collision. Three sedan occupants, all wearing lap belts, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash. The injured passengers, aged 20, 22, and 45, were conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and tailgating—as the cause of the crash. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Feb 3 - Two sedans collided head-on on 210 St in Queens. The 19-year-old male driver suffered a fractured elbow and hand injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:13 on 210 St in Queens involving two sedans traveling east and south. The 19-year-old male driver of one sedan was injured with a fractured elbow and hand dislocation, remaining conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles had front bumper damage, indicating a frontal impact. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behaviors in the report. The crash highlights driver error—specifically inattention and distraction—as the primary cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - Two SUVs collided head-to-tail on the Long Island Expressway. Driver inattention and tailgating caused the crash. A 32-year-old woman in the back seat suffered neck injuries and shock. Both vehicles moved east when impact struck.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway collided when one rear-ended the other. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The crash struck the center back end of the lead SUV and the center front end of the trailing SUV. A 32-year-old female passenger in the middle rear seat was injured, suffering neck trauma and shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed, one from New Jersey and one from New York. The crash underscores the risk of distraction and tailgating on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 16 - Three sedans collided northbound on Cross Island Parkway. The impact caused head injuries to a 22-year-old male driver, who was restrained. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor in this multi-vehicle collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:10 on Cross Island Parkway involving three sedans traveling north. The report identifies unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The impact points include the left rear bumper and quarter panel of one vehicle, the right front bumper and center front end of another, and the center back end and left rear bumper of the third. A 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining head contusions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash demonstrates the dangers of unsafe speed in multi-vehicle collisions on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 15 - A 13-year-old boy suffered neck injuries and shock when an SUV struck the rear of a bus on Grand Central Parkway. The SUV driver’s inattention and following too closely caused the crash. The boy was restrained with a lap belt and was not ejected.

According to the police report, at 3:30 pm on Grand Central Parkway, a 2019 Jeep SUV traveling west struck the right rear bumper of a 2024 bus also traveling west. The SUV driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely,' which led to the collision. The impact injured a 13-year-old male passenger in the SUV, who suffered neck injuries and was in shock. He was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt at the time. The bus had nine occupants, and the SUV had two. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and tailgating on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786020 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 15 - Two SUVs collided on the Long Island Expressway. The rear vehicle, driven by a distracted man following too closely, struck the front vehicle. A female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:50 on the Long Island Expressway involving two station wagons/SUVs traveling westbound. The rear vehicle, driven by a licensed male driver, impacted the center front end of the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle, driven by a 38-year-old licensed female driver, was struck at the center back end. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the rear driver. The female driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles had damage consistent with a rear-end collision. The crash highlights driver errors related to maintaining safe following distances and attention on a busy expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19