Five Dead in Queens: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

A speeding Mercedes tore through a red light in Queens. The driver, off-duty FDNY, struck a BMW. The crash ripped off the roof. The 23-year-old inside died. The firefighter stayed at the scene, reeking of alcohol, unsteady, charged with manslaughter.

ABC7 reported on February 28, 2025, that off-duty firefighter Michael Pena was arraigned after a fatal crash in East Elmhurst, Queens. Prosecutors say Pena drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and t-boned a BMW, killing 23-year-old Justin Diaz. The article quotes DA Melinda Katz: "An FDNY firefighter who was off duty is accused of driving under the influence, running a steady red light and slamming into a 23-year-old motorist, killing him, as he drove more than three times the posted speed limit." Pena's blood alcohol content was .156 percent, and he allegedly had drugs in his system. The BMW was sent flying into a parked car, its roof torn off. Pena faces manslaughter and related charges. The case highlights the lethal risk of extreme speeding and impaired driving on city streets.

• Firefighter Charged After Deadly Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-02-28

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

A Mercedes ran a red on Northern Boulevard. It hit a BMW. The BMW’s roof tore off. The driver, Justin Diaz, died. The Mercedes driver, off-duty FDNY, was arrested. Friends mourned by candles. The street stayed empty. Speed ruled the night.

ABC7 reported on February 26, 2025, that a fatal crash in East Elmhurst left one driver dead and another in custody. The article states, "It appears the driver of the Mercedes blew a red light and t-boned the BMW at a high rate of speed." The BMW’s driver, Justin Diaz, was killed. The Mercedes driver, an off-duty firefighter, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breathalyzer. The FDNY suspended him without pay. Witnesses noted frequent speeding on the boulevard at night. The crash highlights the persistent risks of high-speed driving and lax overnight enforcement on city streets.

• Red Light Run Kills Ramp Worker, ABC7, Published 2025-02-26

An 88-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a left turn in Queens. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, causing the collision at an intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:38 on Ingram Street near Yellowstone Boulevard in Queens. A 2010 Toyota sedan, traveling west and making a left turn, struck an 88-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan's point of impact was the center front end, and despite the collision, the vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights driver errors in yielding and attentiveness as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Two sedans collided at the intersection of 102 St and 62 Rd in Queens. A 49-year-old female driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The crash caused shock and injury but no ejections were reported.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north and west respectively collided on 102 St near 62 Rd in Queens at 4:00 PM. The female driver of the northbound Jeep sedan was injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the Jeep and the center front end of the westbound Subaru sedan. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Two SUVs collided on 63 Drive in Queens. The left front bumper of one struck the right side doors of the other. A 59-year-old front passenger suffered neck injuries and shock. Unsafe lane changing and driver fatigue were cited as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 63 Drive in Queens at 20:53. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling south collided, with the left front bumper of one vehicle impacting the right side doors of the other. The front passenger, a 59-year-old woman, was injured, sustaining neck pain and shock. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report identifies 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The driver of the striking vehicle held a permit and was female, while the other driver was licensed and male. The collision and resulting injuries highlight the dangers of unsafe lane changes and driver fatigue in multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A 61-year-old woman suffered back injuries and shock after an SUV struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver failed to yield and was distracted, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The vehicle showed no damage on impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling southeast on 62 Drive in Queens was making a left turn at 16:56 when it struck a 61-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and was in shock but had no visible complaints. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, yet no vehicle damage was recorded. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian was not at fault; the collision resulted from the driver's failure to yield and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789575 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two vehicles making right turns collided on Eliot Avenue in Queens. The sedan driver suffered a back injury and shock. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as key factors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front bumpers.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Eliot Avenue near Queens Boulevard involving a 2017 sedan and a box truck, both traveling northeast and making right turns. The sedan driver, a 28-year-old male, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front bumpers, indicating impact at those points. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and held a valid Florida license, while the truck driver was licensed in New York. The report explicitly cites driver errors, particularly inattention and distraction, without attributing fault to any other party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A sedan backing up collided with a parked sedan on 108th Street in Queens. The driver of the parked vehicle suffered a head contusion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Driver distraction and other vehicular factors contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:28 on 108th Street in Queens. A 2006 Ford sedan was backing up when it struck a parked 2014 Chevrolet sedan. The point of impact was the center back end on both vehicles. The driver of the parked vehicle, a 30-year-old female, was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating driver error on the part of the backing vehicle. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights risks associated with vehicle backing maneuvers and driver distraction in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan lost grip on slick G.C.P. curve. Car flipped. Two passengers, belted in, suffered head and face injuries. No ejections. Pavement conditions turned routine ride into trauma.

According to the police report, a 2001 Acura sedan traveling west on G.C.P. / JEWEL (CDR) overturned after losing control on slippery pavement. The right front quarter panel struck the ground, flipping the car. Two male passengers were injured: a 24-year-old in the front seat suffered facial contusions, and a 32-year-old in the rear seat sustained a concussion. Both were conscious, belted, and not ejected. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as the sole contributing factor. No driver violations or passenger actions contributed to the crash. The crash highlights the danger of hazardous road conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-to-tail on the Long Island Expressway. The rear passenger suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. Driver inattention and unsafe speed caused the crash, highlighting dangers from distracted driving on busy highways.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway collided at 4:54 a.m. The rear vehicle struck the front vehicle's center back end, causing damage to both cars. The right rear passenger of the front sedan, a 48-year-old woman, sustained a head contusion but was conscious and not ejected. She was secured by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention/distraction and unsafe speed as contributing factors, indicating the rear driver failed to maintain safe control and distance. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This crash underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving and excessive speed on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 36-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV made a right turn and hit him at an intersection. The driver failed to yield and was distracted, causing a violent impact to the pedestrian’s lower body.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:14 on Queens Boulevard near Union Turnpike. A 36-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2020 Honda SUV made a right turn and struck him with the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. The SUV’s right front bumper was damaged in the collision. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were noted beyond crossing with the signal. The incident underscores the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 27-year-old woman suffered abrasions and arm injuries after a sedan struck her while she crossed a marked crosswalk on Saunders Street in Queens. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:24 on Saunders Street in Queens. A 27-year-old female pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal when she was struck by a northbound sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, resulting in a severity level 3 injury and emotional shock. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas with marked pedestrian crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779657 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan plows into moped from behind on Queens Blvd. Moped driver ejected, suffers neck injury. Police cite driver inattention and tailgating. Night crash, both vehicles eastbound.

According to the police report, a sedan rear-ended a moped on Queens Blvd near 76 Rd in Queens at 10:31 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound. The sedan's center front end struck the moped's center back end. The moped driver was ejected and suffered a neck injury, classified as moderate. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan driver was not using any safety equipment. The moped driver was unlicensed, but no other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The crash underscores driver errors in attention and following distance on a busy Queens corridor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780901 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 55-year-old woman suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a right turn. The vehicle's right front bumper hit her at a marked crosswalk. Driver inattention and failure to yield caused the collision.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 110 Street and 67 Road in Queens at 9:00 PM. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2024 SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling south and making a right turn, struck her with the vehicle's center front end. The impact caused contusions and injuries to the pedestrian's abdomen and pelvis. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The collision highlights driver errors in yielding and attentiveness at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779638 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 30-year-old woman was struck while crossing at an intersection in Queens. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The sedan involved showed no damage, and no driver errors were cited in the report.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 71 Ave and Queens Blvd in Queens at 7:00 AM. She was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The vehicle involved was a 2005 Toyota sedan traveling south, going straight ahead. The report notes no vehicle damage or point of impact damage, and no contributing driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were listed. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was recorded, but no contributing factors were assigned to either party. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not attribute fault to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04