Fifth Avenue: Blood on the Asphalt, Lies in the Press Release

A 12-year-old boy riding a bike was injured when a sedan traveling east struck him on West 52 Street in Manhattan. The collision impacted the bike’s front center and the sedan’s left side doors. The boy suffered abrasions to his lower arm.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2014 Toyota sedan on West 52 Street near Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan around 12:54 a.m. The sedan was traveling east, and the bike was traveling south. The point of impact was the bike’s center front end and the sedan’s left front quarter panel and side doors. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify any driver errors or victim behaviors. The driver of the sedan was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The crash highlights the danger of vehicle-bike interactions in Manhattan’s busy streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734738, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 29-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured with a shoulder contusion after colliding with an SUV making a right turn on West 51 Street. The SUV showed no damage. The bicyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:15 on West 51 Street in Manhattan. The SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a right turn southwest when it collided with a bicyclist traveling straight ahead southbound. The bicyclist, a 29-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained an upper arm and shoulder contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The SUV sustained no damage and had no occupants other than the driver. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors explicitly. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. The impact point was noted as 'Other' on the bike, indicating a collision location not on the vehicle's front or side. No pedestrian or victim fault is indicated in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733712, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 80-year-old man crossing Park Avenue with the light was struck head-on by a northbound Citi Bike. Blood pooled on the pavement. The rider did not yield. The man lay semiconscious, bleeding from the head. The bike showed no damage.

According to the police report, an 80-year-old pedestrian was crossing Park Avenue at the intersection, moving with the signal, when he was struck head-on by a northbound Citi Bike e-bike at 10:50 a.m. The report states the pedestrian was left semiconscious and bleeding from the head, with severe injuries. The Citi Bike rider failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic control, as cited in both the narrative and the contributing factors. The report notes the bike bore no damage after the collision. The pedestrian’s action—crossing with the signal—is listed in the report, but only after the rider’s failure to yield and disregard for traffic controls. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers or riders ignore basic right-of-way rules on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729504, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-bike traveling north on Avenue of the Americas struck a 58-year-old female pedestrian crossing West 51 Street with the signal. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was injured. The crash involved improper lane usage by the e-bike operator.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at the intersection of West 51 Street and Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan at 5:30 p.m. A 58-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by an e-bike traveling north. The report identifies "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating driver error on the part of the e-bike operator. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike, which sustained damage in the same area. The pedestrian suffered a head injury classified as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian's behavior. The collision highlights the dangers posed by improper lane usage by e-bike riders in busy Manhattan intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729497, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi’s left front bumper crushed near Park Avenue. A 52-year-old woman in the rear seat bled from a head wound. The lap belt restrained her, but shattered glass caused injury. She remained conscious amid the blood-slicked seat.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on East 47th Street near Park Avenue sustained damage to its left front bumper. The collision caused the front left quarter panel to crumple. A 52-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear suffered head injuries, bleeding heavily inside the vehicle. The report states, 'The lap belt held her. The glass did not. She stayed conscious. The seat was slick with her blood.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited; contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The incident highlights the systemic danger of rear seat injuries even when occupants are restrained. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729848, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 41-year-old man suffered a hip and upper leg abrasion after a sedan struck him on West 57 Street in Manhattan. The driver passed too closely, hitting the pedestrian outside the roadway near a parked SUV. The impact caused moderate injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:05 on West 57 Street near 9 Avenue in Manhattan. A 41-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a sedan traveling eastbound struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian was located outside the roadway, not at an intersection, and suffered abrasions and injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report identifies the driver's error as "Passing Too Closely," indicating the vehicle did not maintain a safe distance from the pedestrian. The sedan was moving straight ahead at the time of impact. A parked SUV was nearby, but the pedestrian was not in the roadway. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728239, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 27-year-old man suffered full-body bruising after an SUV hit him at an intersection on West 53rd. The driver’s inattention caused the collision. The pedestrian was conscious but injured, highlighting the dangers of distracted driving in the city.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2021 Ford SUV traveling eastbound on West 53rd Street at 8:00 PM. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian, located at the intersection, suffered contusions and bruises over his entire body and remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor to the crash, repeated twice, indicating the driver’s failure to maintain focus led directly to the collision. The vehicle showed no damage, suggesting a low-speed impact. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were noted as contributing factors. This incident underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable pedestrians in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729169, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 58-year-old woman suffered a concussion and head injury after a bike rider distracted by inattention struck her at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred, leaving her injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 58-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of East 48 Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan around 5 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a bike. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the bike rider failed to maintain attention. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and concussion but remained conscious. The bike rider was traveling straight ahead at the time. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted vehicle operators to vulnerable road users at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736208, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 35-year-old male bicyclist suffered abrasions and arm injuries after a collision with a Chevrolet SUV traveling east on West 50th Street in Manhattan. The SUV struck the bike on its right side doors, causing shock and injury to the cyclist.

According to the police report, a Chevrolet SUV and a bicycle, both traveling east on West 50th Street near Avenue of the Americas, collided at 15:42. The SUV impacted the bike on its right side doors, while the bike sustained damage to its center front end. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old male, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was not ejected from his vehicle. The report does not list specific contributing factors or driver errors for the SUV, nor does it cite any contributing factors for the bicyclist. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. The collision caused the bicyclist to go into shock. The data highlights the danger posed by side impacts from larger vehicles to vulnerable bicyclists in Manhattan traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728536, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 53-year-old woman suffered a head injury after being hit by a bicycle traveling east on West 55 Street. The pedestrian was crossing outside an intersection in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The crash caused a concussion and serious injury.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old female pedestrian was injured after a collision with a bicycle traveling eastbound on West 55 Street in Manhattan at 3:00 PM. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk but not at an intersection and without a crossing signal. The report cites "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. The bicycle was going straight ahead and struck the pedestrian at the center front end, sustaining no damage. The pedestrian suffered a head injury resulting in a concussion and was conscious at the scene. No driver errors such as failure to yield were explicitly noted in the data. The focus remains on the pedestrian's crossing behavior as a contributing factor, with no mention of helmet use or other victim factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727436, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs traveling east collided on West 44th Street in Manhattan. The impact struck the left front quarter panel of one vehicle and the right side doors of the other. A front passenger suffered knee and lower leg injuries, bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles were traveling eastbound on West 44th Street in Manhattan when they collided. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of a 2022 Porsche SUV and the right side doors of a 2011 Nissan SUV. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The collision injured a 34-year-old male front passenger in one of the vehicles, who sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The passenger was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726845, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Pre-dawn on 8th Avenue, a Ford SUV plowed into a parked tractor-trailer. Metal shrieked. Four inside, belted, left bloodied and broken. The truck’s rear split open. Shock and pain filled the silence. Unsafe speed and failure to yield ruled the scene.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling north on 8th Avenue collided with the rear of a parked tractor-trailer, tearing open the truck’s rear and crushing the SUV’s front. The crash occurred in the pre-dawn hours, shattering the quiet with metal and glass. All four occupants of the SUV—aged 23 to 36—suffered serious injuries, including head trauma and crush injuries, and were left in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the SUV occupants, with the driver specifically cited for failing to yield. The tractor-trailer was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The front folded. Metal screamed. Four inside: arms broken, heads bloodied, bodies crushed.' The data points to driver error and systemic danger as the root causes of this early-morning disaster.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722823, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 21-year-old man was injured crossing West 55 Street against the signal. The sedan struck him with its left front bumper. The victim suffered neck abrasions but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and traveling northeast, with no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 55 Street and 10 Avenue in Manhattan at 8:44 PM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a 2015 Honda sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling northeast and going straight ahead, struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a neck abrasion and was conscious after the collision. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists no contributing factors for the driver but notes the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal. This driver error—failure to yield to crossing pedestrians—was central to the crash. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730176, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 18-year-old pedestrian was struck and ejected near West 58 Street in Manhattan. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The victim suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries, highlighting critical driver errors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:58 near West 58 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian, an 18-year-old female, was injured and ejected from the point of impact at the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle was traveling east, going straight ahead, and sustained no damage. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and was involved in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The victim suffered abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report explicitly identifies driver errors, including failure to yield and distraction, as the cause of the collision. No victim fault or behavior is noted as contributing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724425, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bicyclist suffered shoulder abrasions after an SUV backed unsafely near Central Park South. The collision caused injury without vehicle damage. Police reports highlight driver error as the primary cause, with no fault attributed to the cyclist.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:50 near 160 Central Park South in Manhattan. A 36-year-old male bicyclist traveling east was injured when a 2019 Toyota SUV, traveling west, backed unsafely and struck him. The bicyclist sustained abrasions and upper arm shoulder injuries but was not ejected and remained conscious. The SUV's left front quarter panel made contact with the cyclist, though no vehicle damage was reported. The report explicitly cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, identifying driver error as the cause. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The incident underscores the dangers posed by unsafe vehicle maneuvers in shared traffic spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721362, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi traveling west on West 53rd Street collided with a 19-year-old male bicyclist making a right turn. The bicyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The taxi showed no damage, highlighting the vulnerability of the cyclist in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:10 on West 53rd Street near 5 Avenue in Manhattan. A 19-year-old male bicyclist was making a right turn when a taxi traveling straight west struck him with its right front bumper. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm and was conscious after the collision. The taxi driver was going straight ahead, and the bike rider was the only occupant on his vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the bicyclist or note any safety equipment use. The taxi sustained no damage, underscoring the disproportionate risk to the vulnerable bicyclist in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721122, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 17-year-old e-scooter driver suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm after a collision caused by passing too closely. The crash occurred in Manhattan on West 57th Street, highlighting dangers of risky passing maneuvers in dense traffic.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash on West 57th Street in Manhattan at 8:27 AM. The driver, operating a Kaabo e-scooter, was traveling west and was involved in a collision with the center front end of his vehicle damaged. The report cites 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The incident underscores the risks posed by close passing maneuvers in urban environments. No victim behavior was listed as a contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 36-year-old man suffered back injuries and shock after a Tesla sedan struck him at the intersection of West 53rd Street and Broadway. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle, traveling southwest, hit him on the left rear bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:41 on West 53rd Street near Broadway in Manhattan. A 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2023 Tesla sedan, driven by a licensed male driver traveling southwest and going straight ahead, struck him with the vehicle's left rear bumper. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, which the report lists as a contributing factor under 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The pedestrian sustained back injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The focus remains on the pedestrian crossing against the signal as a factor in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720028, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus traveling west collided with a parked SUV on West 55th Street in Manhattan. The SUV driver, a 52-year-old woman, was in shock but not ejected. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ quarter panels. Passing too closely was cited.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on West 55th Street in Manhattan struck a parked 2020 Nissan SUV on its left rear quarter panel. The SUV was stationary at the time of impact. The bus sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The sole occupant of the SUV, a 52-year-old female driver, was not ejected but experienced shock. The report identifies 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the collision. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were specified. The incident highlights the dangers posed by vehicles passing too close to parked cars, leading to collisions that can cause injury and vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720718, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 24-year-old man was injured crossing against the signal at a Manhattan intersection. The SUV struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a fractured, dislocated face but remained conscious. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 49 Street and 7 Avenue in Manhattan at 8:09 AM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when he was struck by a southbound 2022 Lincoln SUV. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated face but remained conscious. The report notes no damage to the vehicle. While the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is documented, no driver contributing factors were specified. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. This incident highlights the collision impact and injury severity resulting from the pedestrian's crossing behavior and the vehicle's involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719881, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15