Three Dead on the Upper West Side. Who’s Next?

A 13-year-old boy on a bike took a hit to the head on Broadway. An SUV driver blew past traffic control. The boy was left bruised. The street stayed loud. The system failed to protect the young rider.

A crash on West 78th Street at Broadway in Manhattan left a 13-year-old bicyclist injured. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV disregarded traffic control and struck the cyclist, who suffered a head injury and was partially ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. Several vehicle occupants were involved but did not report injuries. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to young cyclists when drivers ignore signals and rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818232, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs collided on West 77th. Metal slammed metal. One driver, a man, died. Three others, including another driver and two passengers, were hurt. Police cited driver inattention. The street stayed quiet after the crash. The danger was clear.

A deadly crash unfolded at 152 West 77th Street in Manhattan. Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided. According to the police report, four people were involved. One driver, a 79-year-old man, was killed. Three others, including a 62-year-old woman driver and two passengers aged 62 and 79, suffered unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were parked before the crash, and both sustained damage to the right side doors. The police report makes no mention of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus, as documented by the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817015, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two e-bike riders collided at Riverside Blvd and West 62nd. One cyclist suffered a shoulder injury. Both wore helmets. Police cite driver inattention and distraction. The crash left bruises and confusion on the pavement.

Two e-bike riders crashed at Riverside Blvd and West 62nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, one cyclist, age 22, was injured with a shoulder contusion. Both riders were male and wore helmets. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both cyclists. One rider was unlicensed. The crash involved one e-bike making a right turn and another going straight. Police also noted 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. The impact was at the center front end of both bikes. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817014, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

A taxi hit an e-scooter rider at night on Broadway. The rider, a 25-year-old man, was ejected and injured in the leg. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The crash left pain and questions behind.

A taxi collided with an e-scooter at 1930 Broadway in Manhattan. The crash happened late at night. The e-scooter rider, a 25-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a knee and lower leg injury. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The taxi was changing lanes when the impact occurred. The police report does not list any errors by the e-scooter rider. Helmet use is mentioned only as a note, not as a factor in the crash. The incident highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813675, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

A van hit a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal at Broadway and West 79th. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. The van’s front end struck her. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed busy. Danger lingered.

A Ford van traveling east on West 79th Street struck a 74-year-old woman as she crossed Broadway with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a contusion to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was not injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The report states the van’s center front end hit the pedestrian at the intersection. No other injuries were reported. The pedestrian was following the signal when she was struck. The data does not mention any helmet or signaling issues for the pedestrian. The crash highlights the ongoing danger for people crossing Manhattan’s wide, busy streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809377, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 74-year-old man rides east on West 70th. He wears a helmet. Illness seizes him. His bike hits a parked bus. The impact crushes his chest. He dies there, in the afternoon, beneath the city’s hard light.

A 74-year-old cyclist was killed on West 70th Street at West End Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred in the afternoon as the man rode his bike eastbound, helmet strapped on. The police report states, 'Illness takes him. The bus is parked. The bike strikes metal. Chest injury. The man dies there, in the afternoon light.' The bus, a 2016 IC CORP, was parked at the time of the collision and sustained no damage. The report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor, with no driver errors or moving vehicle violations cited. The cyclist's helmet use is noted in the report, but only after the sequence of events leading to his fatal chest injury. No evidence of driver error or systemic road design failure is cited in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807979, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist pedaled west on W 83rd Street when an SUV’s door swung open. Metal struck flesh. The rider, a 30-year-old woman, crashed hard and suffered a concussion. Sirens echoed as she lay conscious, clutching her head on the pavement.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on W 83rd Street at West End Avenue involving a westbound cyclist and a parked SUV. The SUV’s left side doors were the point of impact. The cyclist, a 30-year-old woman, was injured and diagnosed with a concussion after striking her head. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, are mentioned in the data. The incident highlights the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers or passengers fail to check for approaching bikes before opening vehicle doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809152, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford SUV moved east on West 86th. A man crossed Broadway. The front of the vehicle hit him. His body broke beneath the wheels. The street was quiet. The man, age 57, died at the scene. The driver remained unharmed.

A fatal collision unfolded at West 86th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 2012 Ford SUV traveling east struck a 57-year-old man as he crossed the intersection. The narrative states, 'The SUV moved east. A man, 57, crossed against the signal. The front of the Ford struck him. His body broke beneath the wheels.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but does not cite any specific driver errors or violations. The driver, a woman licensed in New York, wore her seatbelt and was uninjured. The quiet street and lack of additional contributing factors highlight the stark impact of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807749, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi making a left turn on Amsterdam Avenue hit a 33-year-old man at the intersection with West 75th Street. The impact left the pedestrian conscious but with a bruised lower leg. Sirens echoed as the streetlights glared overhead.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on Amsterdam Avenue struck a 33-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with West 75th Street. The pedestrian was injured, sustaining a contusion to his lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to execute a safe turn. No vehicle damage was reported. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805806, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 50-year-old man crossing Broadway at West 77th Street was hit and injured. Sirens echoed as he lay bruised, shocked, and hurt across his entire body. The intersection filled with flashing lights and hurried voices. Blood marked the crosswalk.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was struck while crossing Broadway at West 77th Street in Manhattan. The 50-year-old man, who was crossing with the signal at the intersection, suffered contusions and injuries to his entire body, and was reported in shock. The report does not specify the type of vehicle involved or any contributing driver errors. No information is provided about vehicle actions, driver behavior, or helmet and signal use. The incident highlights the vulnerability of people crossing with the right of way in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi and a sedan collided at Amsterdam Avenue and West 70th Street. Metal scraped and glass shattered. A 35-year-old woman suffered a fractured arm. Sirens echoed through Manhattan’s Upper West Side as first responders arrived to the scene.

According to the police report, a crash involving a taxi and a sedan occurred at Amsterdam Avenue and West 70th Street in Manhattan. The report states the contributing factor was 'Lost Consciousness.' A 35-year-old female occupant was injured, sustaining a fracture and dislocation to her arm. The taxi was traveling north and struck the right front bumper of the sedan, which was parked. The police report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the driver error, highlighting a critical lapse in driver control. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803644, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 34-year-old man riding south on Columbus Avenue was struck while going straight. The crash left him conscious but hurt, with a concussion and injuries to his arm. Police and emergency crews responded to the scene in late afternoon light.

A collision occurred at West 81st Street and Columbus Avenue in Manhattan involving a bicyclist and an unspecified vehicle. According to the police report, the bicyclist, a 34-year-old man, was traveling straight southbound when he was injured, sustaining a concussion and arm injuries. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The crash happened as the other vehicle was making a right turn. No driver errors were specifically identified in the data. Helmet use was noted, but it was not cited as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the vulnerability of cyclists navigating city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803636, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collide on Riverside Drive. Metal screams. A 37-year-old man suffers a head wound, blood pooling in the night. The air reeks of alcohol and gasoline. A 71-year-old sits silent. The street absorbs the violence and moves on.

On Riverside Drive at West 82nd in Manhattan, two sedans collided, resulting in severe injury to a 37-year-old male driver, according to the police report. The report describes 'metal splits' and notes the injured man 'bleeds from the head.' Alcohol was cited as a contributing factor, with the report stating 'the night smells of alcohol and gasoline.' The crash involved a Ford and a Mercedes sedan, with both vehicles sustaining significant front-end damage. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a primary contributing factor, underscoring the role of impaired driving in this violent collision. No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior by the injured driver beyond the systemic danger posed by alcohol use behind the wheel. The incident left one driver severely wounded and another occupant, a 71-year-old, unresponsive at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804217, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 13-year-old boy on a bike was ejected after colliding with a sedan on Columbus Avenue near West 78th Street. He suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and was in shock. The crash exposed dangers when vehicles and young cyclists intersect.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a sedan at Columbus Avenue and West 78th Street in Manhattan at 8:55 a.m. The boy was ejected from his bicycle and sustained injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, with complaints of pain and nausea. The report attributes the crash to 'Other Vehicular' contributing factors, indicating driver error related to the sedan. The bicyclist was unlicensed and not using any safety equipment, but these details are secondary to the vehicle-related cause. The incident underscores the risks posed by motor vehicles to young cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803181, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan traveling south struck a bicyclist also heading south on W 78th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan showed no damage despite impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:18 on W 78th Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan. A sedan traveling straight ahead southbound collided with a bicyclist also traveling straight ahead southbound. The point of impact was the sedan's right front bumper and the center back end of the bicycle. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand and was conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan, carrying two occupants, sustained no damage despite the collision. The bicyclist was not ejected and was wearing unspecified safety equipment. The data highlights a collision with no explicit driver fault cited but resulting in injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803112, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A southbound bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV made a left turn on Columbus Ave. The collision impacted the bike's front and the SUV's left side doors. Driver inattention was cited as the cause.

According to the police report, at 13:25 on Columbus Ave near W 77 St in Manhattan, a 2019 Ford SUV making a left turn struck a southbound bicyclist traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the SUV's left side doors and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 57-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and occupied the vehicle alone. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers, placing vulnerable bicyclists at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803640, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided head-on at Broadway and West 60th. Metal tore. A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head, wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted, fueling a violent collision in Manhattan’s streets.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed head-on at Broadway and West 60th Street in Manhattan at 11:00 a.m. Both vehicles sustained severe front-end damage. The 75-year-old male passenger, seated in the right rear and wearing a lap belt, suffered a serious head injury with bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor for both drivers. One driver was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight. The narrative states: 'A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted.' No victim behavior contributed to the crash. This collision highlights the deadly consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801266, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck driver, distracted and following too closely, slammed into a stopped bus on Broadway in Manhattan. The crash injured the truck driver, causing neck whiplash. The bus remained stopped, absorbing the rear impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:28 AM on Broadway near West 74th Street in Manhattan. A box truck traveling south rear-ended a stopped bus, also heading south. The truck driver, a 50-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the truck driver. The bus was stopped in traffic when the collision happened, sustaining damage to its center back end. The truck sustained damage to its center front end. The truck driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved or injured in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801263, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14