No More Excuses: Blood on Their Hands, Speed on Our Streets

Sep 7 - Two eastbound sedans made left turns at W 96th Street and Central Park West and collided. An 18-year-old front passenger was hurt. A 29-year-old driver was injured. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction.

An 18-year-old front passenger was injured when two eastbound drivers making left turns at W 96th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan collided at 12:10 p.m. A 29-year-old driver reported pain. Another driver was listed with unspecified injury. According to the police report, police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction. Records show one driver was unlicensed. Both vehicles were sedans, a 2024 Audi and a 2022 Mazda. The report notes back-end damage to the Audi and front-end damage to the Mazda. Each driver was traveling east before turning left.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842166 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 6 - A northbound driver turned left at W 93 St and Central Park West and injured a southbound cyclist. The rider bled from the leg and went into shock. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

In Manhattan, at W 93 St and Central Park West, a crash injured a 31-year-old bicyclist. According to the police report, the motorist was traveling 'North' and 'Making Left Turn' while the bicyclist was going 'South' and 'Going Straight Ahead.' The rider suffered knee and lower-leg injuries with minor bleeding and was recorded in shock. Police classified his status as 'Injured.' No passengers were hurt. Police recorded contributing factors for the driver and others as 'Unspecified.' The report names no citations and logs no vehicle damage, but the impact fell on the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 6 - At W 81st and Central Park West, a garbage truck driver turning left hit four pedestrians in the intersection. Two had head wounds with severe bleeding. Others suffered neck and arm injuries.

According to the police report, a licensed 53-year-old male driver in a 2018 garbage/refuse truck was making a left turn at W 81 St and Central Park West in Manhattan when the driver hit four pedestrians in the intersection. A 29-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man suffered head injuries with severe bleeding. A 31-year-old woman had shoulder and internal injuries. A 30-year-old man had neck and internal injuries. Police recorded Obstruction/Debris as a contributing factor. The driver was also listed as injured. No specific driver errors were recorded in the data provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

• Man fatally struck by train at Harlem subway station, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 12 - A six-year-old girl crashed her bike on West Drive and went down. She rode south. She scraped her arm. Police flagged driver inexperience. The park saw another small body hit the pavement.

A six-year-old bicyclist riding south on West Drive was injured, sustaining an arm abrasion. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike with no vehicle damage and listed Driver Inexperience as the contributing factor. The child was conscious and wearing a helmet. An additional person was recorded as a witness. The data cites Driver Inexperience for both the cyclist and the witness entry, underscoring skill and control issues behind the handlebars. No other vehicles were involved, and no other injuries were specified. The incident shows how inexperience on a bike can still end in harm, even without a collision with a car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835213 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 11 - On West 77th at Central Park West, a northbound sedan hit a parked SUV. The impact crushed the SUV’s rear and hurt the sedan’s driver. Fatigue behind the wheel. Afternoon street. Metal, glass, and sirens.

A northbound sedan struck a parked SUV on West 77th Street at Central Park West in Manhattan. The sedan’s 26-year-old male driver was injured; the SUV was empty. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Fatigued/Drowsy.” That is a driver error. The report lists the sedan as going straight and the SUV as parked, with impact to the SUV’s left rear and the sedan’s right front. There is no indication of pedestrian or cyclist involvement. No other contributing factors are cited before fatigue. The records note unspecified injury for another occupant in the dataset without further detail.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836134 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 6 - A man lay on Harlem tracks. The northbound 5 train struck him. He died at the scene. Police found no crime. His name remains unknown. Subway lines stalled. The system moved on.

NY Daily News (2025-08-06) reports a 47-year-old man was killed by a northbound 5 train at 125th St. station in Harlem. Police said, "The man was unconscious and unresponsive on the tracks." No arrests were made. The cause of his presence on the tracks is unclear. Police stated, "There was no criminality." The incident halted 4 and 5 trains. The case highlights ongoing dangers for people in subway spaces and the lack of platform barriers.

• Man Killed By Train At Harlem Station, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - A driver struck a cyclist in Washington Heights. The cyclist survived. Neighbors say the intersection breeds danger. The driver fled. NYPD searches. Streets remain unsafe.

CBS New York reported on August 4, 2025, that a driver hit a cyclist in Washington Heights and left the scene. The article notes, "local residents say the intersection has been a problem for some time." The NYPD is searching for the driver. The incident highlights ongoing risks at this location and points to persistent systemic hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. No mention of charges or arrests. The crash underscores the need for stronger street design and enforcement.

• Cyclist Hit By Driver In Washington Heights, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-04

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 29 - Two northbound cyclists collided on Central Park West. A 58-year-old man suffered a leg contusion and was conscious at the scene. Police cited improper lane use. One rider was left injured and complaining of a bruise.

Two cyclists riding north on Central Park West collided late at night. A 58-year-old man suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg and was listed as injured and conscious. According to the police report, "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" contributed to the crash. The record also notes "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a factor. Police data show both bikes were traveling straight; the driver of one bike contacted the center back end of the other and the struck bike had center front end damage. No other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - A driver in an SUV turned right onto the 79th Street Transverse and hit a 32-year-old man on an e-bike. He suffered abrasions and lower-leg injuries. Police listed failure to yield and unsafe speed.

An SUV turning right on the 79th Street Transverse at Central Park West collided with a northbound e‑bike. The cyclist, a 32-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed.' Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The SUV's right front quarter panel struck the e‑bike's center front. The driver was licensed; the rider was conscious at the scene. Reports list the bicyclist's safety equipment as none but do not cite it as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a Port Authority ramp. The rear bus hit hard. Thirty injured. Passengers left on stretchers, necks braced. Steel and glass, pain and confusion. The ramp remains a danger.

ABC7 reported on July 24, 2025, that a New Jersey Transit bus rear-ended another on the Port Authority ramp near Dyer Avenue and West 39th Street. Surveillance video showed the rear bus 'zooming up the ramp and ramming the rear of the bus in front of it so hard that it physically pushed the bus forward.' At least 30 people suffered minor injuries, with 27 hospitalized. FDNY cited 'musculoskeletal injuries, neck pain, back pain.' The ramp, a known bottleneck, is set for replacement by 2032. The crash highlights risks in current bus terminal infrastructure and driver speed on crowded ramps.

• Rear Bus Slams Into Another At Port, ABC7, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - A rented sedan sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck a cyclist and a pedestrian on Canal Street. Both died at the scene. Police found alcohol and guns in the car. The driver tried to flee. The city failed to keep them safe.

Gothamist (2025-07-22) reports a Staten Island driver, Autumn Ascencio Romero, faces murder and other charges after killing a cyclist and a pedestrian in Chinatown. Prosecutors say she lost control of a rented car at high speed, striking Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Police found 'an open bottle of tequila in the car’s passenger area' and two pistols in the trunk. Witnesses saw the driver and a passenger try to flee. Romero had been charged in a prior Brooklyn crash involving a suspended license. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and gaps in enforcement.

• Driver Held After Chinatown Crash Kills Two, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. It struck Kevin Cruickshank, a cyclist, and May Kwok, seated on a bench. Both died. The driver fled. Canal Street remains a deadly corridor for walkers and riders.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevy Malibu sped through a median at Bowery and Canal, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok, who sat on a bench. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article quotes Families for Safe Streets: 'Canal Street is one of the most dangerous streets in all of Manhattan—notorious for pedestrian and cyclist fatalities—and a comprehensive redesign is needed to prioritize safety.' The crash highlights ongoing risks from reckless driving and the urgent need for safer street design.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A cyclist pedaled through Bowery and Canal. A speeding car lost control. Metal struck flesh. The rider died. Streets stayed loud. Danger lingered.

CBS New York (2025-07-20) reports that Kevin Cruickshank, 55, was killed while cycling at Bowery and Canal. Police said a 'speeding car lost control and struck him.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk to cyclists at busy intersections. The article notes the victim's identity and the circumstances but does not detail any charges. The incident underscores the threat posed by speeding vehicles and the need for stronger street safety measures.

• Cyclist Killed By Speeding Car In Chinatown, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A Chevy sedan struck a cyclist and a pedestrian at Canal and Bowery. Both died at the scene. The drivers tried to flee but were caught. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street stayed dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu killed a cyclist and a pedestrian near the Manhattan Bridge at 7:30 a.m. Police say the car 'slammed into the two victims.' Two women driving the car tried to flee but were detained. No charges were filed by Saturday afternoon. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. The deaths follow recent city claims of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting persistent risk at busy crossings.

• Chevy Sedan Kills Two Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 18 - A sedan struck a cyclist on Central Park West. The cyclist took a blow to the head. Police cite driver inattention and passing too closely. Metal met flesh. The street stayed cold.

A sedan collided with a cyclist on Central Park West near West 102nd Street in Manhattan. The 29-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and was reported conscious, with a contusion. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s left front bumper took damage. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver or other occupants. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and pass too close to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18