Five Dead in Two Years—How Many More Before We Act?

Jul 26 - A driver hit a standing vehicle on Amsterdam at West 90th. The sedan’s front end crumpled. The 38-year-old driver went down, unconscious, bleeding from the head. Police recorded improper lane use. No pedestrians or cyclists were hurt.

According to the police report, the driver of a sedan traveling east hit a standing vehicle on Amsterdam Avenue at West 90th Street at about 1:06 a.m. The crash left a 38-year-old man, the driver, unconscious with a head injury and severe bleeding. Police recorded "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" by the driver. The report also lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion." The sedan had damage to the center front end. Other occupants were recorded with unspecified injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - Two buses collided on a ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - A sedan hit a 75-year-old cyclist on Riverside Drive. The cyclist bled and suffered neck pain. Shock followed. Two car occupants were left with unspecified injuries. The sedan’s side was damaged.

A sedan and a bicycle collided at 370 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The crash injured a 75-year-old male cyclist, who suffered neck pain, minor bleeding, and shock. Two sedan occupants, a 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, had unspecified injuries. According to the police report, all contributing factors were listed as 'Unspecified.' The sedan’s left side doors were damaged. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No driver errors were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830826 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A speeding SUV hit a 13-year-old cyclist on West End Avenue. The boy suffered a bruised leg. Police cite unsafe speed as the cause. The street saw blood and pain. The system failed to protect the young.

A 13-year-old boy riding his bike was struck by a station wagon/SUV on West End Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling at unsafe speed when it collided with the cyclist, causing a contusion and injury to the boy's lower leg. The driver, an 81-year-old man, was also listed with unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, struck a cyclist and a woman on the sidewalk. Both died. The car hit an NYPD van. Two drivers tried to flee but were caught. No officers hurt. No charges yet.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu exiting the Manhattan Bridge at Canal Street and Bowery struck and killed a cyclist and a pedestrian at 7:30 a.m. Police say two women in their 20s drove the car and 'initially tried to leave on foot,' but were taken into custody. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. No officers were injured. As of Saturday afternoon, 'the NYPD said it had not filed charges.' The deaths follow a city report of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting ongoing risks for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist, Pedestrian Killed Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A van crashed in Midtown. Inside: dozens of propane tanks. The street held its breath. Danger rode in silence, hidden until metal met metal.

CBS New York reported on July 17, 2025, that 'dozens of propane tanks were found in a van in Midtown Manhattan after a car crash Tuesday night.' The article does not detail injuries or the cause of the crash. The presence of hazardous cargo in a crash raises questions about vehicle safety checks and enforcement. Storing large amounts of propane in a van on city streets exposes bystanders and road users to hidden risks. The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of hazardous material transport in dense urban areas.

• Propane Tanks Discovered After Midtown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A DOT worker fixing a sign was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near miss in lower Manhattan. The cyclist fled. The worker bled on the street. Police are searching. No arrests. Another morning, another wound.

NY Daily News (2025-07-16) reports a city DOT worker was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near collision at Broadway and Cedar St. The worker was fixing a street sign when the cyclist nearly hit his truck. Witnesses said, 'They weren't even in the bike lane, they were parked on the corner.' After the argument, the cyclist cut the worker's arm with a box cutter and fled. The DOT worker was treated and released. Police are searching for the cyclist. The incident highlights the dangers of street work and the tense interactions between vehicles and vulnerable road users.

• DOT Worker Slashed After Near Collision, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 6 - A high-speed electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in critical condition. Congestion and speed collided. Chaos followed. Bystanders watched. Sirens wailed.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, where an illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist. The unicycle, capable of speeds over 40 mph, struck Carolyn Backus, who was riding a standard bike. The unicycle operator was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. NYPD initially charged Backus with leaving the scene, but the charge was dropped. A spokesperson clarified, 'She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics.' The incident highlights risks from high-speed, illegal vehicles in crowded park spaces.

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 2 - Garbage truck with bad brakes struck van on Broadway. One driver hurt. Metal twisted. Neck injury. Streets failed to protect. System error, not fate.

A van and a garbage truck collided on Broadway at West 95th Street in Manhattan. One driver, age 65, suffered a neck injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Brakes Defective' on the garbage truck. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left the van damaged on the right side and the truck at the front. The police report lists no other contributing factors. The system allowed a truck with faulty brakes onto city streets. No helmet or signal issues were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 29 - A sedan reversed into a woman working in the street. She fell, hurt her hip, and lost consciousness. Police cite unsafe backing. The car showed no damage. The street was Manhattan. The pain was real.

A sedan struck a 39-year-old woman working in the roadway near 808 Columbus Ave in Manhattan. She suffered a hip injury and lost consciousness. According to the police report, the driver was 'Backing Unsafely.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when hit. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupant. The sedan showed no damage. The crash highlights the danger of unsafe backing, as listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824217 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 21 - A bus turned left on Amsterdam. The driver failed to yield. A 55-year-old man crossing with the signal was hit. His leg broke. Shock followed. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A bus struck a 55-year-old man crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 94th Street. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the bus, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The man suffered a fractured leg and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s error. No other injuries were reported among the bus occupants. The crash highlights the risk to pedestrians even when following signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.

• Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park, ABC7, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 18 - Waymo will test robotaxis on New York streets. Human drivers will control the cars. State law blocks full autonomy. Officials stress safety. Waymo pushes for legal change. The city weighs risk. Streets wait for the next move.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Waymo will soon test its driverless taxi technology in New York City. The vehicles will not operate autonomously; human drivers will remain behind the wheel, as state law forbids fully driverless cars. Waymo is lobbying for a law change to allow autonomous operation, but the effort has stalled in the State Assembly. Mayoral spokeswoman Sophia Askari said, "Public safety is our first priority, which is why we have strong guardrails and requirements in place on any sort of autonomous vehicles." The city’s Department of Transportation is reviewing Waymo’s permit application, the first under the new Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration or Testing Permit Program. The article highlights the tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution, with policy decisions pending and no driverless operation allowed yet.

• Waymo Robotaxis Begin NYC Street Tests, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 16 - Sedan and pickup collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. Brakes failed. Driver injured. Passengers shaken. Metal twisted. System failed. Lives changed in a moment.

A sedan and a pickup truck crashed on Henry Hudson Parkway. One driver suffered a knee and leg injury. Three passengers were involved. According to the police report, 'Brakes Defective' was the contributing factor. The sedan was changing lanes when it struck the pickup’s left rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed. The crash highlights the danger when vehicle systems fail. No other contributing factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - SUV struck 81-year-old man in crosswalk. Head wound. Blood pooled. Driver ignored traffic control. Distraction listed. Manhattan pavement bore the cost.

An 81-year-old man crossing Manhattan Avenue at West 105th Street was struck by a BMW SUV making a right turn. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian, semiconscious, suffered a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other contributing factors are noted. The crash left the pedestrian injured in the crosswalk, while the SUV’s right front quarter panel was damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08