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

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - Two sedans crashed late at night. A woman and a child inside suffered head and leg injuries. Both drivers failed to pay attention. The force left marks on bumpers and bodies. The road stayed dangerous. The city counted more hurt.

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and were parked before the crash. A 35-year-old woman driving one sedan and her 10-year-old passenger were injured. The driver suffered a head injury and whiplash. The child sustained abrasions to the leg and was in shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for both drivers. The report notes lap belts were used. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left visible damage to the front bumpers of both cars. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to vehicle occupants when drivers lose focus, even for a moment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They protested NYPD’s push to criminalize minor bike infractions. Delivery riders, many undocumented, face court summonses for sidewalk riding and red lights. Judges toss charges. Police say it’s about compliance. Riders say it’s about targeting.

West Side Spirit reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of cyclists protested in Manhattan against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses for minor bike infractions. The crackdown targets delivery workers, especially undocumented riders, for offenses like sidewalk riding and nonstandard bike setups. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the move, stating, 'When it comes to traffic safety, compliance is not optional.' Protesters and advocates argue the policy is discriminatory and escalates minor violations, risking severe consequences for vulnerable workers. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called it 'really inappropriate escalation.' The article highlights confusion over traffic rules and the risk of criminalization for actions previously handled as civil matters, raising questions about enforcement priorities and the impact on immigrant communities.

• Cyclists Rally Against NYPD Crackdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-02

May 31 - A truck and SUV crashed on Broadway at West 100th. One passenger bled from the head. Others shaken. Both vehicles turned left. Unsafe speed listed as cause. Metal and glass scattered. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A tractor truck and an SUV collided while both were making left turns on Broadway at West 100th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor in the crash. One male passenger, age 34, suffered a head injury with minor bleeding and was in shock. Other occupants, including drivers and passengers, were listed as uninjured or with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles sustained damage, with the SUV’s left front bumper hit. The report states: “Unsafe Speed” as the primary driver error. No other contributing factors were listed. Helmet use and signaling were not cited. The crash underscores the risks faced by passengers when speed overtakes caution on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816857 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - 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

May 27 - A police cruiser swerved from a taxi and slammed into two people eating outside. Sirens screamed. Metal struck flesh. Both diners and officers landed in the hospital. The street stayed open. The city kept moving. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (May 27, 2025), an NYPD squad car struck two people seated at an outdoor dining area on Broadway and West 112th Street. The crash happened when a taxi made a left turn, prompting the police car to swerve. The article states, “The 37-year-old cab driver was given a summons for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.” Both diners and police vehicle occupants were hospitalized in stable condition. The report notes, “It was not immediately clear if authorities were responding to a call when the incident unfolded.” The incident highlights risks at curbside dining areas and ongoing dangers from driver error and street design. The investigation continues.

• Police Car Hits Diners In Manhattan Crash, New York Post, Published 2025-05-27

May 21 - A bus turned wrong on Riverside Drive. Metal scraped. A 13-year-old passenger took a blow to the leg. Shock followed. The crash left many shaken. Police blamed improper turning and passing too close. The street stayed dangerous. The city watched.

A bus making a right turn on Riverside Drive in Manhattan struck trouble. According to the police report, the crash injured a 13-year-old passenger, who suffered a knee and lower leg injury and was left in shock. The bus carried many children. Police listed 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing Too Closely' as the main driver errors. The report shows the bus was damaged on the right side doors. No other vehicles were clearly identified as involved. The police report did not mention any helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by bus passengers, especially children, when drivers turn carelessly or crowd the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

May 19 - A sedan hit a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Amsterdam Avenue. She suffered leg and internal injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The driver was unhurt.

A 74-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 97th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a left turn, failed to yield the right-of-way. The woman sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, foot, and internal injuries. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was not injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - Police handcuff cyclists. Judges toss tickets. Lawmakers protest. NYPD issues criminal summonses for minor bike infractions. Riders face court for actions once legal. Anger grows. The city’s crackdown targets the vulnerable, not the dangerous.

West Side Spirit reported on May 19, 2025, that opposition is mounting against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists for minor traffic violations. Council Member Gale Brewer criticized the move, stating, "A civil summons is a more appropriate response and thrusting people into the criminal justice system unnecessarily is bad public policy." The article notes that some officers issued summonses for actions legalized in 2019, such as cyclists proceeding with a pedestrian walk signal. Many tickets were dismissed in court due to errors by police. A class action lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist ticketed for a legal maneuver. The crackdown raises questions about enforcement priorities and the risk of criminalizing vulnerable road users instead of addressing systemic dangers.

• NYPD Faces Backlash Over Bike Summonses, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-19

May 15 - A bike hit two pedestrians on Columbus Avenue. A toddler suffered a head wound. An adult bled from the face. The cyclist was ejected and hurt. All left in shock. Confusion marked the crash.

A cyclist traveling south on Columbus Avenue struck two pedestrians, injuring a 2-year-old girl and a 45-year-old woman. The toddler suffered a head abrasion; the adult bled from the face. The cyclist, a 40-year-old man, was ejected and reported back pain. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' contributed to the crash. The adult pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 3 - A sedan struck a man crossing Broadway. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered head wounds and severe cuts. The crash left pain and confusion on the street.

A BMW sedan traveling south on Broadway struck a 45-year-old man as he crossed at the intersection with West 97th Street. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and severe lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the vehicle. The driver and a passenger were also listed in the report, but only the pedestrian was reported injured. The data notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary error cited is driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

Apr 28 - A van hit a man crossing with the signal on West 89th Street. He suffered a bruised hip and leg. The crash left him injured at the intersection. No driver errors listed in the police report.

A van struck a 42-year-old man as he crossed West 89th Street at Riverside Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the van's right front bumper hit him. He sustained a contusion to his hip and upper leg. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The incident highlights the risk pedestrians face, even when following traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Two SUVs slammed together on Henry Hudson Parkway. Chest injuries. Shock. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and pain in the northbound dark.

Two SUVs crashed on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when they collided. Two people suffered chest injuries and shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No helmet or signal issues are noted. The impact left metal twisted and passengers hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808333 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 24 - Taxi turned wrong on Amsterdam. Hit woman crossing with signal. Her leg bruised. Driver hurt. Police cite improper turn. Danger at the crosswalk.

A taxi made an improper turn at Amsterdam Avenue and West 97th Street in Manhattan. The cab struck a 62-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered a contusion to her leg. The taxi driver, a 58-year-old man, was also injured. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' No other contributing factors were listed. The report highlights the risk to pedestrians even when they have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19