Harlem Bleeds While Leaders Wait

Apr 11 - Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

Apr 8 - SUV turned right on Adam Clayton Powell. Two pedestrians crossing with signal hit. Both injured. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. Impact at right front bumper. System failed to protect walkers.

An SUV making a right turn at Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd and W 124 St struck two pedestrians, a woman and a young boy, as they crossed with the signal. Both pedestrians were injured, suffering leg and unknown injuries. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact occurred at the vehicle's right front bumper. No vehicle damage was reported. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The system allowed danger at the crosswalk, leaving pedestrians exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Apr 7 - A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

Apr 3 - A stolen SUV crashed and burned in Inwood. Two NYPD officers chased it, then left the wreck. The driver died in the flames. The officers returned to their Bronx precinct. They did not report the crash. Both are now suspended.

According to the NY Daily News (April 3, 2025), two NYPD officers pursued a stolen Honda CR-V from the Bronx into Manhattan. The chase ended when the SUV crashed into a building near Dyckman St and burst into flames. The officers 'fled the scene,' leaving the driver, who died in the fire. Surveillance footage showed their patrol car leaving. The officers did not report the incident and finished their shift. Both were suspended as the NYPD Force Investigation Division launched a probe. This crash comes after the NYPD tightened pursuit policies, now allowing chases only for felonies or violent misdemeanors. The department aims to avoid pursuits that 'lead to crashes and injure other motorists and pedestrians.' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police would instead use 'advanced tools of modern-day policing' to track suspects.

• Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 25 - A distracted driver slammed into parked SUVs on Central Park North. His vehicle flipped. He suffered a head injury. The crash left three parked cars damaged. Driver inattention and bad lane use fueled the wreck.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old man driving a 2024 GMC SUV eastbound on Central Park North struck several parked SUVs at 6:50 AM. The impact overturned his vehicle and injured him with a head abrasion. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. Three parked SUVs—a 2023 Chevrolet, a 2018 Volkswagen, and a 2010 Hyundai—were damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report highlights driver distraction and improper lane use as primary causes. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Mar 18 - A Manhattan crash on W 125 St injured a 28-year-old sedan driver. The driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. Police cited outside car distraction and a defective accelerator as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on W 125 St in Manhattan at 12:50. The injured party was a 28-year-old male sedan driver who sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Outside Car Distraction' and a 'Defective Accelerator' as contributing factors to the crash. The sedan was initially parked and suffered damage to its center back end. The collision involved a power shovel vehicle traveling west and a postal truck parked eastbound. The report highlights driver errors related to distraction and vehicle malfunction, with no mention of victim fault or contributing victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800198 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Mar 6 - A stolen minivan tore through Harlem. The driver ran from police. He struck Devon Hughley on a scooter. Hughley died at Harlem Hospital. The driver fled. Police used facial recognition. They arrested Enesin Delarosa. Grief lingers. Memorials remain.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-06), Enesin Delarosa, 26, was arrested for fatally striking Devon Hughley, 45, while fleeing an NYPD car stop in Harlem on November 2. The article reports Delarosa was driving a stolen minivan and "allegedly hit Hughley near W.155th St. and St. Nicholas Ave. while fleeing a traffic stop." Delarosa faces charges of manslaughter, leaving the scene, fleeing police, and possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of high-speed police pursuits and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles in dense urban areas. Memorial posters for Hughley remain in his building. The article quotes Hughley's sister, Yvette Palmer: "the arrest brought some peace."

• Scooter Rider Killed Fleeing Traffic Stop, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-06

Feb 28 - A 22-year-old man crashed a sedan on Cathedral Parkway. He suffered head wounds and confusion. Police cited alcohol involvement. The car’s front end was smashed. No others were hurt.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver with a permit license crashed a 2019 sedan traveling north on Cathedral Parkway in Manhattan at 1:30 a.m. The sedan’s center front end was damaged and the airbag deployed. The driver suffered head injuries, minor bleeding, and was incoherent at the scene. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or passengers were involved or injured. The crash underscores the danger of impaired driving, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Feb 27 - A northbound SUV struck a 20-year-old woman outside an intersection on St Nicholas Ave. She suffered back abrasions. Police cite driver distraction. The pedestrian was conscious. The SUV was undamaged.

According to the police report, a 2013 Hyundai SUV traveling north on St Nicholas Ave hit a 20-year-old female pedestrian outside an intersection near W 115 St. The woman suffered back abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The SUV was going straight and struck her with its center front end. The pedestrian's injury was classified as moderate. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary cause remains the driver's distraction. The SUV sustained no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795404 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Feb 18 - A 68-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after an SUV struck her at an intersection on West 125th Street. The driver was making a left turn and distracted, hitting the pedestrian crossing with the signal. Abrasions marked the impact.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 125th Street and St Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 SUV, driven by a licensed female driver from Delaware, was making a left turn and struck her with the vehicle's center front end. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and abrasions, and was in shock at the scene. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793497 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Feb 6 - A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 5 - A 22-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered head abrasions after a collision with an SUV on West 125th Street. The SUV driver disregarded traffic control, striking the cyclist during a left turn. The crash left the cyclist injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 PM on West 125th Street in Manhattan. A 22-year-old male bicyclist was making a left turn northwest when his bike collided with a westbound 2007 Toyota SUV going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained head abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The report identifies the SUV driver’s failure as 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' indicating the driver ignored traffic signals or signs, leading to the collision. No contributing factors were attributed to the bicyclist. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls, resulting in serious injuries to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Feb 4 - Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Jan 13 - A distracted SUV driver struck a northbound bicyclist on Frederick Douglass Blvd in Manhattan. The 48-year-old woman suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. The SUV was parked before impact, which hit the bike’s left front quarter panel.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:54 on Frederick Douglass Blvd in Manhattan. A 48-year-old female bicyclist traveling north was injured when a parked 2012 Ford SUV, also facing north, struck her. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the SUV driver. The impact occurred at the SUV’s left front quarter panel. The bicyclist, who was not wearing safety equipment, sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior. The SUV showed no damage, and the bicyclist was conscious but injured. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787219 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jan 10 - A northbound SUV and eastbound sedan crashed at Frederick Douglass Blvd and W 122 St. The SUV driver suffered a concussion and head injury. Police cite traffic control disregard as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:55 on Frederick Douglass Blvd near W 122 St in Manhattan. A 33-year-old male SUV driver traveling north collided with a sedan traveling east. The SUV sustained center front end damage, and the sedan had right front bumper damage. The SUV driver was injured, suffering a concussion and head injury, and was conscious at the scene. The report attributes the crash to 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs by one or both drivers. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. The SUV driver used safety equipment including an airbag and lap belt. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jan 7 - A taxi and an SUV collided on St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan. The taxi driver, impaired by alcohol, struck the SUV’s left side. The SUV driver was injured and incoherent. Slippery pavement contributed to the crash’s severity and impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:25 AM on St Nicholas Ave near W 126 St in Manhattan. A taxi traveling west struck the left side doors of an SUV traveling north. The SUV driver, a 50-year-old male, was injured and found incoherent at the scene. The report cites alcohol involvement by the taxi driver as a contributing factor, along with slippery pavement conditions. Both vehicles were going straight ahead prior to impact. The taxi sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel, while the SUV’s center front end was damaged. The collision’s point of impact and contributing factors highlight driver error—specifically alcohol impairment—and hazardous road conditions as key causes. The report does not list any victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08