Precinct 30: Nights of sirens, days of grief

Jul 23 - The driver of a northbound taxi rear-ended a 14-year-old riding an e-bike near 3320 Broadway. The taxi hit the bike from behind. The teen suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the driver of a northbound taxi struck the center back of a northbound e-bike near 3320 Broadway. A 14-year-old male e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Following Too Closely." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The taxi sustained center front-end damage and the e-bike was struck in its center back end. The report lists the rider's contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite rider error as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - The driver of a sedan struck the left rear of a bus at West 145th Street and Broadway. A 62-year-old front passenger suffered trauma to his arm and was in shock. Police listed contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

The driver of a sedan and the driver of a bus were both going straight when the driver of the sedan contacted the left rear bumper of the bus with the sedan's right front quarter. A 62-year-old male front passenger in the sedan was injured, with trauma to his elbow/lower arm and reported in shock. According to the police report, "the crash left a 62-year-old male passenger injured, suffering trauma to his arm," and the report lists contributing factors as "Unspecified." Police did not record specific driver errors in the provided data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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 17 - A DOT worker fixing a sign near a bike lane was slashed by an e-bike rider with a box cutter. Blood on Broadway. The rider fled. The worker survived. No arrests. The city keeps moving.

According to amny (2025-07-17), a DOT worker was attacked by an e-bike rider at Broadway and Cedar Street while repairing a street sign. Police said the worker backed up his truck, nearly causing a crash with the cyclist. The rider then "whipped out a box cutter and slashed the worker in his left arm and back." The assailant fled. DOT condemned the attack, calling it "abhorrent." No arrests have been made. The incident highlights tensions at work sites near bike lanes and underscores the need for safe conditions for street workers.

• DOT Worker Slashed By E-Biker Downtown, amny, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 14 - A taxi driver made a U-turn on West 135th and hit a bicyclist riding west. The 35-year-old rider suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries, minor bleeding and shock. Police recorded 'Turning Improperly.'

A taxi driver made a U-turn on West 135th Street in Manhattan and collided with a bicyclist who was riding straight west. The rider, a 35-year-old man, was injured and reported knee, lower-leg and foot injuries, minor bleeding and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' The taxi’s left side doors sustained damage at the point of impact. The bicyclist was listed as injured; the taxi driver was not listed as injured. Police contributing factors identify Turning Improperly as the driver error in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827858 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 11 - A driver of an SUV failed to yield and hit a bicyclist on Broadway at W 155th Street. The 40-year-old rider suffered a shoulder contusion and remained conscious. Police cited "View Obstructed/Limited" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way."

A driver of an SUV struck a bicyclist on Broadway at W 155th Street. The bicyclist, a 40-year-old man riding northwest and going straight ahead, suffered a shoulder-upper-arm contusion and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited.' Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The bicyclist was not ejected. Vehicle types listed in the report are Bike and Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle. No helmet use or other victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors in the record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 11 - A driverless SUV rolled down West 139th, smashing into stopped cars. One woman suffered a head injury. Shock rippled through the scene. Metal crumpled. The street held its breath.

A driverless SUV rolled into traffic on West 139th Street in Manhattan, striking several stopped vehicles. According to the police report, the crash was caused by a 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle.' One woman, a driver, suffered a head injury and whiplash. She was not ejected and wore a lap belt. Other occupants and drivers reported unspecified injuries or shock. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no driver errors beyond the runaway vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 23 - A car hit a woman crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 143rd. She had the signal. Her leg took the blow. She was left in shock and pain.

A 25-year-old woman was injured while crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 143rd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal, when a vehicle traveling north struck her with its center front end. The impact caused injury to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and left her in shock. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle type or driver details were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 22 - A man walking at St Nicholas Ave and W 150 St was struck. His arm fractured. The crash left him conscious but hurt. No driver errors listed. The street stayed dangerous.

A 32-year-old man was injured while walking at the intersection of St Nicholas Ave and W 150 St in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a fractured arm and remained conscious after the crash. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the data. The vehicle was traveling east and going straight ahead. The report does not specify vehicle type or further details about the driver. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 20 - A sedan ran a traffic control. A 57-year-old man on a bike was hit and thrown. He suffered a bruised leg. The street stayed busy. The system failed him.

A crash on West 142nd Street at Broadway left a 57-year-old bicyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan disregarded traffic control, striking the cyclist and ejecting him. The man suffered a contusion to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822227 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 20 - A parked Ford and a bronze Toyota touched in Manhattan. An investigator cuffed the young driver on the spot. The arrest was later voided. The Attorney General’s office is investigating. No injuries reported. Tension hung in the air.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-20), a minor collision occurred in Manhattan when a civilian's Toyota touched a parked Ford Expedition belonging to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ security detail. The investigator, Nelson Yu, a retired NYPD detective, immediately confronted and handcuffed the young woman driver, demanding identification. A witness described, 'He jumped out and cuffed her on the spot. No questions, no warning.' The woman was reportedly driving without a license. The arrest was later voided. The Attorney General’s office stated, 'OAG is investigating this matter internally and will not have further comment at this time.' The incident highlights the use of force and protocol in minor traffic incidents involving law enforcement personnel.

• Security Detail Cuffs Woman After Fender-Bender, New York Post, Published 2025-06-20

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 17 - A woman tried to climb from the tracks. The L train struck her. She died at the scene. The platform offered no barrier. Safety reforms came too late. The train ran again after three hours. Her name is not yet known.

West Side Spirit reported on June 17, 2025, that a 24-year-old woman was killed by an L train at Union Square station. According to the article, 'witnesses said the woman stepped onto the tracks shortly before the collision, but then attempted to climb back onto the platform.' She could not escape in time. Police found no suspected criminality. The incident occurred months after a state initiative promised new platform barriers at over 100 stations, but these had not yet been installed at Union Square. The tragedy highlights the ongoing risk to subway riders in stations without protective infrastructure. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed by L Train at Union Square, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 15 - SUV struck parked car. Two injured: driver with chest trauma, passenger with whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and flesh collide. Night on the parkway turns violent.

Two SUVs collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, one SUV was parked when another, traveling north, struck it in the center front end. A 40-year-old male driver suffered chest injuries. A 34-year-old female passenger sustained neck injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors are noted. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt and exposed the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 15 - Buses crawl. Riders wait. The city weighs a busway on 34th Street. Some cheer for faster trips and safer crossings. Others fear cars will flood side streets. The board backs the plan. The street waits for change.

West Side Spirit reported on June 15, 2025, that the NYC Department of Transportation’s plan to convert 34th Street into a busway drew mixed reactions at a Community Board 6 meeting. The board voted 31-5 in favor. Supporters called current bus speeds 'painfully slow' and urged the city to 'prioritize pedestrians and transit users.' Critics worried about diverted car traffic clogging residential streets, with one resident calling for a 'traffic study' and 'action plan.' The DOT says the busway could boost bus speeds by 15 percent. The proposal would force cars to exit 34th Street quickly or face tickets, echoing rules on 14th Street. The debate highlights the tension between transit improvements and neighborhood traffic concerns.

• 34th Street Busway Sparks Debate, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 13 - A flatbed slammed into a taxi’s rear on St Nicholas Place. Three people hurt. Neck and back injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass. Sudden stop. Pain follows.

A flatbed truck struck the rear of a taxi on St Nicholas Place near W 155th Street in Manhattan. Three people were injured, including a 55-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, both passengers, who suffered neck injuries, and a 46-year-old male driver with a back injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The taxi and flatbed were both traveling west when the collision occurred. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors before the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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