Precinct 32: Nights of sirens, days of pain

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

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 - A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A driver in a BMW crashed on the Harlem River Drive ramp after 10 p.m. Police recorded alcohol involvement by the driver. The driver was hurt. A child passenger was hurt. Metal crumpled on the right front.

A 32-year-old woman driving a 2022 BMW sedan crashed on the Harlem River Drive ramp in Manhattan. According to the police report, "Alcohol Involvement" was a contributing factor. Police recorded alcohol involvement by the driver. She suffered head and internal injuries. A child passenger was also injured. Impact was to the center front with damage to the right front quarter. An air bag deployed for the driver. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Two people were hurt on a city ramp.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831052 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - SUV pulled from parking. E-bike rider struck. Arm torn. Police cite failure to yield. Blood on St. Nicholas Avenue. System failed the cyclist.

An SUV driver started from parking on St. Nicholas Avenue and struck a 27-year-old e-bike rider. The cyclist suffered an arm injury. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed; the e-bike rider wore a helmet. The report lists no vehicle damage. The crash left the cyclist hurt and exposed the danger of driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830389 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 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 14 - The driver of a van turned right and hit a 41-year-old bicyclist on Lenox Avenue at West 137th Street. The cyclist suffered elbow and lower-arm injuries and complained of an abrasion. Police cited driver inattention.

The driver of a van turned right and hit a bicyclist on Lenox Avenue at West 137th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 41-year-old man, suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm and hand and complained of an abrasion. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was listed as the contributing factor. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the van driver. Vehicle data show the van’s point of impact was its right front bumper and the bike was struck on its left side. The bike was traveling north, going straight ahead; the van was making a right turn. No other injured parties are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - Two sedans crashed on Lenox Avenue. Both drivers hurt. One suffered hip and leg bruises, the other neck pain. Police list driver license issues. No cause named. Passengers unhurt.

Two sedans collided at Lenox Avenue and West 145th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers, women aged 27 and 35, were injured—one with hip and upper leg bruises, the other with neck pain and shock. The crash involved an unlicensed driver making a left turn in an Audi and a licensed driver going straight in a Porsche. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Police listed 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor. No helmet or signal use was noted. Passengers were not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826733 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - SUV hit a standing motorized vehicle on St Nicholas Ave. Driver ejected, left bleeding and in shock. Police cite failure to keep right and following too closely.

A crash on St Nicholas Ave involved a station wagon/SUV striking a standing motorized vehicle. The 32-year-old female driver of the motorized vehicle was ejected and suffered minor bleeding and shock, with injuries to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Keep Right' and 'Following Too Closely.' The driver of the standing vehicle was unlicensed. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825596 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - Sedan slammed on Harlem River Drive. Head wounds, blood, shock. Five inside. Driver and front passenger hurt. Police cite animal action. Steel and flesh meet in the dark.

A sedan crashed on Harlem River Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, five people were inside. The front passenger, a 26-year-old woman, suffered severe head bleeding. The driver, a 35-year-old woman, sustained a concussion. Three other passengers, including an 8-year-old girl, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police list 'Animals Action' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 4 - A box truck struck a 43-year-old e-bike rider on Frederick Douglass Blvd. The cyclist suffered a head injury. Police cite vehicular factors. The street bore the impact.

A 43-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured when a box truck struck him on Frederick Douglass Blvd in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a head abrasion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists sharing streets with large trucks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19