Blood on West 181st: Silence Is Killing Us

Sep 12 - Two SUV drivers collided at W 215 St and 10 Ave. A 6-year-old boy and a 38-year-old passenger were hurt. A 42-year-old driver was hurt. Police recorded traffic control disregarded and distraction.

Two SUV drivers collided in the intersection at W 215 St and 10 Ave in Manhattan. Three people were hurt: a 6-year-old boy in the rear seat, a 38-year-old rear passenger, and a 42-year-old woman driving. According to the police report, “Traffic Control Disregarded” was listed as a contributing factor, and “Driver Inattention/Distraction” was recorded for both drivers. The driver of a 2019 Toyota SUV was traveling west and going straight. The driver of a 2016 Jeep SUV was traveling south and going straight. Police documented left-front impacts to both SUVs.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842293 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - On St Nicholas Ave at W 193 St, a driver in a Chevy sedan made a U-turn and hit a 24-year-old bicyclist. The rider went down unconscious with internal injuries. Police list the car driver unlicensed.

On St Nicholas Ave at W 193 St in Manhattan, a driver in a 2015 Chevy sedan made a U-turn and hit a man on a bike. The 24-year-old bicyclist suffered internal injuries and was listed unconscious. According to the police report, the sedan driver was "Unlicensed" and was "Making U Turn" when the collision occurred. The impact on the car was the "Left Front Bumper." No specific contributing factors beyond "Unspecified" were recorded. The bicyclist was the only person reported injured; the driver and two other occupants were listed without injuries. This was a crash between a sedan and a bike at St Nicholas Ave and W 193 St.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - An e-scooter rider was hurt in a crash with a taxi on Broadway at Fairview. The rider suffered an arm bruise. Police noted unsafe speed and also listed “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.”

An e-scooter rider was injured in a collision with a taxi at Broadway and Fairview Ave in Manhattan. The rider, a 30-year-old man, sustained an arm contusion and was listed as injured. The taxi is a 2021 Tesla operating as a cab. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Unsafe Speed” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” Police recorded unsafe speed by the taxi driver. They also noted that second factor. Crash data show the taxi listed as parked and the scooter traveling straight south before impact, with the scooter’s front and the taxi’s right rear quarter panel noted as points of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 31 - A northbound SUV rear-ended a pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. The SUV driver and front passenger suffered whiplash. Two rear passengers were listed uninjured. Police cited Following Too Closely and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

The driver of an SUV rear-ended a northbound pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. The SUV sustained center front-end damage with right-front impact to the pickup's center rear. The SUV driver, age 28, complained of neck pain and was listed with whiplash. The front passenger, age 30, complained of back pain and was listed with whiplash. Two rear occupants were listed without injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Following Too Closely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded tailgating and driver inattention as the driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 27 - A cyclist going straight on Sherman hit a 50-year-old woman near Thayer. She reported back pain and shock. Police recorded pedestrian/bicyclist error and confusion.

On Sherman Avenue near Thayer Street in Manhattan, a northwest-traveling cyclist going straight ahead hit a 50-year-old woman on foot. The impact was to the bicycle’s front. The woman reported back pain and shock; police listed her as injured. The cyclist’s injury status was unspecified. According to the police report, Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion was recorded as a contributing factor for both the cyclist and the pedestrian. Police coded the pedestrian as not in the roadway and not at an intersection. The crash was logged under collision ID 4839564 in zip code 10040.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839564 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - Northbound on the Henry Hudson. A sedan’s left rear gets struck. A young rider goes down, partly ejected. Knee torn. Helmet on. Police cite driver inattention. Steel wins. Flesh pays.

An 18-year-old motorcyclist heading north on Henry Hudson Parkway struck the left rear of a northbound sedan. The rider was injured, partially ejected, and suffered a leg injury; he wore a helmet. Sedan occupants had unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” That driver error set the stage for impact. The sedan showed damage to the left rear bumper; the motorcycle’s front end took the hit. No other factors were listed beyond inattention. Helmet use is noted for the motorcyclist, but it comes after the cited driver inattention in the record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 10 - Two teenagers on an e-bike went down on Seaman Ave at Isham St. Both were ejected. Both were hurt. One fractured. One abraded. Manhattan street. Police listed no contributing factors.

Two teenagers riding an e-bike on Seaman Ave at Isham St in Manhattan were ejected and injured. According to the police report, both riders were conscious after the crash. The 16-year-old male driver sustained abrasions; the 14-year-old female passenger suffered a fracture and dislocation. Police recorded the e-bike traveling north and going straight ahead before the crash. The report lists no contributing factors. The police record also lists the e-bike driver as unlicensed. Both riders are vulnerable road users left hurt on a city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 7 - A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.

• Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades, NY1, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 2 - Drivers in a Honda SUV and a Ford sedan collided on Riverside Drive near Broadway. Two men suffered head bruises. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Turning Improperly. Metal buckled. Passengers rattled.

Two drivers in a Honda SUV and a Ford sedan collided on Riverside Drive near Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The driver of the SUV was westbound; the sedan's driver was eastbound. A 35-year-old front passenger and a 34-year-old driver suffered head contusions. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Turning Improperly by the drivers as contributing factors. Five other occupants, including teenagers, were involved; their injuries were listed as unspecified. The SUV carried four people, the sedan two. The street took the force. The passengers paid for it.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - The driver of an SUV changed lanes unsafely on Henry Hudson Parkway and collided with another northbound vehicle. A front-seat passenger suffered head and neck injuries; the driver reported pain and nausea. Police cited Unsafe Lane Changing and Following Too Closely.

An SUV traveling north on Henry Hudson Parkway collided with another northbound vehicle after a lane change. A 44-year-old front-seat passenger suffered head and neck injuries and complained of whiplash. The SUV carried two occupants; the driver, a 38-year-old woman, reported pain and nausea. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Following Too Closely' caused the crash. Police recorded those driver errors as contributing factors. The SUV's right rear quarter panel struck the other vehicle's left front quarter panel; damage included roof damage to the SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 - A speeding SUV making a U-turn hit a cyclist on W 207th. The rider was ejected and injured. Children in the SUV escaped harm. Driver inattention and unsafe speed fueled the crash.

A cyclist was struck and injured by a station wagon/SUV making a U-turn on W 207th Street at Vermilyea Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV driver was inattentive and traveling at unsafe speed. The cyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury. Three occupants in the SUV, including two children, were not injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the primary causes cited are driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830305 - 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