Five Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Still Waiting for Action

City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

A car sped off Manhattan Bridge, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and bench sitter May Kwok. Police found guns, alcohol, and an overdue rental. The city faces calls to fix a deadly intersection.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-28) reports two women face charges after a car, speeding off Manhattan Bridge, killed cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Police found guns, alcohol, and an overdue rental at the scene; one driver refused a breathalyzer. Council Member Marte criticized the Department of Transportation for 'ongoing neglect.' The crash site, long known as dangerous, drew protests and renewed calls for city action. The indictment remains sealed until the next court date.

• Manhattan Bridge Crash Kills Two Bystanders, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-28

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

A firefighter died on FDR Drive. The driver fled. At Port Authority, a bus crash left over two dozen hurt. No arrests. The city’s streets remain brutal for those on foot and in transit.

Patch reported on July 24, 2025, that an FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run on FDR Drive. The driver left the scene. No arrests have been made. The article also notes, 'More Than 2 Dozen Injured In Bus Crash At Port Authority Bus Terminal.' Both incidents highlight ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and point to gaps in enforcement and street safety. Investigations continue, but the city’s traffic violence persists.

• Firefighter Killed, Dozens Hurt In Crashes, Patch, Published 2025-07-24

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

A driver sped off the Manhattan Bridge, killed a cyclist and a woman on a bench. The intersection stayed dangerous. Another crash hit the same spot the next day. City action lags. Lives end. Cars keep coming.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-21) reports a driver with a history of hit-and-run plowed off the Manhattan Bridge, killing cyclist Kevin Scott Cruickshank and May Kwok, who sat on a bench. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, had been charged for a prior hit-and-run while unlicensed but was released pending trial. The article notes, 'New Yorkers have been begging for years for city officials to make Canal Street safer.' The intersection's highway design and delayed Department of Transportation safety plans leave it perilous. The day after the fatal crash, another car sped off the bridge and crashed at the same spot, underscoring systemic danger.

• Deadly Canal Street Bridge Collision, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-21

Taxi struck a 19-year-old woman at Bleecker and Thompson. She suffered leg abrasions. Police cite failure to yield. Shock followed. The street stayed quiet. Metal met flesh. The system failed again.

A taxi hit a 19-year-old pedestrian at the intersection of Bleecker Street and Thompson Street in Manhattan. She was getting on or off a vehicle when struck, suffering abrasions to her lower leg and foot and experiencing shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver’s error is clear in the data. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupants. The report does not list helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The toll fell on the pedestrian. The street remained unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died. The driver fled but was caught. Police found booze and drugs in the car. Systemic failures left danger unchecked.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-20), a 23-year-old woman drove a stolen, drug-filled car into a cyclist and a woman on a bench at Bowery and Canal, killing both. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, had faced charges for a previous crash but was released without bail. The article reports, 'Romero was behind the wheel of a booze- and drug-filled stolen blue Chevy Malibu when it plowed into a man on a bicycle and a 63-year-old woman on a bench.' Police said the car was packed with pills, marijuana, and alcohol. Romero and her passenger fled but were quickly caught. The case highlights gaps in bail reform and vehicle oversight.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian in Chinatown, New York Post, Published 2025-07-20

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

A sedan struck a standing scooter on Christopher Street. A 13-year-old was ejected and bled from the arm. Police cite driver inexperience and other vehicular factors. Shock followed. Metal met flesh. The street stayed silent.

A crash on Christopher Street in Manhattan involved a sedan and a standing scooter. According to the police report, a 13-year-old male operating the scooter was ejected and suffered minor bleeding to his arm, experiencing shock. The sedan, driven by a licensed adult, struck the scooter's right front quarter panel. Police list 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The teen had no safety equipment. No other injuries were specified. The crash underscores the risks faced by young, unprotected road users when driver errors occur.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A cyclist hit a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal on West 13th Street. She suffered bruises to her entire body. The crash left the cyclist unhurt. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A 64-year-old pedestrian was struck by a cyclist while crossing West 13th Street at Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the woman was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. She suffered contusions to her entire body and was conscious at the scene. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, was not injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling was included.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827003 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

An SUV hit a woman riding an e-bike on La Guardia Place. She was thrown and suffered a head injury. The SUV driver was not reported injured. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A woman riding an e-bike was struck by an SUV on La Guardia Place at Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the bicyclist was ejected and suffered a head abrasion. The SUV driver, a 25-year-old man, was not reported injured. Both vehicles were going straight ahead. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers. No further details on driver actions or other causes were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Three buses crashed on a ramp. Metal twisted. Twelve hurt, one trapped. Sirens echoed. Commuters stranded. The ramp closed. The city paused, waiting for the wounded to clear.

CBS New York reported on July 2, 2025, that three NJ Transit buses collided at the Port Authority Bus Terminal's express ramp, injuring at least a dozen people. FDNY Deputy Chief Jason Saffon said, "One with moderate injuries that required extrication, 10 patients with minor injuries all transported to local area hospitals." The crash blocked a key entrance, forcing bus reroutes and causing major delays. The article highlights the challenge of emergency access at this location and the disruption to transit. No details on specific driver actions were given, but the incident underscores risks at crowded transit hubs.

• Three NJ Transit Buses Collide At Terminal, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-02

A truck slammed into stopped cars on Bleecker. Two people suffered whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. Metal crumpled. Pain followed. The street held the wreck.

A truck struck two stopped vehicles on Bleecker Street near Mac Dougal, Manhattan. Two occupants, a 31-year-old male driver and a 28-year-old female passenger, were injured with whiplash to the back and neck. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. Both cars and truck were stopped or slowing in traffic before the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

An SUV hit a pedestrian on West 8th. The woman suffered arm injuries and pain. Police list no clear cause. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed dangerous.

A Ford SUV traveling east struck a female pedestrian on West 8th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered injuries to her arm, along with pain and nausea. The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was not injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The crash left the pedestrian hurt and the driver unharmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824357 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan hit a woman crossing W 9 St at 5 Ave. She walked with the signal. The car turned right and failed to yield. Her arm was scraped. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 28-year-old woman was injured when a sedan struck her as she crossed W 9 St at 5 Ave in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver made a right turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact caused abrasions to the woman's arm. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the driver or other vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A stolen box truck crashed into a Midtown building. The front awning buckled under the force. No injuries. Police detained a person of interest. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. The city watched, unblinking.

CBS New York reported on June 23, 2025, that a stolen box truck struck a building in Midtown Manhattan, damaging the front awning. According to police, 'no one was hurt and a person of interest was taken into custody.' The incident highlights the risk posed by unauthorized drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles. The crash did not result in injuries, but the impact damaged property and disrupted the area. The report underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and the potential for harm in dense urban environments, where even a single reckless act can threaten public safety.

• Stolen Truck Slams Midtown Building, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-23

A bronze Toyota struck a parked black Ford in Manhattan. The driver, a young woman, was cuffed by a security investigator. Tension flared. The arrest was later voided. No injuries reported. The incident drew scrutiny and sparked internal review.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-20), a young woman driving a bronze Toyota collided with a parked black Ford Expedition belonging to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ security detail. Video shows the vehicles touching in a V shape. Investigator Nelson Yu, a retired NYPD detective, confronted the woman, demanding identification and handcuffing her after she failed to produce ID. Yu ordered, 'Get out of the car and show some ID,' and later, 'Get in the car! You're not going anywhere!' The woman was placed in the back seat of Yu’s vehicle. 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 risks of parked vehicles and the escalation that can follow minor collisions, especially when law enforcement is involved.

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

Shops still soup up e-bikes. City leaders talk of a 15 MPH cap. State law stands in the way. Critics slam the plan as toothless or unfair. Enforcement remains unclear. Riders and pedestrians face the same old risks.

West Side Spirit reported on June 19, 2025, that New York City is considering a 15 MPH speed limit for e-bikes, but implementation faces legal and bureaucratic delays. Mayor Eric Adams said, "there’s going to be a whole rule making process to make sure that we comply and follow the laws." Critics argue the plan singles out e-bikes while ignoring faster, heavier vehicles. Ben Furans of Transportation Alternatives called it "half-baked and ill-conceived," noting that "bikes and cars sharing the same road would be subject to different speed limits and consequences." Janet Schroeder of the E-Bike Safety Alliance doubts the rule will matter without real enforcement. The NYPD already issues thousands of criminal summonses to cyclists for minor violations, raising questions about fair and effective policy. No new enforcement methods or crash data were cited.

• City Floats 15 MPH E-Bike Limit, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-19

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