No More Names on Asphalt

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 Toyota Sienna struck a 70-year-old man crossing Grand Street. The crash left him with crushed legs. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A 2017 Toyota Sienna, driven by a 65-year-old man, struck a 70-year-old pedestrian at the intersection of Grand Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his lower legs. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal. The driver was not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No vehicle damage was noted. The crash highlights the danger faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830262 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

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 turned left on Delancey and hit a cyclist. The rider took a blow to the shoulder. Police cite failure to yield. Passengers in the car were shaken. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A sedan making a left turn on Delancey Street collided with a cyclist traveling straight. The cyclist, a 27-year-old woman, suffered a shoulder injury and bruising. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. Four car occupants, all in their early twenties, were listed as uninjured or with unspecified injuries. The crash involved a Honda sedan and a bicycle. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The impact highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827925 - 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 sedan struck a skater at 400 Grand Street. The skater took a hit to the chest. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The crash left one injured and two shaken.

A sedan traveling east collided with a 45-year-old in-line skater at 400 Grand Street in Manhattan. The skater, wearing a helmet, suffered a chest injury and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Two vehicle occupants were also involved but not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention. The skater’s helmet is noted in the report, but the primary cause remains driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823615 - 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 sedan hit another car on South Street. A seven-year-old boy suffered a face injury. Police cite reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. Three other occupants were also involved.

A sedan traveling south on South Street collided with another vehicle. According to the police report, a seven-year-old boy riding as a rear passenger was injured, suffering a facial contusion. Three other occupants, including a baby, a 33-year-old woman, and two 43-year-old men, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV slammed into truck’s rear on FDR Drive. One passenger suffered neck injury. Police cite following too closely. Impact left scars on metal and flesh.

A pick-up truck carrying five people slowed on FDR Drive. An SUV struck its rear. According to the police report, one passenger, a 61-year-old woman, suffered a neck injury and whiplash. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling north. The SUV’s front hit the truck’s back. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger of tailgating, as noted by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

Two sedans crashed on FDR Drive. One young driver suffered neck injury. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe lane changes. Metal, glass, pain. The city keeps moving.

Two sedans collided on Franklin D Roosevelt Drive near East Houston Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, one 22-year-old driver suffered a neck injury and whiplash. Five other occupants, including drivers and passengers, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the danger of driver error behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV hit sedan from behind on FDR Drive. Three hurt. Police cite unsafe speed and tailgating. Head injury, shock, whiplash. Metal twisted. Night air thick with sirens.

An SUV struck a sedan from behind on FDR Drive in Manhattan. Three occupants were injured, including a 29-year-old driver who suffered a head injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' caused the crash. The SUV's left front bumper hit the sedan's left rear bumper. No mention of helmet or signal use. The crash left metal bent and people hurt, all due to driver errors listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A motorcycle slammed into a car’s side on E Houston and Essex. The rider, thirty-one, bled badly from his leg. The crash left him conscious but hurt. No driver errors listed. The street stayed busy. Metal and blood marked the scene.

A motorcycle and a car collided at E Houston Street and Essex Street in Manhattan. The motorcycle struck the left side doors of the car. According to the police report, the thirty-one-year-old motorcycle driver suffered severe bleeding to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The car, a Porsche, was traveling south while the motorcycle moved east. The police report notes the motorcyclist wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the intersection marked by injury and damage, underscoring the risks faced by those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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