No More Names on the Asphalt

A van hit a young woman in the crosswalk on 2nd Ave. She bled from the hip and leg. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The street stayed loud. The pain lingered.

A 24-year-old woman crossing 2nd Avenue at East 12th Street was struck by a van. She suffered hip and upper leg injuries with minor bleeding. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. No injuries were reported for the van’s occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore right-of-way and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi hit a man crossing E 13th Street with the signal. The cab turned left, failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered arm injuries and shock. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A taxi struck a 25-year-old man crossing E 13th Street at 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the taxi, making a left turn, failed to yield and hit him. The man suffered injuries to his arm and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the taxi driver or other occupants. The crash highlights the risk faced by pedestrians at intersections when drivers do not yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

A 65-year-old man crossing E 3rd Street with the signal was hit. He suffered leg abrasions. The crash left him conscious but hurt at the intersection.

A 65-year-old pedestrian was injured while crossing E 3rd Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, he was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling south struck him, causing abrasions to his lower leg and foot. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No driver errors were specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV hit a 25-year-old man in the intersection. He crossed with the signal. Driver failed to yield. Pedestrian suffered hip and leg abrasions. Distraction and inattention led to the crash.

A station wagon SUV struck a 25-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection of E 7 St and Cooper Sq in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the SUV, making a left turn, hit him. The pedestrian was conscious but suffered abrasions to his hip and upper leg. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The impact was to the center front end of the SUV. No driver injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811667 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist struck defective pavement on 1st Ave. He crashed, hit his head, and suffered abrasions. Police cite pavement defects and distraction. The street failed him.

A 30-year-old man riding east on 1st Ave in Manhattan was injured when his bike struck defective pavement. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a head abrasion and remained conscious. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other vehicles were involved. The crash highlights the danger of poor street conditions for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811217 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

SUV hit a woman crossing Astor Place. She walked with the signal. Her arm took the blow. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed loud. The pain stayed sharp.

A 34-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing Astor Place at E 8th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver made a left turn and failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her arm and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811220 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Three dead in two weeks. Cyclist crushed in Soho. Pedestrian killed crossing Woodhaven. Another cyclist struck by fire truck in Queens. Protected lanes grow, but streets remain perilous. City claims progress. The toll mounts. The danger persists.

amNY reported on May 4, 2025, that a surge in deadly collisions has struck New York City as spring brings more cyclists and pedestrians to the streets. On May 1, a cyclist died after hitting a van's open door and being thrown under a truck at Broome and Centre Streets. On April 25, a motorcyclist struck and killed Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard. On April 19, a fire truck responding to an emergency collided with a cyclist, who died at the scene. The article notes, 'each of which is under investigation by the NYPD.' The city’s Department of Transportation points to expanded protected bike lanes—87.5 miles added in three years—and new barriers, but the recent deaths highlight ongoing systemic risks for vulnerable road users.

• Spring Collisions Expose Street Dangers, amny, Published 2025-05-04

A van door swung open. The cyclist struck it. He fell. A truck crushed him. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The street stayed busy. The drivers waited. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (May 3, 2025), Georgios Smaragdis, 44, was killed while riding his e-bike west on Broome Street in Soho. The article states, "he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had just flung open," sending him into the path of a red delivery truck that ran him over. Both drivers remained at the scene. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy." Police have not announced charges. The crash highlights the persistent danger of dooring and the lethal consequences for cyclists when drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors. The incident underscores ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in Manhattan’s dense traffic.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Dooring in Soho, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

SUV hit a man on Avenue D. He was not in the roadway. The driver failed to yield. The man suffered a back bruise. The street stayed loud. The system failed him.

A 43-year-old man walking near Avenue D in Manhattan was struck by an SUV making a right turn. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when hit. He suffered a back contusion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the danger faced by pedestrians even when not in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on an e-bike struck a van door on Broome Street. The door swung open. He fell into the path of a box truck. The truck ran him over. Medics tried to save him. He died at Bellevue Hospital.

NY Daily News reported on May 1, 2025, that an e-bike rider died in Manhattan after being doored by a Mercedes van and then run over by a box truck. The crash happened around 10:10 a.m. on Broome Street near Centre Street. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy. I only saw the accident." The collision forced the cyclist into the path of a red delivery truck, which then struck him. The 54-year-old truck driver stayed at the scene. Police had not determined if charges would be filed. The article highlights the lethal risk of dooring and the vulnerability of cyclists in mixed traffic. The incident underscores systemic dangers at curbside and the consequences of inattentive door opening.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Van Door Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-01

A woman crossed Amsterdam Avenue. An ambulance turned left. Metal struck flesh. Bones broke. Blood spilled. She died in the hospital. The driver stayed, but charges followed. The street remains wide, busy, and dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 29, 2025, that Juan Santana, an ambulance driver, was arrested months after fatally striking Miriam Reinharth, 69, in Manhattan. Police said Santana failed to yield as Reinharth crossed Amsterdam Avenue at West 96th Street. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad found Santana turned left into her path. He was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Reinharth died from severe injuries, including a broken leg and pelvis fractures. The article notes, 'The police officer said the accident was not Miriam's fault at all.' The crash occurred on a double-wide, truck route artery, highlighting ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy intersections.

• Ambulance Driver Charged After Fatal Turn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-29

Pickup turned left at Avenue C. Bumper hit 87-year-old woman crossing. She fell. Blood pooled on the street. Head injury. No driver belt. City street, hard impact.

An 87-year-old woman was struck by a pickup truck turning left at the corner of East 6th Street and Avenue C in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck's bumper hit the woman as she crossed the intersection. She suffered a head injury, with blood pooling on the pavement. The driver, a 65-year-old man, wore no seat belt. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the data does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash left the woman with severe lacerations to her head.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806893 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on FDR Drive. One driver suffered neck injuries. A child and another occupant were hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and flesh met in Manhattan traffic.

Two sedans collided on Franklin D Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, three people were hurt: a 39-year-old driver with neck injuries, a child, and another adult occupant. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling south and struck at the center front and left rear bumper. The injured driver wore a lap belt. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car hit a 78-year-old woman head-on in a Manhattan crosswalk. Blood ran from her scalp. She stood, stunned. The street kept moving. The city did not yield.

A 78-year-old woman was struck by a southbound car at the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 5th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing against the signal when the car hit her head-on. She suffered a head injury and stood in shock, bleeding from the scalp. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited in the data. The crash left the pedestrian injured and the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07