No More Names on the Asphalt

May 6 - 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 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 2 - 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 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 20 - 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 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - 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 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - 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 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - 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

Apr 11 - 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

Apr 7 - 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

Apr 6 - Six ride south on Broadway. The Nissan turns left. Metal crunches. A front passenger clutches his bruised back. Others sit silent, belts tight. Driver inattention and a bad turn bring pain.

A Nissan sedan with six people inside turned left near 610 Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, the car struck something with its left front bumper. One front passenger suffered a back contusion. The other occupants were shaken but not visibly hurt. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. All wore lap belts. The crash shows the danger when drivers lose focus and turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804368 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - Chevy sedan turned left at 2nd Avenue. Its front struck a woman crossing with the light. She stayed conscious. Her leg bloodied. Two men in the car were unhurt.

A Chevy sedan turned left at 2nd Avenue and East 10th Street. Its front end struck a 35-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, she remained conscious and suffered a bruised, bloodied leg. Two men inside the sedan, including the driver, were not injured. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the impact occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805765 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - A man, 35, hit on Second Avenue. He stepped from behind parked cars. His leg torn. The street offered no shield. The car did not stop in time.

A 35-year-old man was injured while crossing near 97 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, he was a pedestrian emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle, not at an intersection. He suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report does not list any specific driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle details or driver actions were provided in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804139 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 3 - A stolen SUV crashed and burned in Inwood. Two NYPD officers chased it, then left the wreck. The driver died in the flames. The officers returned to their Bronx precinct. They did not report the crash. Both are now suspended.

According to the NY Daily News (April 3, 2025), two NYPD officers pursued a stolen Honda CR-V from the Bronx into Manhattan. The chase ended when the SUV crashed into a building near Dyckman St and burst into flames. The officers 'fled the scene,' leaving the driver, who died in the fire. Surveillance footage showed their patrol car leaving. The officers did not report the incident and finished their shift. Both were suspended as the NYPD Force Investigation Division launched a probe. This crash comes after the NYPD tightened pursuit policies, now allowing chases only for felonies or violent misdemeanors. The department aims to avoid pursuits that 'lead to crashes and injure other motorists and pedestrians.' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police would instead use 'advanced tools of modern-day policing' to track suspects.

• Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 25 - A 25-year-old man was injured when a sedan traveling west struck him outside an intersection in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The vehicle’s right front bumper was damaged on impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on East 10th Street in Manhattan struck a 25-year-old male pedestrian who was not in the roadway and was outside an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The vehicle’s right front bumper was damaged at the point of impact. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors or contributing factors were cited. The pedestrian was not reported to have any visible complaints at the scene. The driver was going straight ahead at the time of the collision. The report does not indicate any failure to yield or other driver violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801314 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 23 - A 21-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and sustained a serious head injury on E 14 St. According to the police report, the rider was unlicensed and suffered a concussion. The crash caused center front end damage to the bike.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male bicyclist was involved in a crash on E 14 St at 9:00 PM. The rider was ejected from the bicycle and sustained a head injury classified as severity level 3, including a concussion. The vehicle involved was a single bike with center front end damage. The driver was unlicensed, holding no valid license despite being registered in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to any other party or victim behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed operation of bicycles and the resulting severe injuries when control is lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 21 - A cyclist, distracted and inattentive, struck a 56-year-old man on Lafayette Street. The pedestrian suffered facial abrasions. The crash happened outside an intersection. Traffic controls were ignored.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling south on Lafayette Street in Manhattan struck a 56-year-old male pedestrian outside an intersection. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to the face and was injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, showing the cyclist failed to pay attention and ignored traffic controls. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were listed as factors. The crash highlights the danger when cyclists disregard traffic rules and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - A man lay bleeding in the crosswalk at Lafayette and Bleecker after a southbound cyclist hit him in the head and rode on. The street stayed quiet. The impact left the pedestrian semiconscious, blood pooling on the pavement.

A 54-year-old man was struck in the head by a southbound cyclist at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Bleecker Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The pedestrian was left semiconscious and bleeding severely in the crosswalk. The report states the cyclist did not stop after the collision. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist's bike showed no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian with a serious head injury. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the ongoing danger to people on foot when drivers—regardless of vehicle type—fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - A vehicle occupant suffered head injuries and shock after a crash caused by an improper U-turn on East 14th Street. The collision’s impact and driver error highlight the dangers of reckless turning maneuvers in busy Manhattan streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:04 on East 14th Street near 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. The driver was making an improper U-turn when the collision happened, a critical contributing factor cited in the report. The injured party was a male occupant inside the vehicle, who sustained head injuries and was in shock. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary driver error leading to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The vehicle sustained damage at an unspecified point of impact. This incident underscores the risks posed by improper turning maneuvers in dense urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - A Ford SUV swung right on Waverly Place. The driver, distracted, plowed into a 55-year-old man crossing with the light. Bone met bumper. The man stayed conscious. His knee and foot shattered. The SUV rolled on, undamaged.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV turned right on Waverly Place near Broadway and struck a 55-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The report states the pedestrian was hit in the leg by the bumper, resulting in crush injuries to his knee and foot. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The pedestrian was crossing with the light, as documented in the report, and was located at the intersection. The SUV sustained no damage. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor, keeping the focus on the driver's failure to pay attention during the turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800189 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19