Blood on the Crosswalk, Silence in Albany

A motorcycle struck a sedan’s rear on Whitestone Expressway. One man suffered crush injuries. Two sedans and a motorcycle tangled. The crash left a driver semiconscious. Police cited following too closely. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

A crash on Whitestone Expressway involved two sedans and a motorcycle. One male driver, age 39, was injured with crush injuries and found semiconscious. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The motorcycle, traveling north and changing lanes, hit the right rear quarter panel of a northbound sedan. The impact damaged the right side doors of the sedan and the motorcycle’s front end. Two other occupants, a 42-year-old female driver and a 29-year-old male, were listed with unspecified injuries. No helmet or signal use was cited as a contributing factor. The report highlights driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819015, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan struck with force on Hillside Avenue. The driver, a 26-year-old man, died at the scene. A 25-year-old passenger suffered unspecified injuries. The crash left the car’s left front bumper mangled. No contributing factors were listed by police.

A deadly crash unfolded on Hillside Avenue at 256th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a sedan traveling south was involved in a collision that left its left front bumper damaged. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 25-year-old female passenger sustained unspecified injuries. Police listed no contributing factors for the crash. The report does not mention any actions by the driver or other vehicles. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The cause remains officially unspecified in the police data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818924, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan turned left at Hillside Avenue and 202nd Street. Its right front slammed into a 71-year-old man crossing. Blood poured from his head. He stayed conscious. The driver, age 76, walked away. A baby rode in the car. No others hurt.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and 202nd Street struck a 71-year-old man who was crossing. The impact was to the right front quarter panel of the car. The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the driver, a 76-year-old man, walked away after the crash. A baby was present as a passenger in the vehicle, but no other injuries were reported. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor in the collision. No driver injuries or vehicle damage were recorded. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the dangers posed by driver inexperience during turning maneuvers at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806490, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorbike and an Audi collide head-on at 188th Street and 90th Avenue. Metal twists. A 19-year-old is thrown and crushed, dying on the street. The SUV driver survives. Sirens fade. The cause: driver inattention, according to police.

A deadly collision unfolded at 188th Street and 90th Avenue in Queens when a motorbike and an Audi SUV met head-on, according to the police report. The impact demolished the bike and ejected its 19-year-old rider, who was crushed and killed. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old woman, survived with pain. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The report details that both vehicles were traveling straight before the collision. The police narrative states, 'A motorbike and an Audi meet head-on. The bike shatters. A 19-year-old is thrown, crushed, killed.' No contributing factors are attributed to the motorbike rider beyond 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on driver inattention as the systemic danger that led to this fatal outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805902, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan slammed into a moped on Hillside Avenue, metal grinding metal. A 20-year-old man, helmeted, was crushed, pain radiating through his body. He stayed conscious. The street bore witness to the violence of careless force.

A violent collision unfolded on Hillside Avenue near 185th Street in Queens when a sedan struck a moped, according to the police report. The impact left a 20-year-old male moped passenger with severe crush injuries to his entire body. The report states he wore a helmet and did not lose consciousness, but the pain was overwhelming. Both vehicles were reported as going straight ahead before the crash. The police report does not specify contributing factors or assign blame, listing them as 'Unspecified.' However, the narrative details the sedan striking the moped, with the moped absorbing the force at its center back end and the sedan’s left front bumper taking the hit. The violence of the impact underscores the ever-present danger vulnerable road users face when sharing streets with heavier vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795796, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford sedan turned left on College Point Blvd, striking a southbound cyclist. Steel hit flesh. The rider, 32, fell. Legs crushed. The street fell silent except for pain. Police cite driver distraction. Systemic danger left another body broken.

A collision occurred on College Point Blvd near 14th Road in Queens at 5:49 a.m., involving a Ford sedan and a southbound cyclist. According to the police report, the sedan was 'making left turn' when it struck the cyclist, who was 'going straight ahead.' The report states, 'Steel met skin. The rider, 32, fell hard. Legs crushed.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the lower legs and remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both the sedan and the crash overall. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the bike’s center front end. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after driver distraction is cited as the cause. The crash underscores the persistent risk posed by inattentive drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794907, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

A 42-year-old man, walking outside the crosswalk on 89th Avenue, was struck by two westbound SUVs. His leg was crushed beneath steel. He remained conscious as pain demanded amputation. The drivers’ view was blocked. Failure to yield sealed his fate.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old man was walking outside the crosswalk on 89th Avenue near 168th Street in Queens when he was struck by two westbound vehicles—a sedan and an SUV. The narrative states, 'His leg crushed beneath steel. He stayed awake. The pain spoke plainly: amputation.' The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, explicitly citing driver error as central to the crash. The sedan was starting from parking, while the SUV was going straight ahead. The pedestrian suffered severe injury to his lower leg, resulting in amputation, but remained conscious throughout. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The impact and aftermath underscore the lethal consequences of driver inattention and obstructed views on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790442, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck swung left at 212th and Hillside. The driver looked too late. A 29-year-old man, crossing with the light, was crushed beneath the bumper. He died in the street before dawn. Steel met flesh. The city kept moving.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on Hillside Avenue made a left turn at the corner of 212th Street and Hillside Avenue in Queens. The driver, licensed in New Jersey, was operating a 2018 FRHT-TRUCK/BUS with one occupant. The report states the driver was inattentive or distracted and failed to observe the pedestrian in time. The vehicle struck a 29-year-old man who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The point of impact was the truck’s left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The victim’s behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted only after the driver’s errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and large vehicles at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789587, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A northbound sedan hit a 67-year-old woman crossing 263rd Street near 75th Avenue. She bled on the pavement, conscious, her leg torn. The driver, distracted, did not stop. Darkness, no crosswalk, no signal—just impact and aftermath.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old woman was crossing 263rd Street near 75th Avenue in Queens when she was struck head-on by a northbound Acura sedan. The crash occurred in the dark, with no crosswalk or signal present at the location. The report states the driver was distracted, citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The woman suffered severe bleeding from her leg but remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the collision. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing where there was no signal or crosswalk, but the police report lists driver distraction as the key factor in the crash. The focus remains on the driver's inattention and the systemic dangers faced by those crossing city streets outside of marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786030, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 2006 Infiniti raced north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal screamed, hips shattered. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, was crushed by the impact. The car lay demolished in the dark, the night echoing with pain and ruin.

According to the police report, a 2006 Infiniti sedan was traveling north on Cross Island Parkway at 2:40 a.m. when it crashed at high speed. The report states the vehicle was moving with 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as a contributing factor. The right front bumper took the brunt of the impact, leaving the car 'demolished.' A 17-year-old front passenger suffered severe crush injuries to his hips and upper legs. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and remained conscious after the collision. The report also notes 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as a secondary contributing factor. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The right front hit hard. Metal folded. A 17-year-old boy, belted in front, screamed through crushed hips.' No actions by the passenger are listed as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the excessive speed and mechanical failure that led to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773882, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A van rolled down 147th Street, brakes failed. It pinned a 26-year-old man, crushing his legs. Blood pooled on the quiet pavement. Metal pressed flesh. Parked cars stood by, silent. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp, morning still.

A 26-year-old pedestrian suffered severe crush injuries to his legs when a van rolled from rest on 147th Street near 13th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:51 a.m. The report states the van’s brakes were defective, causing it to move unexpectedly and strike the man. The narrative describes the van as having 'failed brakes' and details how it 'crushed a 26-year-old man’s legs.' The victim remained conscious on the pavement, bleeding. Two parked vehicles—a van and an SUV—were involved, but only the van moved. The police report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the primary contributing factor. No driver errors beyond mechanical failure are cited. The report does not attribute any contributing actions to the pedestrian. The focus remains on the van’s mechanical failure and the resulting harm to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756178, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Honda, moving too fast, crashed into a Jeep’s side at 90th Avenue and 212th Street. The 64-year-old Jeep driver was crushed and died at the scene. Metal twisted, lives ended. Speed left no room for survival.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 90th Avenue and 212th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 2004 Honda sedan, traveling east, struck the left side of a 2014 Jeep SUV heading north. The impact crushed the 64-year-old Jeep driver, who died behind the wheel. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The narrative states, 'A speeding Honda slammed into a Jeep’s side. The 64-year-old driver was crushed in the wreck. He died behind the wheel, his body bearing the full force of the crash.' The data shows the Honda’s center front end hit the Jeep’s left side doors, with severe damage to both vehicles. No other contributing factors are listed for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver speed, with the victim bearing the brunt of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751807, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi slowed on 149th Street. The driver’s eyes left the road. A woman’s leg broke beneath the wheel. She went into shock. The car sat unharmed. The street held its breath as pain and silence filled the dusk.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling on 149th Street near 5th Avenue in Queens struck a 60-year-old woman who was standing in the roadway. The report states, 'The taxi slowed, but the driver looked away.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg and went into shock. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, with additional mention of 'Passenger Distraction.' The taxi itself sustained no damage. The victim was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report identifies driver distraction as the primary cause. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain attention, resulting in severe injury to a pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751449, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs met head-on on Cross Island Parkway. Steel ripped. Roofs caved. A ten-year-old boy and a thirty-four-year-old woman were crushed in their seats. Five people injured. Speed and failure to yield tore lives apart in the night.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided head-on on Cross Island Parkway at 10:15 p.m. The impact was catastrophic: 'Roofs folded. Steel tore. A 10-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman crushed in their seats. Five injured. All awake. All broken.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors for at least one vehicle. The narrative underscores that 'speed was too much. Yielding came too late.' Both the child and the woman, along with three others, suffered crush injuries to their entire bodies. All occupants were conscious but injured. The data points to driver actions—excessive speed and failure to yield—as the primary causes of this violent crash. No contributing factors are attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750683, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Honda motorcycle struck a Volkswagen SUV’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, helmeted but unlicensed, suffered severe bleeding. Metal screamed. The SUV’s bumper crumpled. Westbound lanes bore witness to the violence of improper lane use.

According to the police report, a 2009 Honda motorcycle collided with the rear of a Volkswagen SUV on the Long Island Expressway. The crash occurred in the westbound lanes. The motorcyclist, a 26-year-old man, was helmeted but unlicensed and suffered severe bleeding to his entire body, remaining conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV’s left rear bumper was damaged, and the sound of impact echoed across the highway. The police report makes clear that improper lane usage and unsafe speed were central to the crash, underscoring the dangers present on New York City’s high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A KIA sedan reversed near 26th Avenue. Its bumper struck a 78-year-old woman standing off the roadway. Her body crushed, pain unyielding. She stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. The street stayed indifferent.

According to the police report, a KIA sedan backed up near 208-11 26th Avenue in Queens at 14:53. The vehicle struck a 78-year-old woman who was standing off the roadway. The report states, 'A KIA sedan backed up. No damage to the car. A 78-year-old woman stood off the roadway. The bumper found her. Her whole body crushed. She stayed conscious. The pain did not let go.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her entire body and remained conscious at the scene. The police report identifies 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. No vehicle damage was reported. The data makes clear: driver error—specifically unsafe backing—directly led to severe injury for a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742811, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A diesel truck rammed a northbound pickup on Whitestone Expressway. Metal folded, glass burst, three young adults trapped inside. Neck bones cracked. The truck’s nose caved, the pickup’s rear torn open. All survived, but the scars will linger.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck struck the rear of a northbound Ford pickup truck on Whitestone Expressway at 8:37 a.m. The report states, 'A diesel truck slammed into a northbound Ford pickup. The truck’s nose folded. The pickup’s rear tore open.' Three young adults inside the pickup—ages 20, 27, and 29—suffered severe neck crush injuries. None were ejected; all remained strapped in as the vehicle crumpled around them. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the crash. The force of the impact left the pickup’s right rear bumper destroyed and the truck’s front end mangled. The data makes clear: driver error behind the wheel of the tractor truck led to devastating injuries for the pickup’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 15-year-old boy, unlicensed and bareheaded, collided with a bus at 19th Avenue and 43rd Street. He flew from his motorscooter, struck the pavement, and died from head injuries. The street fell silent. No helmet. No chance.

A 15-year-old boy driving a motorscooter was killed in a violent crash with a bus at the corner of 19th Avenue and 43rd Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report states the teen was 'unlicensed and bareheaded' when he struck the bus and was ejected from his motorscooter, suffering fatal head injuries. The bus, registered in New Jersey, was traveling west and was struck on its right front bumper. The police report lists the boy as unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. Contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified' in the report. The narrative emphasizes the severity of the impact and the absence of a helmet, but does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor before listing the lack of helmet use. The focus remains on the systemic dangers present when young, unlicensed individuals operate motor vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737138, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Mazda SUV swung right on 160th Street. Metal met flesh. A 53-year-old woman on a bike went down, her leg shattered beneath the front left wheel. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious, silent, helmetless, pain radiating through the dusk.

A collision unfolded on 160th Street near Council District 19 at 7:40 p.m., involving a Mazda SUV and a woman riding a bicycle, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling east. The cyclist, a 53-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her lower leg after the SUV’s front left quarter panel hit her. She remained conscious but was bleeding on the pavement. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was cited as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed only after the driver’s failure to yield. The impact and resulting injury underscore the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers do not yield as required.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731994, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14