Blood on the Crosswalk, Silence in Albany

Senate Bill S 9718 passed. It pushes for complete street design. The aim: safer roads for everyone. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers stand to gain. The vote split. Some senators said no. But the bill moved forward. Streets may change.

Senate Bill S 9718, titled "Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles," advanced through the Senate with committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) and co-sponsored by Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, passed both votes despite opposition. The measure calls for redesigning streets to protect all users, not just drivers. The vote was not unanimous—several senators voted no, but the majority carried it through. The bill’s focus is clear: safer streets for people on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is to cut danger at the curb and crosswalk.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A Hyundai sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway. Metal twisted, glass shattered. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious as crush injuries swept her body. The car’s right front quarter bore the brunt. The night air held the sound.

A Hyundai sedan traveling north on Cross Island Parkway crashed, inflicting severe crush injuries on its sole occupant, a 30-year-old woman. According to the police report, the vehicle's right front quarter panel sustained heavy damage. The driver remained conscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness, but suffered injuries described as spreading through her entire body. The report states the driver was licensed and alone in the car. Both contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The narrative notes, 'A Hyundai sedan slammed hard on its right front. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious. Her seatbelt held. Her bones did not. Crush injuries spread through her body like fire through dry grass.' No other vehicles or road users are named in the report, and no driver errors are specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729233, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV hit a 56-year-old man on Hillside Avenue. The left front bumper struck him. He fell, head bleeding, unconscious. He died beneath the streetlights. The crash happened near 171st Street in Queens.

A 56-year-old man was killed when a Honda SUV struck him on Hillside Avenue near 171st Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report states the SUV's left front bumper hit the man as he stepped into the road. The pedestrian fell, suffered a head injury, and died at the scene. The crash occurred at 21:09, with the police narrative describing the victim as 'unconscious' and 'head bleeding.' According to the police report, the contributing factor was listed as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The vehicle was traveling straight ahead, and the impact point was the left front bumper. No driver errors were cited in the data provided. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk and not at an intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729342, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge SUV, moving too fast, struck a stopped Honda on Utopia Parkway. Metal screamed. A 73-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries. The afternoon stilled as bodies and steel absorbed the force. Speed left its mark.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling south on Utopia Parkway at an unsafe speed collided with the rear of a stopped Honda SUV. The crash occurred in the early afternoon. The report states, 'A Dodge SUV, speeding south, slammed into a stopped Honda. Metal groaned.' The 73-year-old male driver of the Honda, who was wearing his seatbelt, sustained crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The impact was severe enough to cause significant damage to both vehicles, with the Dodge's left front bumper striking the Honda's center back end. No actions or errors are attributed to the injured driver in the report. The focus remains on the danger posed by excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721899, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota pickup veered west on Grand Central Parkway near midnight, smashing into parked cars and striking a 56-year-old man in the roadway. The truck’s bumper crushed his head. He lay conscious, battered, the dark pressing in.

According to the police report, a Toyota pickup truck traveling west on Grand Central Parkway near midnight veered off course and struck parked vehicles. The report states that a 56-year-old man was standing in the roadway when the truck’s right front bumper hit him, causing severe head and crush injuries. The man remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes the impact as the truck 'veered west, struck parked cars,' and then hit the pedestrian, leaving him 'crushed but conscious.' The police report lists the driver's pre-crash action as 'Avoiding Object in Roadway,' but does not specify any contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' No victim actions are cited as contributing factors. The focus remains on the pickup’s movement and the resulting harm to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721563, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Three SUVs tore north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal slammed metal. Glass exploded. Four men, ages seventeen to forty-four, crushed in their seats. Belts held. Bones broke. Speed carved pain into steel. All awake. All broken.

On Cross Island Parkway, three SUVs collided in a violent chain-reaction, leaving four men aged 17 to 44 with severe crush injuries. According to the police report, all vehicles were traveling northbound when the crash occurred at 19:50. The report describes the scene: 'Three SUVs, metal to metal. A hard strike. Glass burst. Four men, ages 17 to 44, crushed in their seats. Belts held them tight. All awake. All broken. Speed carved the pain into steel.' The official contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' This systemic danger—drivers operating at speeds too high for control—directly led to the catastrophic injuries. No other contributing factors were cited for the victims. The report does not attribute any fault to the injured occupants, who were all restrained by seatbelts at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718077, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped crashed into a turning SUV on 167th Street. The rider, nineteen, was thrown partway off, blood streaming from his leg. Brakes failed. He sat stunned in the street, helmet still on, as dawn crept over Queens.

A collision unfolded on 167th Street near Highland Avenue in Queens when a moped struck a turning SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider, age nineteen, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg, remaining in shock at the scene. The incident occurred at 4:34 a.m. The police report explicitly lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical vehicle failure that led to the crash. The SUV was making a left turn while the moped was traveling straight ahead. The moped's brakes failed, resulting in a direct impact with the SUV's left front quarter panel. The rider's helmet remained on, but the report centers the mechanical failure as the primary cause. No driver errors by the SUV operator are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715523, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck barreled into a diesel rig’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. Steel twisted. The 25-year-old driver’s legs were crushed. He stayed conscious, pain sharp and unyielding. Following too closely left him broken in the cab.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on the Long Island Expressway when a box truck crashed into the back of a diesel tractor-trailer, according to the police report. The report states the box truck 'slammed into a diesel rig’s rear,' folding steel and pinning the 25-year-old driver. He suffered severe crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious throughout, with pain keeping him awake. The police report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The impact targeted the center front end of the box truck and the rear of the tractor-trailer. The driver was wearing a lap belt at the time. No other contributing factors are listed in the report. The collision highlights the lethal consequences of driver error and the dangers inherent in truck traffic on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713180, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup slammed into a 57-year-old man standing off 126th Street. His body was crushed. Alcohol lingered in the air. The man stayed conscious. The trucks moved on. He did not.

A 57-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by a Ford pickup truck near 23-41 126th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The man was standing off the roadway when the collision occurred. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck him. His body crushed. He stayed conscious.' The crash involved two pickup trucks, one parked and one driven. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The Ford pickup, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the presence of alcohol as a systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706856, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A left-turning SUV, driver distracted, struck a 68-year-old man crossing Westmoreland Street. The bumper hit his head. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, wounded. The street fell silent, danger revealed in the moment’s violence.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was crossing Westmoreland Street near 41st Drive in Queens when he was struck by a left-turning SUV. The report states the driver was distracted at the time of the crash, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding, and the man remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s left front bumper was the point of impact. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is only mentioned after the driver’s distraction is cited as the main factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700379, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV slammed into a 26-year-old man near Northern Boulevard. His head split open. Blood pooled. The driver looked away. The walker fell and did not rise. The SUV rolled on, untouched, as the street bore the mark.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV traveling near 127-48 Northern Boulevard in Queens struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian. The report states the pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations, with blood pooling on the street. The driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The narrative confirms the driver 'looked away for a moment' before the collision. The SUV showed no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian with significant injuries. No mention is made of pedestrian error or behavior contributing to the crash. The police report centers the cause on the driver's lack of attention, underscoring the persistent danger faced by those on foot when drivers fail to remain alert.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694815, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan turned right on 149th Street. Its bumper hit a woman in the crosswalk. She fell. She was crushed from head to heel. The car was fine. She was not. The street stayed cold and silent.

A 49-year-old woman was crossing 149th Street when a westbound Nissan sedan turned right and struck her with its left front bumper. According to the police report, 'A 49-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk against the light. A westbound Nissan turned right. Its left bumper struck her. She fell hard. Conscious. Crushed from head to heel. The car was undamaged. She was not.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her entire body and remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were cited in the data. The driver was licensed and the vehicle was undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 60-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk at 188th Street and 90th Avenue. She lay unconscious, head bleeding. The car’s front end was crushed. The street fell silent. Only the cold and the blood remained.

A sedan struck a 60-year-old woman as she crossed 188th Street at 90th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman was in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. She suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious at the scene. The sedan’s center front end was heavily damaged. No driver errors were listed in the police report. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'She lay unconscious, head bleeding on the cold street. The car’s front was crushed. The morning was quiet again.' The data does not mention any contributing factors related to the driver or the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679215, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda SUV hit a bus head-on. Metal tore. The SUV’s front folded. The bus doors bent. A 39-year-old man’s arm was crushed. He stayed awake, seatbelt on. The right-of-way was ignored. The street held the wreckage.

A Mazda SUV collided head-on with a bus on College Place. According to the police report, 'A Mazda SUV struck a bus head-on. Metal screamed. The SUV’s front crumpled. The bus doors twisted inward.' The crash left a 39-year-old man, the SUV driver, with a crushed arm. He remained conscious and wore his seatbelt. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The data does not indicate any errors by the bus driver. The crash underscores the danger when drivers disregard the right-of-way. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680668, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 15-year-old girl worked in the street. A vehicle crushed her. Her whole body broke. She stayed awake. No crosswalk. No borough. Only steel, flesh, and silence.

A 15-year-old pedestrian was struck and crushed by a vehicle while working in the roadway on 15th Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 15-year-old girl, working in the street, was crushed by a vehicle. Her whole body broken. She stayed awake. No crosswalk. No borough. Just steel, flesh, and the long scream of silence.' The girl suffered crush injuries to her entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The crash occurred away from any intersection or crosswalk. The victim was not blamed in the report. No information about the vehicle or driver was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673561, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal screamed on Grand Central Parkway. Three sedans crashed. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Blood ran down a driver’s face. Five packed into one car. The road did not forgive. One man, conscious, bled in the wreckage.

Three sedans collided eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three sedans struck. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Metal screamed.' A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. Five people rode in one vehicle. The KIA was demolished. The Honda’s left rear quarter panel was hit. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash left at least one person injured and multiple vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670379, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 67-year-old man stood mid-block on 73 Avenue. An SUV driver, distracted, struck him. Metal crushed bone. His legs broke. He died in the street, pinned between machines. The road stayed open. The city moved on.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was killed mid-block on 73 Avenue when a moving SUV struck him. According to the police report, 'Distraction behind the wheel. Metal met flesh. His legs shattered. He died there, between machines.' The crash involved two parked SUVs and one moving SUV. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was performing 'Other Actions in Roadway' when the crash occurred. No helmet or signal use is cited as a factor. The deadly impact highlights the danger of driver distraction and the vulnerability of people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660101, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus hit an 18-year-old e-scooter rider at 168th Street and 89th Avenue. The teen was ejected and died from head trauma. Blood marked the pavement. The bus showed no damage. Traffic control was ignored. The crash ended a young life.

An 18-year-old riding an e-scooter was killed at the corner of 168th Street and 89th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the northbound bus struck the rider, who was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report states, “The light was not obeyed.” The listed contributing factor is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The bus sustained no damage. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary failure was the disregard for traffic control. The crash claimed the life of a vulnerable road user in a moment of systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652465, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 20-year-old on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. Thrown from his bike, he landed hard. The drivers fled. He died alone, marked by the violence of impact. The street stayed silent. The danger stayed.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after being struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. According to the police report, 'A 20-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs. Thrown from the saddle, he hit the street hard. His body bore the mark of impact. The drivers kept going. He died there, alone.' The crash involved a Mercedes SUV and a Jeep SUV, both traveling south. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The drivers left the scene. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645408, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 17-year-old girl died on Cross Island Parkway. She rode outside a Honda motorcycle. The bike turned left. She was ejected, helmeted, and killed. The driver had only a permit. Inexperience and speed led to tragedy. The road stayed silent.

A 17-year-old girl was killed while riding on the outside of a 2002 Honda motorcycle on Cross Island Parkway just after midnight. According to the police report, the motorcycle made a left turn when the passenger, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The driver, a male with only a permit, was operating the motorcycle at an unsafe speed. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The victim was a passenger, not responsible for the crash. The report notes she was helmeted, but the primary causes were driver error and inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639069, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15