Blood on the Crosswalk, Silence in Albany
SD 11: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Deaths Keep Coming
A man lies in the crosswalk. A siren wails. In Senate District 11, five people have died in the last year. Nineteen more suffered injuries so grave the city calls them “serious.” In all, 1,638 people were hurt in 2,601 crashes. The numbers do not flinch. They do not care about age. One child, one elder, one cyclist, one pedestrian—each is a body in the street.
The Faces Behind the Numbers
A 78-year-old man tried to cross Jericho Turnpike. He did not make it. Five months later, police charged the driver with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The charge is a misdemeanor. The man is still dead. Police charged him with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, both misdemeanors.
A firefighter ran a red light at 83 miles per hour. He killed a 23-year-old worker who had the right-of-way. His blood-alcohol was twice the legal limit. He was high on cocaine and marijuana. The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.
Leadership: Steps Forward, Miles to Go
Senator Toby Stavisky voted yes on a bill to force safer street designs for all users, not just drivers. The bill passed. She also co-sponsored a bill to make carmakers post pedestrian safety ratings online. These are steps. But the blood on the pavement says more is needed. The law still lets drivers off with a ticket for killing a man in a crosswalk. The law still lets speed and size rule the road.
What Comes Next
This is not fate. This is policy. Call Senator Stavisky. Call your council member. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real penalties for drivers who kill. Demand streets built for people, not just cars. Do not wait for another name on the list.
Act now.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Driver Charged Months After Queens Fatality, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-21
- Driver Charged Months After Queens Fatality, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-21
- Firefighter Charged After Fatal Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-28
- File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13
- File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729342, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05
▸ Other Geographies
SD 11 Senate District 11 sits in Queens, Precinct 111, District 19, AD 26.
It contains Rikers Island, College Point, Whitestone-Beechhurst, Bay Terrace-Clearview, Fort Totten, Jamaica Estates-Holliswood, Douglaston-Little Neck, Oakland Gardens-Hollis Hills, Alley Pond Park, Glen Oaks-Floral Park-New Hyde Park, Bellerose, Laguardia Airport, Queens CB80.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Senate District 11
Honda Sedan Slams Object, Driver Bleeds▸A Honda sedan turned left on 94 Road. The front end struck something unseen. The airbag burst. The driver, thirty, bled from the head. He spoke in fragments. The night in Queens left him broken and dazed.
A 2015 Honda sedan made a left turn at 94 Road and 217 Street in Queens. The car's front end struck an unknown object. According to the police report, the airbag deployed. The driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations and was incoherent at the scene. He wore a seatbelt. No other injuries were specified. The report lists no clear contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The impact left the driver hurt and bleeding, with the car's left front bumper damaged.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497920,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Permit Driver Slams Sedan Into SUV, Woman Bleeds▸Midday on Cross Island Parkway. A permit driver veered. His sedan struck the rear of a Honda SUV. A woman, 35, bled from the eye. Others suffered head and neck pain. Inexperience and distraction left metal and flesh torn.
On Cross Island Parkway, a sedan driven by a permit holder crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. According to the police report, 'A permit driver veered, metal kissed metal. His sedan struck a Honda’s rear. A woman, 35, sat bleeding from the eye.' Seven people were involved. The 35-year-old woman suffered severe eye lacerations. Other occupants, including a 17-year-old male and a 62-year-old woman, reported head and neck injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. All injured parties were conscious. Lap belts were used. The crash underscores the danger when inexperience and distraction meet speed and steel.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493751,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Elderly Driver Dies After Buick Veers in Queens▸A Buick sedan veered on Union Turnpike. The driver, a 92-year-old man, slumped behind the wheel. The car struck hard. The airbag burst. He died alone in the seat. No other injuries reported. The street fell silent.
A 92-year-old man was killed when his Buick sedan veered west on Union Turnpike near 251st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver slumped behind the wheel and the car struck hard, deploying the airbag. The man died in the driver’s seat. No other occupants or bystanders were reported injured. The police report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor in the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the sudden danger that can unfold on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4491477,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A Honda sedan turned left on 94 Road. The front end struck something unseen. The airbag burst. The driver, thirty, bled from the head. He spoke in fragments. The night in Queens left him broken and dazed.
A 2015 Honda sedan made a left turn at 94 Road and 217 Street in Queens. The car's front end struck an unknown object. According to the police report, the airbag deployed. The driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations and was incoherent at the scene. He wore a seatbelt. No other injuries were specified. The report lists no clear contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The impact left the driver hurt and bleeding, with the car's left front bumper damaged.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497920, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Permit Driver Slams Sedan Into SUV, Woman Bleeds▸Midday on Cross Island Parkway. A permit driver veered. His sedan struck the rear of a Honda SUV. A woman, 35, bled from the eye. Others suffered head and neck pain. Inexperience and distraction left metal and flesh torn.
On Cross Island Parkway, a sedan driven by a permit holder crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. According to the police report, 'A permit driver veered, metal kissed metal. His sedan struck a Honda’s rear. A woman, 35, sat bleeding from the eye.' Seven people were involved. The 35-year-old woman suffered severe eye lacerations. Other occupants, including a 17-year-old male and a 62-year-old woman, reported head and neck injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. All injured parties were conscious. Lap belts were used. The crash underscores the danger when inexperience and distraction meet speed and steel.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493751,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Elderly Driver Dies After Buick Veers in Queens▸A Buick sedan veered on Union Turnpike. The driver, a 92-year-old man, slumped behind the wheel. The car struck hard. The airbag burst. He died alone in the seat. No other injuries reported. The street fell silent.
A 92-year-old man was killed when his Buick sedan veered west on Union Turnpike near 251st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver slumped behind the wheel and the car struck hard, deploying the airbag. The man died in the driver’s seat. No other occupants or bystanders were reported injured. The police report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor in the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the sudden danger that can unfold on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4491477,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Midday on Cross Island Parkway. A permit driver veered. His sedan struck the rear of a Honda SUV. A woman, 35, bled from the eye. Others suffered head and neck pain. Inexperience and distraction left metal and flesh torn.
On Cross Island Parkway, a sedan driven by a permit holder crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. According to the police report, 'A permit driver veered, metal kissed metal. His sedan struck a Honda’s rear. A woman, 35, sat bleeding from the eye.' Seven people were involved. The 35-year-old woman suffered severe eye lacerations. Other occupants, including a 17-year-old male and a 62-year-old woman, reported head and neck injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. All injured parties were conscious. Lap belts were used. The crash underscores the danger when inexperience and distraction meet speed and steel.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493751, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Elderly Driver Dies After Buick Veers in Queens▸A Buick sedan veered on Union Turnpike. The driver, a 92-year-old man, slumped behind the wheel. The car struck hard. The airbag burst. He died alone in the seat. No other injuries reported. The street fell silent.
A 92-year-old man was killed when his Buick sedan veered west on Union Turnpike near 251st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver slumped behind the wheel and the car struck hard, deploying the airbag. The man died in the driver’s seat. No other occupants or bystanders were reported injured. The police report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor in the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the sudden danger that can unfold on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4491477,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A Buick sedan veered on Union Turnpike. The driver, a 92-year-old man, slumped behind the wheel. The car struck hard. The airbag burst. He died alone in the seat. No other injuries reported. The street fell silent.
A 92-year-old man was killed when his Buick sedan veered west on Union Turnpike near 251st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver slumped behind the wheel and the car struck hard, deploying the airbag. The man died in the driver’s seat. No other occupants or bystanders were reported injured. The police report lists 'Illnes' as a contributing factor in the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the sudden danger that can unfold on city streets.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4491477, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15