Five Dead, Sixteen Broken—Queens Needs Safe Streets Now

Governor Hochul stalls congestion pricing, leaving MTA riders in limbo. The pause threatens subway and bus service. Advocates demand any replacement funds boost operations, not highways. Riders need frequent, affordable transit—not more gridlock and pollution.

This editorial, published October 1, 2024, addresses Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing and seek alternative funding for the MTA’s $15-billion capital plan. The article states: “If the governor wants to do the MTA and riders a favor, she should use the money she finds to instead boost MTA operations.” Author Samuel Santaella criticizes Hochul’s move, arguing it jeopardizes service for working-class New Yorkers. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris are cited as proponents of fare-free buses, while Riders Alliance pushes for six-minute service. The piece urges Hochul to reject highway expansions and instead invest in frequent, affordable transit. The editorial frames this as a fight for clean air, equity, and safety for all New Yorkers who rely on public transportation.

• OPINION: Any Money Hochul Finds to ‘Replace’ Congestion Pricing Should Fund Fares and Frequency, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-01

A flatbed truck rolled east on Queens Boulevard. A 23-year-old bicyclist crossed north. Metal struck skull. Blood pooled. The truck kept moving. The cyclist lay injured, head bleeding, helmetless. Driver inattention marked the moment. The bike did not move again.

According to the police report, a flatbed truck was traveling east on Queens Boulevard at 35th Street when it struck a 23-year-old male bicyclist crossing north. The collision resulted in severe head bleeding for the cyclist, who was conscious but helmetless. The report states the truck 'kept rolling' while 'the bike did not.' Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The cyclist’s lack of helmet is noted in the report, but the primary error identified is the truck driver's inattention. The impact was forceful enough to cause blood to pool on the asphalt, underscoring the grave consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752810, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel struck flesh on 43rd Street. A Tesla turned left. A moped kept straight. The rider’s leg shattered under the car’s weight. No helmet. Blood on the pavement. Night air thick with sirens and the cold bite of metal.

A violent collision unfolded at 43rd Street and 50th Avenue in Queens when a Tesla sedan turned left and struck a moped traveling straight, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 8:15 p.m. The report details that the moped rider, a 26-year-old man, suffered severe crush injuries to his leg and was conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. The Tesla’s left front bumper collided with the moped’s right front, sending the rider to the pavement. The police report’s language—'Steel struck flesh. A 26-year-old man crumpled to the pavement, leg crushed'—underscores the brutal impact and the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield or pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748128, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on 68th Avenue, striking a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The driver did not stop. Her leg was crushed. The car showed no damage. The pain lingered at the intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at 68th Avenue and Fresh Pond Road struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with the pedestrian signal. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, a critical error cited as the primary contributing factor. The driver fled the scene without stopping, leaving the woman with severe crush injuries to her leg. The vehicle, a 2021 Hyundai sedan, showed no visible damage. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing with the signal, emphasizing that driver failure to yield was the decisive factor in the collision. No other contributing behaviors by the victim are listed. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed to pedestrians by drivers who disregard right-of-way at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747712, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped, driven too fast and without a license, slammed into a 61-year-old man crossing Woodside Avenue. Both men fell. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The machine lay shattered. The street bore the mark of reckless speed.

According to the police report, a moped traveling east on Woodside Avenue near 67th Street struck a 61-year-old pedestrian mid-block. Both the pedestrian and the moped rider, age 34, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to their entire bodies. The report states the moped was operated at 'Unsafe Speed' and that the driver was 'Unlicensed.' The Zongzhen moped sustained heavy front-end damage. The narrative describes the moped as tearing down the street 'too fast,' before colliding with the pedestrian. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing the street outside a crosswalk or signal, but no pedestrian actions are cited as contributing factors. The focus remains on the unlicensed, speeding driver whose actions left two people bleeding on the pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743841, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck swung right on Greenpoint Avenue. An e-bike rider, just 28, kept straight. She was thrown, her hip shattered. She died there, helmet on, beneath the Queens sun. Failure to yield and driver distraction ended her ride.

According to the police report, a box truck was making a right turn at Greenpoint Avenue and 43rd Street in Queens when it struck a 28-year-old woman riding an e-bike straight through the intersection. The impact ejected her from the bike, shattering her hip and causing fatal injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors on the part of the truck driver. The e-bike rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver's errors. The collision occurred at 11:35 a.m., with the truck's right front bumper cited as the point of impact. The woman died at the scene, another life ended by a driver’s failure to yield and lack of attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741425, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford carry-all turned left at 47th Avenue and 46th Street. The truck struck a 16-year-old girl in the center of the crosswalk. She suffered fatal head wounds. The driver’s view was obstructed. The truck showed no damage. The license remained.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 47th Avenue and 46th Street in Queens when, according to the police report, a Ford carry-all making a left turn struck a 16-year-old pedestrian in the center of the crosswalk. The report states the girl was crushed and suffered fatal head wounds. The driver’s actions are underscored by the police report’s citation of 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. The truck sustained no damage, and the driver kept his license, according to the police report. No contributing factors were attributed to the victim. The report details the systemic danger faced by pedestrians at intersections, especially when drivers proceed with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735938, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Porsche, chased by police, smashed into two sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 17-year-old boy, unbelted in the front seat, died instantly. The street, once roaring, fell silent in the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Porsche sedan fleeing police at unsafe speed crashed into two other sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. The report states the Porsche's 'right front crumpled' on impact. A 17-year-old boy, riding as a front passenger in the Porsche, died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Porsche was engaged in a 'Police Pursuit' at the time of the crash. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the street in silence, underscoring the lethal consequences of reckless driving and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734553, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

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 diesel truck veered on the Long Island Expressway. A Yamaha slammed its rear. The rider, twenty-six, flew from the bike. His helmet cracked. His body struck pavement. His breath stopped. The truck kept moving. The road claimed another life.

A deadly crash unfolded on the Long Island Expressway when a diesel tractor truck shifted lanes, according to the police report. The Yamaha motorcycle, traveling straight ahead, struck the truck's right rear bumper. The 26-year-old motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike. The helmet cracked on impact, and the rider suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, pointing to a critical driver error by the truck operator during the lane change. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The violence of the impact and the disregard for traffic control combined to end a young life on a highway built for speed, not safety.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729766, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy sedan veered off course on Forest Avenue, smashing headlong into a parked Honda. Metal twisted. Glass bloodied. The driver, 38, conscious but bleeding, suffered deep wounds. The Honda never moved. The street stayed silent.

According to the police report, a Chevy sedan traveling southeast on Forest Avenue near Woodbine Street veered from its path and struck a parked Honda sedan head-on. The report describes the incident as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' highlighting a clear driver error. The Honda was stationary and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The impact left the Chevy's driver, a 38-year-old man, conscious but with severe lacerations to the head and bleeding, as detailed in the report: 'Metal crumpled. Blood on glass.' No contributing factors are attributed to the parked vehicle or any other party. The collision underscores the consequences of improper lane usage and loss of vehicle control, with all harm falling on the driver responsible for the errant maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729454, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 18-year-old cyclist bled from the head after a head-on crash on Honeywell Street. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver failed to see him. The street kept moving. The cyclist stayed conscious, injured and alone.

An 18-year-old cyclist was struck head-on on Honeywell Street near Skillman Avenue in Queens, sustaining a severe head injury and bleeding heavily, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. The report states, 'The driver did not see him,' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, remained conscious at the scene, but blood pooled on the pavement. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727727, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A distracted SUV driver turned left on 65th Street. A moped slammed into the bumper. The rider crashed, blood streaming from his head onto the pavement. He lay conscious, helmetless, as the SUV’s torn bumper marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 65th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens when a southbound moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV’s right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding from the head, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood pouring from his head onto the pavement. The SUV’s bumper was torn in the crash. The police report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention while turning across traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722243, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan tore into a parked box truck on 28th Avenue. The driver, 57, was left semiconscious, bleeding from the head. The truck stood still. Speed did not. Metal crumpled. Blood pooled. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a Nissan sedan traveling east on 28th Avenue near 44-10 collided with the rear of a parked box truck. The driver, a 57-year-old man, was held by his seatbelt but suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious. The report states the box truck was stationary at the time of impact. 'Unsafe Speed' is listed as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan's center front end struck the truck's back, crumpling metal and leaving the driver injured. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722161, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan surged from its spot on Myrtle Avenue. Its front bumper slammed a 46-year-old cyclist. He flew, hit pavement, crushed. The car rolled on. Blood pooled. The street bore witness to another brutal collision.

According to the police report, a sedan pulled from its parking spot near 67-03 Myrtle Avenue in Queens and struck a 46-year-old man riding a bike. The cyclist was hit by the sedan's left front bumper, ejected from his bike, and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. The report states the cyclist remained conscious after the impact. The crash occurred at 2:00 PM. Police cite 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting the sedan driver's failure to provide adequate space for the cyclist. The narrative notes the car 'kept rolling' after the collision. The report also mentions the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by cyclists on city streets when drivers disregard safe passing distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus struck a stopped bike at Myrtle Avenue and 69th Street. The rider, fifty-four, was thrown off, bleeding and conscious, pain everywhere. The bus did not stop. The bike lay broken, the street stained, the city indifferent.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on Myrtle Avenue at 69th Street collided with a stopped bicycle. The narrative states, 'A bus hit a stopped bike. The rider, 54, flew off. No helmet. Blood ran. He was awake, hurting everywhere. The bus kept going. The bike stayed down.' The cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and was ejected from the bike, sustaining severe bleeding but remaining conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but the primary sequence of events centers on the bus striking a stationary cyclist. The bus driver continued without stopping. No driver-specific errors are cited in the data, but the impact and aftermath underscore the systemic dangers facing cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720081, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped struck a turning sedan on Queens Boulevard. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, silent, as speed and steel tore through the evening air.

At Queens Boulevard and 69th Street, a moped traveling east collided violently with a sedan making a right turn. According to the police report, the primary cause was 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact severely injured the 17-year-old moped driver, resulting in the amputation of part of his lower arm and hand. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a turning sedan. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' Damage was concentrated on the sedan's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban traffic. No victim behavior was listed as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720532, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man crossed Roosevelt Avenue before dawn. A Ford SUV hit him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.

A 38-year-old man was killed while crossing Roosevelt Avenue near 70th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 a.m. when a 2011 Ford SUV, traveling east, struck the pedestrian in the chest with its center front end. The report states the man was crossing outside an intersection, with no signal or crosswalk present. The narrative notes, 'A man crossed alone before dawn. A 2011 Ford SUV struck him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further explanation for the fatal impact. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of vehicle movement through pedestrian space in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped struck a 78-year-old woman in a Queens crosswalk. Her hip shattered. She died on Grand Avenue. The rider, distracted, did not stop. The morning stayed silent. Systemic danger lingered at the intersection.

A 78-year-old woman was killed while crossing Grand Avenue at 80th Street in Queens. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a northbound moped struck her head-on. The report states the rider was 'distracted' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact broke her hip and caused fatal injuries. The narrative notes the rider did not stop. No driver errors other than inattention are cited. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection; the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and systemic threats facing those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15