Five Dead, Sixteen Broken—Queens Needs Safe Streets Now

A motorcycle tore down 69th Street. Wrong lane. Steel met steel. The rider, 29, flew from the seat. Legs crushed. He wore a helmet. He stayed awake. Northbound ended in pain on 50th Avenue.

A 29-year-old man riding a 2021 Honda motorcycle crashed head-on at 69th Street and 50th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle 'slammed head-on.' The rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The crash involved the motorcycle traveling north and another vehicle traveling south, both with center front-end damage. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670641, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge pickup turned right on Fresh Pond Road. The truck hit a 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Steel met flesh. Blood stained the street. She died there, beneath the open sky. The truck’s front end bore the mark.

A 75-year-old woman was killed at Fresh Pond Road and 60th Road when a Dodge pickup truck struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pickup was making a right turn when it hit the pedestrian, causing fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The report states, “She crossed with the signal. A Dodge pickup turned right. Steel struck her head. Blood pooled on the pavement.” The police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The truck’s center front end was damaged in the crash. The woman was following the signal at the intersection. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669744, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

A Honda sedan plowed into two stopped cars on Borden Avenue. Metal screamed. A 57-year-old man lost part of his arm. His hand crushed where speed met steel. The crash left blood on the morning. The city moved on.

A violent crash unfolded on Borden Avenue near Greenpoint Avenue. According to the police report, a Honda sedan struck two vehicles stopped in traffic. The impact tore through metal. A 57-year-old man, belted and conscious, suffered a traumatic arm amputation. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data shows no errors by the injured man. The crash involved a BMW SUV and two Honda sedans. The force of the collision crushed the victim’s hand and arm. The morning commute became a scene of pain and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662214, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Ditmars Boulevard. The rider’s legs tore open. Blood spilled on the quiet street. He stayed conscious. No one else was hurt. The crash left flesh and bone exposed in the midnight dark.

A 46-year-old moped rider crashed into a parked sedan near 38-11 Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the collision happened at midnight. The moped struck the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his knees and feet but remained conscious. No other people were injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and undamaged. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the rider with serious injuries, underscoring the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658369, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 29-year-old man on an e-bike slammed into a slowing SUV on Fresh Pond Road. He wore a helmet. The force threw him from the seat. His body hit the pavement. He died there. Speed ruled the night. The street fell silent.

A 29-year-old man riding an e-bike died after striking a slowing SUV on Fresh Pond Road. According to the police report, 'A 29-year-old man on an e-bike struck a slowing SUV. He flew from the seat, helmet on, body crushed. The street did not move. He died there, on the pavement, where speed met silence.' The crash involved an e-bike, a station wagon/SUV, and a parked sedan. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The data does not indicate any errors by the SUV driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655286, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan slammed into an eastbound e-bike on Greenpoint Avenue near Borden. The rider, 27, went down hard. Blood pooled. Head injury. Sirens broke the silence. Traffic signals meant nothing. Steel met flesh. The street stayed dangerous.

A sedan collided head-on with an eastbound e-bike on Greenpoint Avenue near Borden Avenue. The 27-year-old e-bike rider suffered a severe head injury and was found unconscious, bleeding heavily. According to the police report, 'Traffic signals ignored. Speed unchecked.' The crash report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals. The e-bike rider was not blamed for the crash. No mention of helmet use or signaling was listed as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the danger when drivers disregard traffic controls, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653367, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus turned on 74th Street. An e-scooter hit its rear. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, flew off. Her head bled on the pavement. The bus rolled away, untouched. The street held her pain. No helmet. No mercy.

A bus turned near 57th Avenue in Queens. An e-scooter struck the bus’s rear bumper. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A bus turned. An e-scooter struck its rear. A 64-year-old woman flew off, no helmet, head bleeding. She lay conscious on the pavement. The bus rolled on. Its bumper bore no mark.' The police listed 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary error was the bus’s improper turn. The crash left the rider injured and the bus undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655019, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 19-year-old motorcyclist hit a parked SUV on 64th Street. He flew from his bike and died under a streetlamp. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He wore a helmet. The night was still. No other injuries reported.

A 19-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound on 64th Street in Queens struck the center back end of a parked Ford SUV at the corner of 58th Road. According to the police report, the impact ejected the rider from his bike. He landed on the street and died from severe head injuries. The report states he was wearing a helmet. No other people were injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The SUV was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The crash left blood on the asphalt and the street silent.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652466, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 24-year-old man on a gas scooter crashed head-on on Menahan Street. He was thrown from the scooter. His head struck the pavement. He died at the scene. Police cite driver inexperience as the cause. No helmet. No license. Only loss.

A 24-year-old man was killed while riding a gas scooter on Menahan Street. According to the police report, the unlicensed and helmetless rider was ejected in a head-on crash. His head struck the pavement. He was semiconscious, then still. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the primary contributing factor. The man was not wearing any safety equipment. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash left one dead, the street marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650972, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike rider went straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider flew, landed hard, ribs broken, pain sharp. He stayed conscious, chest crushed, breath ragged. The street stayed dark. The danger stayed real.

A crash unfolded near Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street in Queens. A sedan, making a left turn, struck a 42-year-old man riding an e-bike straight through the intersection. According to the police report, the collision left the e-bike rider ejected and suffering severe chest injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was not wearing a helmet, but the primary errors cited were on the part of the sedan driver. The impact was direct and violent, leaving the rider conscious but with crushed ribs and sharp pain. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646254, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 33-year-old man walked the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A southbound Ford SUV hit him head-on. The crash killed him. No crosswalk. The road fell silent. Headlights caught the end. Another life lost to steel and speed.

A 33-year-old man was killed when a 2005 Ford SUV struck him head-on as he walked on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at night. According to the police report, 'A man, 33, walked the dark roadway. A southbound 2005 Ford SUV struck him head-on. No crosswalk. No time to stop.' The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The crash occurred away from any intersection. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The victim was not described as using any safety equipment, and no mention of helmet or signals appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646702, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 21-year-old man crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. His back broke. He stayed conscious. The lap belt held him. Amputation followed. The Mazdas and Fords stood still. He moved, then stopped.

A 21-year-old male driver crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, the driver suffered a broken back and an amputation but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The parked Mazdas and Fords did not move; the impact came from the moving sedan. The police report notes the driver wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the driver with severe injuries, underscoring the risks posed by inattention and inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645971, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck and an e-bike turned right on rain-slick Northern Boulevard. The cyclist went down. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. The truck kept moving. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp, asphalt wet.

A box truck and a Citibike rider both turned right at Northern Boulevard and 37th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the pavement was slippery from rain. The cyclist, a 32-year-old man, lost control and crashed. His leg suffered a severe, bleeding injury. The truck was not damaged and did not stop. The police report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited for the truck. The cyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The man remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640116, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist from behind on Northern Boulevard. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, unlicensed and unhelmeted, suffered severe bleeding and lost consciousness. The street stayed silent as the crash left the rider broken.

A 24-year-old man riding a bike east on Northern Boulevard was struck from behind by a 2003 Nissan sedan. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The cyclist suffered severe, entire-body injuries and lost consciousness at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was unlicensed and unhelmeted, but these details appear only after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by distracted driving, especially to vulnerable road users like cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle struck a turning sedan on Northern Boulevard. The rider, 42, flew from his seat. His arm torn, blood pooling on the street. Both drivers distracted. The doors crumpled. The silence after was louder than the crash.

A motorcycle collided with a sedan at Northern Boulevard and 49th Street in Queens. The 42-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. According to the police report, 'Both drivers distracted.' The crash occurred as the sedan made a left turn and the motorcycle traveled straight. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The rider was helmeted and conscious after impact. The sedan's right-side doors were crushed. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young rider hit a diesel truck on the Long Island Expressway. He flew from his bike. The pavement took him. He died there. The helmet lay behind. The truck rolled on. The road stayed silent.

A 22-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding with a diesel tractor-trailer on the Long Island Expressway. According to the police report, the crash involved a motorcycle and a tractor truck diesel. The motorcyclist, traveling at unsafe speed, struck the trailer, was ejected, and suffered fatal crush injuries. The helmet was found behind him. The truck driver, a 34-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The road was dark and empty. The truck continued on after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4632739, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan tore down Grand Avenue. It hit a cyclist crossing its path. The man, twenty-one, crashed to the ground. Blood ran from his shoulder. The car’s nose crumpled. The street fell silent. Unsafe speed left a rider broken.

A 21-year-old cyclist was struck by a sedan on Grand Avenue near 71st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan was traveling west at unsafe speed when it collided with the cyclist. The impact left the cyclist bleeding heavily from his upper arm and shoulder. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The sedan’s front end was damaged. No other injuries were reported among the car’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631805, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel and rubber slammed together on the Long Island Expressway. A box truck, SUV, and motorcycle collided. The biker, 51, was crushed. His leg shattered. Blood pooled. Engines cooled. The road did not stop.

A violent crash unfolded on the Long Island Expressway near Vandam Street in Queens. According to the police report, a box truck, an SUV, and a motorcycle collided. The 51-year-old motorcyclist was crushed, suffering severe injuries to his leg. The report states: 'The biker, 51, was crushed beneath steel and rubber. His leg shattered. He stayed awake. Engines cooled. Blood pooled. The road kept moving.' Police listed 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported for the truck or SUV occupants. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the data, but the crash left him badly hurt. The system failed to protect the most vulnerable.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4629055, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes SUV hit an e-bike on Roosevelt Avenue. The SUV driver failed to yield. A 22-year-old woman riding as passenger was crushed at the legs. She stayed conscious. Steel and inattention met flesh. The street bore the cost.

A Mercedes SUV struck an eastbound e-bike near Roosevelt Avenue and 69th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The crash crushed the legs of a 22-year-old woman riding as a passenger on the e-bike. She remained conscious after the impact. The e-bike rider, a 28-year-old man, was unlicensed, but the report centers driver errors as the cause. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628996, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15