Queens Streets Bleed While Lawmakers Stall

A driver killed a 7-year-old girl at 45th Street and Newtown Road. The city will install a traffic signal. Local leaders and family demanded action. DOT promises more safety. Residents call for broader change. One light will not fix the corridor.

On April 1, 2023, NYC DOT announced a new traffic signal for 45th Street and Newtown Road in Queens. This follows the February death of Dolma Naadhun, age 7, struck by a driver with a learner’s permit. The matter, titled 'NYC to install a traffic signal at the site of Queens crash that killed 7-year-old,' drew support from State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who said, 'I am glad the city is installing a traffic signal at the site of Naadhun's tragic death, in accordance with her family’s wishes.' Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated, 'No loss of life on our streets is acceptable.' The DOT has already added curb extensions and new crosswalks. Community members, including Alex Duncan, argue that one signal is not enough and demand systemic safety changes along the corridor. The signal is set for installation in May.

• NYC to install a traffic signal at the site of Queens crash that killed 7-year-old, gothamist.com, Published 2023-04-01

A new traffic light will rise at a deadly Queens corner. A girl died here. Her brother begged for change. The city listened. Officials promise more: stop signs, curb extensions, clearer crosswalks. The driver who killed her ran a stop sign. He was unlicensed.

On March 30, 2023, the NYC Department of Transportation announced new safety measures at a Queens intersection where 7-year-old Dolma Naadhum was killed by an SUV. The agency will install a traffic light by May, following a petition from Dolma’s brother and pressure from local leaders. State Senator Michael Gianaris, representing District 12, pledged to honor the family's request, stating, 'We fix Newtown Road where this happened.' The DOT will also add all-way stop signs at a nearby crossing and has already improved crosswalks, extended curbs, and restricted parking for better visibility. The driver in the fatal crash ran a stop sign and lacked a proper license. The city’s action comes after years of complaints about dangerous driving at this intersection.

• NYC to install traffic light at corner where girl died after brother’s plea, nypost.com, Published 2023-03-30

A 15-year-old on an e-bike hit the back of a Ford pickup on Queens Boulevard. He flew off, landed hard. Blood pooled from his head. The truck kept moving. The boy was left injured, conscious, on the street.

A 15-year-old boy riding an e-bike struck the rear of a Ford pickup truck on Queens Boulevard near 42nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A 15-year-old boy on an e-bike struck the rear of a Ford pickup. He flew, hit the pavement hard. Blood from his head pooled on the asphalt. The truck kept going, straight into the sun.' The boy was ejected from his bike, suffering severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pickup truck did not stop after the crash. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4615014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany’s push for residential parking permits risks locking in car dominance. Critics say low fees fuel car ownership, crowding out transit, bikes, and green space. Experts warn it’s a subsidy for drivers, not a fix for congestion or emissions.

On March 16, 2023, a Senate proposal surfaced to create a Residential Parking Permit system in New York City. The plan, now under City Council review, would charge drivers up to $30 per month for curbside parking, with revenue aimed at funding the MTA. The proposal leaves key details—like reserving 20% of spaces for non-residents—to the Council. The bill’s summary claims it will reduce emissions and support transit. Senator Michael Gianaris supports the measure, but critics are blunt. Bike New York’s Jon Orcutt calls it a 'big nothingburger.' Donald Shoup says the $30 fee is a subsidy for cars. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives argues, 'public space should be used for transit, bike lanes, and green space, not car storage.' Studies show similar programs in other cities have failed to cut congestion or emissions, and may even increase car ownership. The Department of Transportation has testified against the plan, warning it entrenches private car storage at the expense of vulnerable road users.

• Albany’s Residential Parking Program Won’t Be Good for New York City: Analysis, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-16

An SUV plowed into a Mercedes on the BQE. Metal screamed. The Mercedes driver, fifty, was pinned and broke his back. Distraction ruled the night. The crash left silence and pain in its wake.

A westbound SUV struck the rear of a 2019 Mercedes sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The Mercedes driver, a 50-year-old man, suffered severe crush injuries and a broken back. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into the rear of a 2019 Mercedes. The driver, 50, was crushed in his seat. His back broken, his night ended in steel and silence. Distraction was behind the wheel.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other errors or contributing factors are cited. The crash left one driver injured, with no mention of other victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit an 80-year-old woman crossing 31st Street in Queens. She suffered a head wound. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver was young and distracted. The right side of the SUV crumpled. The woman stayed conscious.

An 80-year-old woman was struck by a northbound SUV on 31st Street near 23rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash happened under midday sun. The woman was crossing the street when the SUV hit her, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The right side of the SUV was damaged in the impact. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian beyond her location and action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A teen on a motorcycle slammed into an SUV turning left on Northern Boulevard. He flew from the seat, face torn open. No helmet. No license. Blood on the asphalt. The road stayed quiet. The city did not stop.

An unlicensed 18-year-old man riding a Jiajue motorcycle struck a Nissan SUV making a left turn at Northern Boulevard and 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the teen was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe facial lacerations. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The rider wore no helmet and had no license. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. The crash left blood on the street, another mark in the city’s toll.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611228 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A girl died at a Queens intersection. Her brother started a petition. Over 26,000 signed. Neighbors and State Sen. Michael Gianaris demand a traffic light. DOT hesitates. Drivers keep ignoring stop signs. The crosswalk remains deadly. The city stalls. Families mourn.

On March 5, 2023, State Senator Michael Gianaris responded to the death of Dolma Naadhum, a 7-year-old killed at a Newtown Road intersection in Astoria, Queens. The incident sparked a petition—over 26,000 signatures—calling for traffic lights to replace stop signs at three crossings. Gianaris pledged to 'make sure we fix Newtown Road where this happened, and to honor her father's request that there be traffic lights there.' The Department of Transportation upgraded crosswalk markings but has not committed to a traffic light, citing a low crash history. Residents and the victim’s family say the intersection remains dangerous, with drivers ignoring stop signs. Gianaris’s support highlights official recognition of the need for stronger protections for pedestrians, especially children, at this site.

• 11-year-old brother of NYC girl killed at intersection calls for new traffic light, nypost.com, Published 2023-03-05

A car turned left on Albion Avenue. The driver did not yield. Steel struck a 73-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The front bumper crushed her leg. She stayed conscious. The light kept blinking. The street stayed dangerous.

A 73-year-old woman was crossing Albion Avenue near Queens Boulevard in Queens. She had the signal. A car turned left and struck her with its front bumper, crushing her lower leg. According to the police report, "The driver did not yield." The pedestrian remained conscious after the crash. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the driver’s contributing factor. No other injuries were specified. The data shows the pedestrian was in the intersection, crossing lawfully, when the driver failed to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4604054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a TAILG e-bike was hit by a Nissan SUV near midnight. Thrown from his seat, struck in the chest. He died on the pavement. The SUV showed no damage. The street stayed silent after the crash.

A man riding a TAILG e-bike was killed when a Nissan SUV struck him on Hamilton Place near midnight. According to the police report, the rider was thrown from his seat and suffered fatal chest injuries. He died at the scene. The SUV, traveling north, showed no damage. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The e-bike rider was not using safety equipment, but the police report does not cite this as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the street quiet and the victim alone.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A van turned right on Steinway Street. Its rear struck a sixteen-year-old girl crossing. She hit the cold asphalt. Broken pelvis. She stayed conscious. The street held her. The van kept moving. The city did not stop.

A van making a right turn on Steinway Street near 35th Avenue struck a sixteen-year-old girl as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, 'the right rear struck her pelvis. She fell hard. Cold asphalt. Broken bones. Eyes open. Breathing.' The girl suffered crush injuries to her abdomen and pelvis but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. No injuries were reported among the van's occupants. The data shows the driver was licensed and making a right turn when the impact occurred. The report does not list any helmet or signal issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

State lawmakers Mamdani and Gianaris unveiled a four-year plan to fund free MTA buses. The proposal boosts bus service, freezes fares, and expands camera enforcement. They call it urgent. The plan aims to make transit faster, cheaper, and safer for all riders.

On December 14, 2022, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris introduced the Formula Three Act, a legislative proposal to overhaul MTA funding and fare policy. The plan, part of the larger Fix The MTA Package, would phase in free local and Select Bus Service, increase bus frequency by 20%, freeze fares, and expand permanent bus lane camera enforcement. Funding would rise from $200 million in 2023 to $638 million in 2026, with $488 million yearly for more buses and $300 million annually for frequent subways. Mamdani called the proposal 'urgent and necessary,' stressing that 'seniors, working class New Yorkers, people who use the bus the most are able to do so without fear of being priced out.' Gianaris said, 'incrementalism...is not working.' The lawmakers urge bold action to ensure public transit is accessible, affordable, and excellent.

• State Pols Reveal ‘Urgent And Necessary’ Plan To Fund Free MTA Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-14

A tractor-trailer veered on Grand Avenue. The driver slumped at the wheel. The truck struck hard, center front. Alone in the cab, the man died from head trauma. The engine kept running. No seatbelt. No warning. Sudden, final silence.

A tractor-trailer traveling south on Grand Avenue near Borden Avenue crashed when the driver, a 50-year-old man, lost consciousness and slumped behind the wheel. According to the police report, the truck struck with its center front end. The driver was alone in the cab and died from head trauma. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No other people were reported injured. The police report notes the driver was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the crash. The engine continued running after impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4580359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man works the night on Grand Avenue. A sedan barrels through, moving too fast. The car strikes him. His leg is torn. He dies on the street. A diesel truck stands parked. The road grows quiet. The blood dries. The city moves on.

A 49-year-old man working in the roadway on Grand Avenue was struck and killed by a sedan traveling at unsafe speed. According to the police report, the sedan disregarded traffic control and hit the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to his lower leg and foot. The man died at the scene. The sedan’s driver, a 43-year-old woman, suffered a leg injury. A diesel tractor truck was parked nearby and was not moving at the time of the crash. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash left one worker dead and another person injured, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda SUV tore through the dark on the Long Island Expressway. Metal buckled. Two rear passengers bled—one from the head, one from the leg. Speed and chaos ruled. The other car vanished. The toll: pain, blood, and broken silence.

On the Long Island Expressway at 4:37 a.m., a 2003 Honda SUV crashed, injuring two rear passengers—a 65-year-old man with severe leg lacerations and a 44-year-old woman with severe head wounds. According to the police report, 'A 2003 Honda slammed into darkness. The right front crumpled. In the back, a man and woman bled from head and leg. Speed chased shadows. The other car never stopped.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver and front passenger were also involved but not seriously hurt. The crash left the SUV’s front end mangled. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 55-year-old man on a motorcycle struck by an SUV on 57th Avenue. Both drivers ignored the light. The rider, unhelmeted, was ejected and killed. Head crushed. Passengers in the SUV survived. The road stained with loss and error.

A deadly crash unfolded on 57th Avenue near Seabury Street in Queens. A 55-year-old man riding a SYM motorcycle was struck by a Chevrolet SUV. According to the police report, 'Both drivers ran the light.' The motorcyclist, not wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. He died at the scene. The SUV carried three occupants, including a 1-year-old and a 49-year-old passenger, who were not seriously hurt. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. The crash shows the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic signals and lose focus. Helmet use was noted only after the drivers' failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle slammed into a parked sedan on Review Avenue. The rider flew off, helmet on, blood streaming from his face. He lay conscious on the pavement. The car never moved. Driver inattention marked the crash. Metal and flesh met hard.

A motorcycle collided with a parked sedan on Review Avenue near 37th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old rider was ejected from his seat, suffering severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle struck a parked sedan. The rider, 30, flew from the seat. His helmet stayed on. Blood ran from his face. He lay conscious on the pavement. The car never moved.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was stationary at the time of the crash and its occupants were not injured. The rider’s helmet remained on throughout the incident, as noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes SUV turned left at 45th Street and 30th Avenue. It hit a 64-year-old woman crossing the street. Blood ran from her head. She stayed conscious. The SUV was untouched. The street was not.

A 64-year-old woman was struck by a Mercedes SUV while crossing at the intersection of 45th Street and 30th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV was making a left turn when it hit the pedestrian, causing severe bleeding from her head. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The SUV sustained no damage. The driver, a 35-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other injuries were reported. The woman was in the crosswalk when the crash occurred. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A KIA turned right near 57th Street. Its bumper hit a man standing in the road. His arm tore open. Blood spilled onto Queens pavement. The driver looked away, distracted by something outside. The night stayed silent. The wound did not.

A 42-year-old pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his arm when a KIA sedan, making a right turn near 57th Street in Queens, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, 'the driver looked away—distracted by something outside the car.' The crash occurred at 1:55 a.m. The pedestrian was standing in the roadway when the impact happened. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as the contributing factor for the driver. No errors or contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. Other vehicle occupants were not reported injured. The parked Lexus sedan was not involved in the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566714 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford turned left on Northern Boulevard. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, leg torn open. Blood pooled. He stayed awake, helmet on, pain sharp in the night.

A crash at Northern Boulevard and Steinway Street in Queens left a 31-year-old cyclist badly injured. According to the police report, a Ford car made a left turn while the cyclist traveled straight. The impact threw the cyclist to the ground, causing severe lacerations to his leg. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious, helmet on, as blood pooled on the street. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s actions created a deadly risk at the intersection, exposing the cyclist to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04