Queens Streets, Blood on Their Hands: Demand 20 MPH Now

A parked SUV became a tomb on 42nd Avenue. Distraction carved metal, left a woman, 43, lifeless in the daylight hush. The lap belt held her, but the impact did not forgive. The street bore witness, silent and unchanged.

According to the police report, a fatal crash occurred outside 104-28 42nd Avenue in Queens when a parked Subaru SUV was struck on its left side. The sole occupant, a 43-year-old woman, was inside the vehicle at the time and was held in place by her lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor leading to the collision. The impact folded metal and resulted in the apparent death of the woman, who did not leave the car. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the danger created by driver distraction, which turned a parked vehicle into a scene of tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802721, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A distracted SUV driver barreled through the intersection at 82nd Street and 37th Avenue, slamming into a 14-year-old girl crossing with the signal. The right front bumper mangled her leg. She remained conscious as the driver continued straight.

A 14-year-old girl suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot when a westbound SUV struck her at the corner of 82nd Street and 37th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the girl was 'crossing with the light' at the intersection when the SUV’s right front bumper hit her, causing significant injury. The report states the driver was 'distracted' and continued going straight, failing to yield to the pedestrian. Contributing factors listed in the police report include 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience.' The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted in the report but are not cited as contributing factors. The collision underscores the persistent threat posed by inattentive drivers operating large vehicles in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796835, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A drunk, speeding firefighter ran a red light in Queens. He slammed into Justin Diaz’s car. Diaz died. He was 23. His family buried him with his new degree. The firefighter faces charges. The street remains unchanged.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-04), Justin Diaz, 23, was killed when an off-duty FDNY firefighter, Michael Pena, sped through a red light at 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck Diaz’s BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. Diaz was heading to work at LaGuardia Airport. Prosecutors say Pena was drunk, high on cocaine and marijuana, and refused a breath test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.156 percent. Surveillance footage confirmed Diaz had the right-of-way. The article notes, 'The victim had the right-of-way, and Pena ran a steady red light, prosecutors say.' Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI. His license was suspended. The case highlights ongoing dangers for New York City road users and questions about bail and accountability for reckless drivers.

• Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-04

Delivery workers rallied against Hochul’s e-bike crackdown. Council weighs bills to license e-bikes, raise pay, and study conditions. DOT opposes registration. Advocates warn of criminalization. City Hall silent. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot and bike.

On February 27, 2025, the City Council considered three bills: Intro 606 (register and license all e-bikes), Intro 1133 (expand minimum wage, study delivery worker conditions), and Intro 1135 (set minimum pay for grocery delivery). Intro 606 faces opposition from DOT, which says, 'there is no evidence that registration improves safety.' The matter’s summary warns that Hochul’s plan would let NYPD enforce bike lane speed limits and reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds, requiring licenses and registration. Council members are split: Brad Lander supports regulation targeting app companies, not workers; Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani call for better street design; Michael Blake urges targeted safety solutions and more infrastructure. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa say these measures would criminalize delivery workers and create a 'ticketing-to-deportation pipeline.' The Council press office did not comment. The debate exposes a city divided on how to protect its most vulnerable road users.

• Leadership Vacuum: Delivery Workers Oppose Hochul’s E-Bike Plan as Adams Goes AWOL, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-27

A firefighter ran a red. Metal struck metal. A young man died. The street echoed with sirens. Two more rode to the hospital. The city keeps count. The danger stays.

According to the New York Post (February 27, 2025), off-duty FDNY firefighter Michael Pena drove through a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens, striking Justin Diaz’s car. Surveillance video captured Pena’s Mercedes “passing a red light on Northern Boulevard and T-boning Diaz’s 2022 BMW.” Diaz, 23, died at Elmhurst Hospital. Pena faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusal to take a breath test. Two passengers in Pena’s car were hospitalized. The FDNY suspended Pena for 28 days without pay. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of red-light running and impaired driving, raising questions about enforcement and accountability on city streets.

• Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27

A BMW driver ran the red on Northern Boulevard. Metal screamed as a Mercedes struck head-on. The 23-year-old behind the wheel died, unbelted. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent, marked by violence and disregard.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 107th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW sedan 'ran the red,' disregarding traffic control. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The BMW was struck head-on by a Mercedes sedan traveling straight. The 23-year-old BMW driver, unbelted and alone, was killed behind the wheel. The impact was severe enough that a parked Toyota SUV was also damaged. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Metal screamed. A parked Toyota caught the edge. The street fell silent.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the deadly consequences of driver actions—specifically, running a red light and alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795252, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A firefighter sped through a red light in Queens. His Mercedes slammed into a BMW. The BMW driver died. The firefighter, drunk, refused a breath test. Passengers hurt. Bystanders rushed to help. The street stayed deadly, silent after.

According to NY Daily News (2025-02-26), FDNY firefighter Michael Pena, 28, faces charges after allegedly running a red light while intoxicated and T-boning a BMW at 107th St. and Northern Blvd., East Elmhurst. The crash killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz. Surveillance video showed Pena's Mercedes plowing into Diaz's BMW, which then struck a parked minivan. Pena refused a breath test and was uninjured. Two Mercedes passengers were hospitalized. The article notes, 'The FDNY stated Pena will be suspended without pay for 28 days during the investigation.' Video evidence indicated Diaz entered the intersection legally, with the pedestrian signal allowing crossing. The incident highlights the lethal risk of speeding and red-light running, even in early morning hours.

• FDNY Firefighter Runs Red, Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-26

A tanker swung right on Northern Boulevard, striking a 31-year-old e-bike rider moving straight. The truck’s bumper crushed the man’s knee and foot. The tanker rolled on. The rider stayed down, battered and conscious, helmetless in the street.

At the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 108th Street in Queens, a collision unfolded between a tanker truck and an e-bike, according to the police report. The tanker was making a right turn while the e-bike rider, a 31-year-old man, continued straight. The police report states the truck’s right front bumper struck the e-bike, crushing the rider’s knee and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s failure to yield. The tanker sustained no damage, while the e-bike was damaged at the center front end. The man remained conscious at the scene, suffering serious crush injuries. The report’s narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793495, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan turned left at 90th Street and 56th Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 65-year-old woman in the crosswalk. The bumper crushed her arm. She stayed conscious as pain radiated through her body. Metal met flesh in the Queens dusk.

A 65-year-old woman was hit by a turning Nissan sedan at the corner of 90th Street and 56th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the woman was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The report states the driver was making a left turn and was distracted at the time of the crash. The left front bumper of the sedan struck the pedestrian’s left side, resulting in crush injuries to her arm. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The woman remained conscious after the impact. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive drivers making turns at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

At a heated mayoral forum, Zellnor Myrie demanded a dedicated busway for Flatbush Avenue. Candidates slammed slow buses and empty promises. They called for more bus lanes, free rides, and less fare policing. Riders want action, not talk. Streets remain dangerous.

On December 6, 2024, a mayoral candidate forum spotlighted New York City's broken bus service. State Senator Zellnor Myrie, representing District 20, called for a dedicated busway on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue, echoing the success of Manhattan's 14th Street. The forum, hosted by Riders Alliance, saw candidates—including Myrie, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—debate urgent transit reforms. The matter: 'improving NYC's slow bus service.' Myrie and others backed more bus lanes, fare-free buses, and expanding Fair Fares for low-income riders. Mamdani vowed not to cave to local opposition. All criticized Mayor Adams for stalled bus projects. The forum exposed deep frustration with city inaction and highlighted the need for bold, street-level changes to protect riders and speed up commutes.

• Could a new mayor fix New York City's terrible bus service?, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-06

Mayoral hopefuls hammered Eric Adams for broken bus lane promises. At a transit forum, they called out City Hall’s slow pace. The law demands 30 miles a year. Adams delivered half. Candidates pledged pro-transit reforms. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, a mayoral candidate forum on NYC bus service and transportation policy spotlighted City Hall’s failures. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, saw candidates attack Mayor Eric Adams for not meeting the Streets Master Plan law, which mandates 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. Adams’ administration installed only 15.7 miles last fiscal year. State Sen. Jessica Ramos said, 'The current mayor promised 150 miles of bus lanes and hasn't delivered.' Comptroller Brad Lander promised a 'professional, world-class DOT commissioner.' Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani vowed to resist business interests blocking bus projects. Sen. Zellnor Myrie, mentioned at the forum, made pro-transit promises. The forum exposed how political inaction and broken promises keep streets unsafe for bus riders and pedestrians.

• Mayoral candidates hit Adams on failed promises to boost NYC's bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-03

Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03

Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They clashed over congestion pricing, bus expansion, and subway safety. Zellnor Myrie pledged to defend congestion pricing. Others called for more police, more buses, and mental health teams. Streets and subways remain battlegrounds.

On December 3, 2024, at a Riders Alliance forum, six Democratic mayoral candidates—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—debated New York City transit policy. The event focused on congestion pricing, set to begin January 5, and subway safety. The matter summary reads: 'NYC mayoral candidates participated in a transit-focused forum... discussing congestion pricing, subway safety, and transit upgrades.' Zellnor Myrie, representing District 20, criticized Mayor Adams for not defending congestion pricing and promised to support it regardless of federal politics. Ramos pushed for congestion pricing revenue to fund the MTA. Stringer called for bus expansion and DOT reform. Walden wanted more police and exemptions for seniors and disabled riders. Lander and Mamdani argued for housing and outreach teams over policing. The forum highlighted sharp divides on how to protect vulnerable New Yorkers on streets and subways.

• 2025 NYC mayoral candidates sound off on congestion pricing, subway safety, amny.com, Published 2024-12-03

A man clung to a dump truck on Astoria Boulevard. No harness, no shield. He fell, skull to asphalt, blood pooling. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man, forty-seven, left with severe head wounds. The city’s machinery did not stop.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was riding on the outside of a dump truck near Astoria Boulevard and 88th Street in Queens. The report states he was 'ejected' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head after falling from the moving vehicle. The narrative details: 'A 47-year-old man clung to the outside of a dump truck. No belt. No shield. He fell. Skull met asphalt. Blood pooled. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man did not.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle, a 2005 PTRB dump truck registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage and continued westbound, according to the report. The man was not using any safety equipment at the time, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unsecured riders and the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768345, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two children died near P.S. 127. Parents begged for help. The city stalled. Jessica Ramos backs a bill for a guard at every school corner. She calls for daylighting, scrambles, and less congestion. The city’s response: not enough. Danger remains.

On September 27, 2024, State Senator Jessica Ramos, representing Queens District 13, called for urgent action after two students were killed in traffic near P.S. 127. The matter, titled 'Queens parents struggle to get crossing guards after 2 students killed in traffic,' highlights a dire shortage: only 1,500 crossing guards citywide, down from 2,600 in 2019. Ramos supports a bill mandating a crossing guard at every school corner and urges investment in pedestrian scrambles, daylighting, and congestion reduction. She said, 'You would think that this is one of the most basic ways to protect the safety of our children. And yet that seems like an insurmountable task.' Ramos’s advocacy comes as parents face bureaucratic stonewalling and city officials offer piecemeal fixes. The city’s measures—stop signs, bollards, and cement blocks—fall short. Ramos demands full funding and systemic change to protect children on their way to school.

• Queens parents struggle to get crossing guards after 2 students killed in traffic, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-27

A turning SUV cut across 72nd Street. A motorcycle slammed into its side. The young rider, helmetless, flew from the seat, legs shattered, blood pooling on the pavement. The road bore witness to violence and error, not mercy.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn from 72nd Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens when a motorcycle traveling straight collided with the SUV's right side doors. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected from his seat, suffered severe bleeding, and sustained serious injuries to his legs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV driver’s failure to yield during the turn is explicitly cited. The motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail appears after the primary driver errors. The crash unfolded at 3:19 p.m., leaving the rider incoherent and gravely hurt, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver mistakes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758181, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus veered off 94th Street, metal shrieked, and a 33-year-old man died behind the wheel. Evening light fell on twisted steel and silence. Driver inattention ended a life in Queens, leaving only wreckage and unanswered questions.

According to the police report, a Lexus sedan traveling north on 94th Street at the corner of 60th Avenue veered into two parked sedans. The report states, 'A Lexus veered into two parked sedans. Metal tore. A 33-year-old man slumped behind the wheel, lap belt tight, head struck. Evening light caught the silence. He did not move again.' The sole occupant and driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The parked vehicles, a Kia and a Honda, were unoccupied at the time. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, as cited in the official report. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756153, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel crumpled on the Long Island Expressway. An SUV slammed into another from behind. The young driver’s neck snapped forward, pain blooming beneath the belt. He stayed awake, but something inside broke, crushed by inexperience and speed.

A collision occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway involving two SUVs, according to the police report. A young man driving an SUV struck another SUV from behind, causing significant front-end damage to his vehicle and rear-end damage to the other. The driver suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and remained conscious at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The narrative states, 'His neck snapped forward. The belt held. He stayed awake. But something inside gave way, crushed beneath steel and inexperience.' Two occupants were injured, both suffering whiplash, and both were wearing lap belts and harnesses. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors are cited. The focus remains on the inexperience of the driver as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753996, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV hit an eight-year-old girl as she crossed 111th Street. Her foot split open. Blood pooled on the sidewalk. The SUV rolled on, unscathed. She stayed conscious, pain sharp and real, the street marked by violence.

According to the police report, a northbound Honda SUV struck an eight-year-old girl as she crossed 111th Street near 47th Avenue in Queens. The report states that the collision occurred while the girl was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk.' The impact caused a severe laceration to her foot, splitting it open and leaving blood on the sidewalk. The girl remained conscious after the crash, with injuries to her lower leg and foot described as 'severe lacerations.' The SUV, a 2019 Honda, showed no visible damage and continued north. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified,' offering no details about driver attentiveness or speed. The narrative centers the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the young pedestrian, while the vehicle and its occupants were unharmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752265, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi reversed without warning at 111th Street and 55th Avenue. The cab struck a 60-year-old man’s leg as he stood off the roadway. Bone crushed. He did not cry out. The cab bore no mark. The street swallowed the pain.

According to the police report, a taxi backed up at the corner of 111th Street and 55th Avenue in Queens, striking a 60-year-old man who was standing off the road. The report states the man suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was left in shock. The collision occurred at 17:57. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The man was not in the roadway at the time of impact. The taxi showed no visible damage. The report does not list any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to pay attention and the unsafe backing maneuver that led to the severe injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751423, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15