Queens SD 13: Red Lights, Broken Bodies, and the Fix We Keep Dodging

Sep 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 5 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 1 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 26 - A 15-year-old moped rider collided with a Ford SUV on 32nd Avenue. He flew from the seat, helmetless, body torn and bleeding, screaming awake. Speed and alcohol shadowed the crash. The street bore witness to another young life shattered.

A violent collision unfolded at 32nd Avenue and 107th Street in Queens when a moped, operated by a 15-year-old boy, slammed into the left front quarter panel of a Ford SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider was 'partially ejected,' suffering severe lacerations to his entire body, and was found conscious and screaming at the scene. 'Unsafe Speed' is cited as a contributing factor in the crash, with 'Alcohol Involvement' also listed in the police data. The teen wore no helmet, as documented in the report. The Ford SUV was traveling west, while the moped headed north; both were reportedly going straight ahead before impact. The police narrative describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Blood spread. He was awake. He screamed.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of speed and alcohol on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 10 - A motorcycle, throttle stuck, careened off 37th Avenue and struck a woman on the sidewalk. Metal crushed bone. She died, conscious, legs shattered. The street spat her out. She never had a chance. The machine did not stop.

According to the police report, a motorcycle with a defective accelerator veered off 37th Avenue near 90th Street in Queens and struck a 44-year-old woman who was standing on the sidewalk. The impact hit her center-front, shattering her legs and causing fatal injuries. The report states she was conscious after the collision but ultimately died from her wounds. Police cite 'Accelerator Defective' as the contributing factor, pointing to a mechanical failure that led to the loss of control. The pedestrian was not in the roadway and was not crossing at an intersection, according to the report. No driver errors by the victim are listed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when vehicle defects intersect with public space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 26 - A young moped rider slammed into a parked car, then crashed head-on into a Volvo. He flew from the wreck, struck the pavement, and bled from the head. He lay unconscious as dawn broke on 35th Avenue.

A 20-year-old moped rider suffered severe head injuries after a violent crash on 35th Avenue near 83rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the moped first struck a parked Ford sedan, then collided head-on with a Volvo. The rider was ejected from his vehicle, landing unconscious and bleeding from the head. The report lists his helmet status as unknown. The moped was described as 'demolished.' The Volvo involved was driven by an unlicensed operator, according to the police report. No contributing factors beyond 'unspecified' were cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal risks faced by vulnerable road users amid systemic dangers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 24 - Metal screamed at 88th and 35th. A chassis cab, distracted, slammed into a sedan’s rear. A 72-year-old woman, alone, belted, conscious, lost a limb. The belt held. Distraction shattered. The street bore witness to another preventable wound.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of 88th Street and 35th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a chassis cab traveling west struck the rear quarter panel of a southbound sedan. The impact tore metal and left a 72-year-old woman, the sedan’s sole occupant, with an amputation injury. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver of the chassis cab failed to maintain focus, resulting in catastrophic harm to the sedan’s occupant. No evidence in the report attributes any contributing actions to the victim; the only cited factor is the inattention of the chassis cab driver. The crash underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 21 - A moped tore into a sedan’s side at 62 Drive and 97 Place. Glass shattered. A young rider’s face split open. Blood streaked steel. He stayed awake, clutching his wounds. Distraction behind the handlebars. The city’s metal edge did not yield.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of 62 Drive and 97 Place in Queens when a moped struck the side of a sedan, according to the police report. The 21-year-old moped rider suffered severe facial injuries and heavy bleeding after his face hit the sedan’s glass. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. Both vehicles were reportedly traveling straight before the impact, with the moped hitting the center front end and the sedan absorbing the blow on its right side doors. The report notes the moped rider wore no helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the cited driver error. The crash left the rider conscious but bloodied, underscoring the relentless danger posed by distraction and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719160 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 9 - A young man lies semiconscious on Roosevelt Avenue, blood pooling from his head. His e-bike’s back end is crushed. The street is silent, the damage plain. Alcohol is involved. No helmet. The city holds its breath.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old man was found semiconscious beside his e-bike near 97-06 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens at 4:30 a.m. The report describes blood pooling from his head and notes severe bleeding and head injury. The e-bike’s center back end was crushed. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor, along with 'Unspecified' causes. No helmet was present, but the report does not cite helmet use as a contributing factor. The narrative paints a stark scene: the street is still, the silence heavy. The focus remains on the crash’s violence and the systemic dangers faced by vulnerable road users, especially in the early hours when streets are empty and oversight is thin.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 8 - A moped veered on Roosevelt Avenue, slamming into a sedan’s front. The 21-year-old rider, helmeted, was ejected, bleeding, and incoherent. Alcohol lingered in the air. Metal screamed. A parked car caught the wreck’s tail. Sirens came slow.

According to the police report, just after midnight on Roosevelt Avenue, a moped rider, age 21, collided with the front quarter panel of a sedan while changing lanes. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was ejected, suffering severe facial bleeding and incoherence, despite wearing a helmet. The crash’s force spun the moped into a parked car, damaging its rear quarter panel. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when struck. The narrative states, 'Alcohol lingered. Steel screamed. A parked car caught the wreck’s tail.' The police report does not cite any contributing factors for the sedan driver or the parked vehicle. The focus remains on the danger created by alcohol involvement and the violent impact that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716068 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 18 - A pickup driver with a record killed an 8-year-old in Queens. He pleaded not guilty. The court let him keep his license. He still drives. The boy’s family mourns. Politicians and advocates demand action. Streets stay deadly. Children pay the price.

On March 18, 2024, Jose Barcia, a pickup truck owner with a long history of unlicensed driving, pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide after fatally striking 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo and injuring his brother in Queens. At arraignment, Barcia was released without surrendering his license. The Queens District Attorney’s office did not seek revocation. State Sen. Jessica Ramos led a rally, citing 'reckless drivers who refuse to yield to pedestrians' and called for stronger pedestrian safety, saying, 'driving is a privilege that can, and should be, taken away.' Adam White, a lawyer for crash victims, said the DA should have insisted Barcia not drive. The rally highlighted rising road deaths—48 killed citywide in early 2024—and called out the city’s failure to protect its most vulnerable. Vision Zero’s mission, Ramos argued, has been 'desecrated.'

• Driver Who Cops Say Killed Queens Boy is Still on the Road After Not Guilty Plea, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-18

Mar 13 - A pickup truck turned left at 31st Avenue and 100th Street. An eight-year-old boy crossed with the signal. The truck’s bumper struck him. He died at the scene. Failure to yield. A child’s life ended in the crosswalk.

According to the police report, a pickup truck made a left turn at the intersection of 31st Avenue and 100th Street in Queens at 16:15. An eight-year-old boy was crossing at the intersection with the pedestrian signal when the truck’s right front bumper struck him. The report states the child suffered crush injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The boy was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The driver’s failure to yield during a left turn directly led to the fatal collision. The report centers the driver’s actions as the primary cause of this deadly crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709403 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 13 - A pickup driver killed an 8-year-old and injured his brother on 100th Street. The driver rushed a left turn, trying to beat traffic. Charges followed. State Sen. Ramos called for speed limits, fewer cars, and safer streets. The avenue is a known danger.

On March 13, 2024, in East Elmhurst, Queens, a pickup truck driver killed 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo and injured his 10-year-old brother as they crossed 100th Street. The driver, Jose Barcia, rushed a left turn from 31st Avenue and struck the children, according to NYPD Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera. Barcia faces charges of criminally negligent homicide, failure to yield, failure to exercise due care, and speeding. State Senator Jessica Ramos responded, calling for passage of 'Sammy's Law' to let the city set its own speed limits. Ramos said, 'I fight so hard for improved public transit because there are too many cars on the road, particularly SUVs and pickup trucks that do not allow for full visibility in city streets.' She urged fewer cars, especially large vehicles, and stressed the need for pedestrian safety in the budget. 31st Avenue, where the crash happened, saw 74 crashes and 47 injuries last year, far more than nearby, mostly car-free 34th Avenue.

• HORROR IN QUEENS: Child Killed, Another Injured by Reckless Driver, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-13

Feb 4 - A 23-year-old man, riding in the back of a Nissan SUV on Northern Boulevard, was thrown from the car. His head shattered. His body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.

A fatal crash occurred on Northern Boulevard near 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 23-year-old man riding as a rear seat passenger in a 2015 Nissan SUV was ejected from the vehicle. The report states: 'A 23-year-old man, rear seat of a 2015 Nissan SUV, was thrown from the car. Head shattered. Body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained no damage and continued moving after the passenger was ejected. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the ejection and death of a rear seat passenger underscore the lethal risks present for vehicle occupants. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700221 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 1 - A sixty-year-old woman crossed 37th Avenue. An SUV, speeding, hit her. Steel met flesh. She fell, blood spreading on the cold street. She died before help arrived. The city’s danger revealed in a moment’s impact.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 37th Avenue and 90th Street in Queens when an SUV struck her as she crossed the street. The report states the SUV was traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The narrative describes the vehicle coming fast, with the impact causing fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who died before emergency responders arrived. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the driver. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the driver’s excessive speed is cited. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers operate at unsafe speeds, especially at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 1 - A speeding SUV driver killed Yenny Baquedano, 61, in Jackson Heights. The driver fled. Councilmember Ramos demanded scramble crosswalks and real safety. Pedestrian deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. City leaders and DOT face sharp criticism for inaction.

On February 1, 2024, a hit-and-run SUV driver fatally struck Yenny Baquedano, 61, as she crossed 90th Street in Jackson Heights, Queens. The incident, reported by Streetsblog NYC, highlights a surge in pedestrian deaths—nineteen so far this year, with injuries up 2.6 percent. Councilmember Jessica Ramos, referencing two children recently hit in her district, called for scramble crosswalks outside schools and demanded urgent attention to street safety: 'I can’t keep getting calls like this.' Transportation Alternatives condemned the Department of Transportation for installing only two Leading Pedestrian Intervals on Glenwood Road since 2014, despite repeated fatalities. The group urged elected leaders to act now to prevent more deaths. The bill or action is not numbered, but the event underscores systemic failures and the urgent need for citywide safety improvements.

• Woman Fatally Struck By Hit-and-Run Driver in Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-01

Nov 15 - A BMW hit a man on 85th Street. His head was crushed. He died where he fell. No intersection, no crowd, no noise. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt. The city moved on. The loss stayed.

A 43-year-old man walking near 25-17 85th Street in Queens was struck and killed by a BMW. According to the police report, 'A BMW struck a 43-year-old man. His head was crushed. He died where he fell, alone, not at an intersection. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt.' The crash occurred away from any intersection. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No other injuries were reported. The victim, a pedestrian, suffered fatal head injuries. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the data. The deadly impact ended one life and left the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 11 - Two sedans met mid-turn. Steel tore. A baby boy, strapped in, bled from the head. He sat silent, eyes wide. The world roared. Traffic control was ignored. The crash left wounds and shock behind.

Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard. One sedan went straight. The other turned left. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the crash. A baby boy, an occupant, suffered severe head lacerations and shock. He was strapped in with a lap belt and harness. The report describes the child sitting still, eyes wide, bleeding from the head. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and turn improperly. The impact left lasting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 6 - An SUV turned left on Northern Boulevard. A scooter kept straight. Steel hit speed. The rider flew from his seat. He wore a helmet. Blood ran from his head. The street froze. Shock set in. The bumper cracked.

A crash at the corner of 100th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens left a 30-year-old man injured. According to the police report, an SUV turned left while a motorscooter continued straight. The two vehicles collided. The scooter rider, helmeted, was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from the head. He was in shock. The SUV’s right front bumper cracked. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The scooter rider’s helmet is noted, but the primary cause remains driver inattention. No pedestrians or other passengers were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676856 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18