Children Bleed, Politicians Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

A 16-year-old on a motorcycle struck the rear of a bus on Astoria Boulevard. No helmet. Head trauma. Blood pooled on the street. He died under the streetlights. The engine ticked in the dark. The city kept moving.

A 16-year-old riding a motorcycle east on Astoria Boulevard near 101st Street collided with the rear of a northbound bus. According to the police report, the teen suffered fatal head trauma and died at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors in the crash. The bus was struck at its left rear quarter panel. The police report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. No other injuries were reported. The crash left blood on the asphalt and a city shaken by another young life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle slammed into a turning SUV on Ditmars Boulevard. The rider, helmeted but unlicensed, flew from the bike. He struck the street and died on impact. The SUV’s side caved in. Metal, speed, and failure met in the dusk.

A deadly crash unfolded on Ditmars Boulevard near 31st Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling at unsafe speed collided with a BMW SUV making a left turn. The 26-year-old male motorcyclist, who was unlicensed but wore a helmet, was ejected and killed. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV’s right side doors were crushed in the impact. No injuries were reported for other vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan sped down 23rd Avenue and slammed into a parked car near 91st Street. Metal shrieked. The driver, fifty, bled from the head. Sirens cut the air. The street bore witness to speed and steel.

A crash on 23rd Avenue near 91st Street in Queens left a 50-year-old driver injured. According to the police report, a speeding sedan struck a parked car with force. The driver suffered severe head lacerations and was found conscious, belted, with the airbag deployed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact also rocked a nearby bus. The data shows no errors by other road users. The only listed cause is the sedan's unsafe speed, which led to the violent collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda SUV hit a 43-year-old man on an e-bike near 84th Street in Queens. The bike crumpled. The rider slammed to the pavement. He died there, alone, before dawn. Police cite driver inattention. No helmet listed. The street stayed silent.

A 43-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed when a Honda SUV struck him on Roosevelt Avenue near 84th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'the bike folded. His body hit the street. No helmet. No sound. He died there, alone in the early dark.' The crash involved a westbound SUV and a westbound e-bike. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report also notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The victim suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The crash left the street quiet, marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW crashed into a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway. Metal twisted. Glass flew. The BMW driver, 37, suffered a torn head and deep cuts. Police cite inexperience and tailgating. The night echoed with the sound of impact.

A westbound BMW sedan struck the rear of a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway at 2:20 a.m. The 37-year-old BMW driver, the only occupant, was injured with severe head lacerations but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A westbound BMW slammed into the back of a GMC SUV. Metal folded. Glass scattered. The 37-year-old driver, belted but bleeding, sat conscious behind the wheel, his head torn open by speed and inexperience.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The BMW’s front end and the SUV’s rear were both damaged. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers lack experience and follow too closely at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660960 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lexus SUV hit an 18-year-old boy on the Long Island Expressway. He crossed in darkness, no crosswalk, no signal. The impact was head-on. He died alone on the asphalt. The driver kept going straight. The street stayed silent.

An 18-year-old pedestrian was killed when a Lexus SUV struck him head-on on the Long Island Expressway at 3:20 a.m. According to the police report, the boy was crossing outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the SUV hit him. The impact shattered his head and tore his organs. The driver, a licensed woman, was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with the right front bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council and advocates clash over mopeds, e-bikes, and delivery safety. Cars still kill most. Workers ride illegal mopeds for survival. Tech giants dodge blame. Council calls for more bike lanes, charging stations, and corporate accountability. Enforcement alone cannot fix broken streets.

"The solution here is for the delivery app companies, Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash, to actually overhaul them. It’s not fair that the deliveristas are underpaid, and then on top of that, have to buy their own whatever it is, an e-bike. I don’t blame them for making this switch." -- Jessica Ramos

On August 23, 2023, Council Member Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) and others debated New York City’s so-called 'moped crisis.' The matter, titled 'The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants,' exposes how delivery workers, squeezed by low pay and unsafe roads, turn to illegal mopeds. Council Member Alexa Aviles demanded rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and resources for workers. State Sen. Jessica Ramos blamed app companies for shifting costs onto underpaid deliveristas. Advocacy leaders like Carl Mahaney rejected crackdowns, calling for dedicated space instead. Jon Orcutt criticized City Hall’s blindspot on traffic rules. The debate centered on expanding bike lanes, building charging infrastructure, holding tech companies accountable, and buyback programs for unsafe batteries. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided, but the discussion highlights deep systemic failures endangering vulnerable road users.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-08-23

Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

A man rode his motorscooter into the dark on 97th Street. He struck head-on. The Honda’s bumper crushed his skull. He died there, helmetless, thrown from the seat. The street stayed quiet. Only the machines remained.

A 36-year-old man riding a ZAIZHOU motorscooter was killed in a head-on crash with a Honda SUV on 97th Street near 50th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He was thrown from his seat and suffered fatal crush injuries to the head beneath the SUV’s left front bumper. The SUV driver held a permit. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The victim’s lack of helmet and license are noted only after the absence of driver errors. The crash left one dead at the scene, marking another fatal collision on Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan cut lanes fast on Northern Boulevard. It hit a 17-year-old on a bike. The boy flew, hit the ground. Blood pooled from his head. The bike twisted. The street fell silent. Heat shimmered. No one moved.

A sedan traveling at unsafe speed struck a 17-year-old bicyclist on Northern Boulevard near 103rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan cut lanes and hit the cyclist, who was ejected and landed on the pavement, semiconscious and bleeding from the head. The bike was left twisted, and the car’s bumper was dented. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe head injuries. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned in the report. The crash highlights the danger posed by speeding vehicles to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Yamaha motorcycle smashed into a Ford on 80th Street. The 21-year-old rider died, head split. His 17-year-old passenger was thrown, unconscious, bleeding. Traffic control was ignored. Helmets were not worn.

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into the side of a Ford at 80th Street and 34th Avenue in Queens. The 21-year-old rider was killed, his head split open. His 17-year-old passenger was ejected, left unconscious and bleeding from the head. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. Both victims were thrown from the motorcycle. The report states neither wore helmets, but this is noted only after the driver error. The crash left one dead and one seriously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Subaru turned left on Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike went straight. Steel hit flesh. Two men flew from the saddle. Legs torn, blood pooled. Both conscious. Both broken. The street showed no mercy.

Two men riding an e-bike were injured when a Subaru SUV turned left into their path on Roosevelt Avenue near 126th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the Subaru was making a left turn while the e-bike was going straight. Both e-bike riders were ejected and suffered severe lacerations to their legs. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No helmets were worn, but this is noted only after the driver errors. The crash left both men conscious but badly hurt. The impact was brutal. The street did not forgive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639931 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup struck an e-scooter from behind on Northern Boulevard. The rider flew. His head hit the street. Blood pooled. He did not rise. The truck followed too close. The city kept moving. The street stayed silent.

A pickup truck rear-ended an e-scooter at Northern Boulevard and 84th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, the pickup was 'Following Too Closely' and traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are the driver’s errors. Both vehicles were moving east when the crash happened. The report describes the rider as conscious but bleeding on the asphalt after the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan, moving too fast, smashed into an SUV’s rear on Grand Central Parkway near midnight. Metal twisted. A woman in the front seat bled from the head, semiconscious. The crash left the night scarred and silent.

A 2010 Infiniti sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, slammed into the rear of a KIA SUV on Grand Central Parkway just before midnight. According to the police report, 'A 2010 Infiniti sedan, speeding west, slammed into the rear of a KIA SUV. Metal crumpled. A 46-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, bled from the head. Semiconscious.' The woman, a front-seat passenger, suffered severe head bleeding and was semiconscious at the scene. Both vehicles were demolished. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or contributing factors are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624273 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04