Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in SD 13?
Children Bleed, Politicians Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now
SD 13: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 16, 2025
Blood on the Asphalt: Recent Losses in SD 13
The streets of Senate District 13 do not forgive mistakes. Since 2022, 21 people have died in crashes here. Thirty-eight more suffered serious injuries. These are not just numbers—they are lives cut short, families broken, futures erased. In the last twelve months alone, three people died and thirteen were left with life-altering wounds.
Children are not spared. On March 13, 2024, an 8-year-old boy was crushed by a turning truck while crossing with the light at 100th Street and 31st Avenue. He did everything right. The driver did not.
On May 26, 2025, a driver in an SUV ran a red light on 37th Avenue and struck two little girls, ages four and eight, as they crossed in the crosswalk. The driver fled. The girls survived, but the scars will last. Police said, “The SUV driver fled after the collision and remains on the loose.”
Repeat Offenders, Deadly Consequences
Speed and recklessness are not rare. They are routine. On February 26, 2025, an off-duty firefighter, drunk and high, drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light, and killed 23-year-old Justin Diaz. Diaz was driving to work. His brother said, “Justin will never walk the streets again.”
The driver had a record: 25 prior school zone speeding tickets. Still, he was free to drive. Still, the system failed.
Leadership: Action and Gaps
State Senator Jessica Ramos has taken steps. She co-sponsored and voted for the Stop Super Speeders Act, which would force repeat speeders to install speed-limiting devices. She called for more crossing guards after children were killed and pushed for daylighting and protected bike lanes. But the carnage continues. Enforcement lags. Promises are slow. The most dangerous drivers remain on the road.
The Call: Demand More, Demand It Now
This is not fate. It is policy. Every death is a choice made by those in power. Call Senator Ramos. Call your council member. Demand a citywide 20 mph speed limit. Demand real consequences for repeat offenders. Demand streets where children can cross without fear. Do not wait for another name on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ What is the New York State Senate and how does it work?
▸ Where does SD 13 sit politically?
▸ Which areas are in SD 13?
▸ What types of vehicles caused injuries and deaths to pedestrians in SD 13?
▸ Are these crashes preventable or just 'accidents'?
▸ What can local politicians do to make streets safer?
▸ What is CrashCount?
Citations
▸ Citations
- Queens Crash: Speed, Drugs, One Dead, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-17
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709403 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-16
- Driver Runs Red, Hits Two Girls, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26
- Drunk Firefighter Kills Driver In Queens, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-27
- File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11
- Queens parents struggle to get crossing guards after 2 students killed in traffic, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-27
- Firefighter Charged After Deadly Queens Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-02-28
- Red Light Crash Kills Driver in Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-02-27
- Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss Saving Us From Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07
- Decision 2025: Mayoral Candidates Answer Our Question 3, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06
- Decision 2025: Our Mayoral Questionnaire Begins … With a Question on Traffic, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-02
- Queens Crash: Speed, Drugs, One Dead, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-17
Fix the Problem
District 13
74-09 37th Ave. Suite 302, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Room 307, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Representatives
District 34
75-35 31st Ave. Suite 206B (2nd Floor), East Elmhurst, NY 11370
Room 654, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
District 21
106-01 Corona Avenue, Corona, NY 11368
718-651-1917
250 Broadway, Suite 1768, New York, NY 10007
212-788-6862
▸ Other Geographies
SD 13 Senate District 13 sits in Queens, Precinct 115, District 21, AD 34.
It contains Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, North Corona, Elmhurst, Corona, Queens CB3, Queens CB4.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Senate District 13
Distracted Driver Hits Pedestrian on 114th Street▸A man stepped from behind a parked car on 114th Street. A driver pulled out, distracted. The car’s front struck the man’s face. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The street bore witness. The system failed to protect him.
A 39-year-old man was injured on 114th Street near 42nd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, he stepped from behind a parked car when a vehicle pulled from the curb and struck his face. The report states, “The driver was distracted.” The crash left the pedestrian with severe bleeding but conscious at the scene. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The vehicle’s center front end hit the man as it started from parking. No vehicle damage was reported. The data does not mention any other contributing factors from the pedestrian.
Cadillac Hits Elderly Man Off Broadway▸A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off Broadway near Baxter Avenue. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs took the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent. The man was badly hurt. Others suffered pain.
A Cadillac sedan hit a 70-year-old man who was standing off the roadway on Broadway near Baxter Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off the roadway. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs caught the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. Two parked SUVs were damaged in the impact. A 53-year-old male driver also reported neck pain. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian and at least one driver injured.
Broken Pavement Sends Cyclist Flying on 40 Drive▸A 77-year-old man biked west on 40 Drive. The pavement gave way. He was thrown, struck his head, and died. No cars. No warning. The road failed. Darkness and silence followed.
A 77-year-old man riding his bike westbound on 40 Drive died after the pavement beneath him broke apart. According to the police report, 'The pavement broke beneath him. He flew, struck his head, and died alone in the dark.' The only listed contributing factor is 'Pavement Defective.' No other vehicles were involved. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report does not mention helmet use as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the lethal risk posed by defective road conditions to people on bikes.
A man stepped from behind a parked car on 114th Street. A driver pulled out, distracted. The car’s front struck the man’s face. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The street bore witness. The system failed to protect him.
A 39-year-old man was injured on 114th Street near 42nd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, he stepped from behind a parked car when a vehicle pulled from the curb and struck his face. The report states, “The driver was distracted.” The crash left the pedestrian with severe bleeding but conscious at the scene. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The vehicle’s center front end hit the man as it started from parking. No vehicle damage was reported. The data does not mention any other contributing factors from the pedestrian.
Cadillac Hits Elderly Man Off Broadway▸A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off Broadway near Baxter Avenue. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs took the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent. The man was badly hurt. Others suffered pain.
A Cadillac sedan hit a 70-year-old man who was standing off the roadway on Broadway near Baxter Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off the roadway. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs caught the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. Two parked SUVs were damaged in the impact. A 53-year-old male driver also reported neck pain. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian and at least one driver injured.
Broken Pavement Sends Cyclist Flying on 40 Drive▸A 77-year-old man biked west on 40 Drive. The pavement gave way. He was thrown, struck his head, and died. No cars. No warning. The road failed. Darkness and silence followed.
A 77-year-old man riding his bike westbound on 40 Drive died after the pavement beneath him broke apart. According to the police report, 'The pavement broke beneath him. He flew, struck his head, and died alone in the dark.' The only listed contributing factor is 'Pavement Defective.' No other vehicles were involved. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report does not mention helmet use as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the lethal risk posed by defective road conditions to people on bikes.
A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off Broadway near Baxter Avenue. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs took the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent. The man was badly hurt. Others suffered pain.
A Cadillac sedan hit a 70-year-old man who was standing off the roadway on Broadway near Baxter Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Cadillac struck a 70-year-old man standing off the roadway. His head split. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Two parked SUVs caught the crash’s force. Steel crumpled. The street fell silent.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. Two parked SUVs were damaged in the impact. A 53-year-old male driver also reported neck pain. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian and at least one driver injured.
Broken Pavement Sends Cyclist Flying on 40 Drive▸A 77-year-old man biked west on 40 Drive. The pavement gave way. He was thrown, struck his head, and died. No cars. No warning. The road failed. Darkness and silence followed.
A 77-year-old man riding his bike westbound on 40 Drive died after the pavement beneath him broke apart. According to the police report, 'The pavement broke beneath him. He flew, struck his head, and died alone in the dark.' The only listed contributing factor is 'Pavement Defective.' No other vehicles were involved. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report does not mention helmet use as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the lethal risk posed by defective road conditions to people on bikes.
A 77-year-old man biked west on 40 Drive. The pavement gave way. He was thrown, struck his head, and died. No cars. No warning. The road failed. Darkness and silence followed.
A 77-year-old man riding his bike westbound on 40 Drive died after the pavement beneath him broke apart. According to the police report, 'The pavement broke beneath him. He flew, struck his head, and died alone in the dark.' The only listed contributing factor is 'Pavement Defective.' No other vehicles were involved. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report does not mention helmet use as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the lethal risk posed by defective road conditions to people on bikes.