Nine Dead. Two Thousand Hurt. How Many More, Senator?

A distracted sedan driver struck an infant boy in Queens. The right front bumper hit his head. Blood pooled on the dark asphalt. The child lay semiconscious, not yet one year old. The road offered no protection. The car did not stop.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north near 75-11 150th Street in Queens struck an infant boy who was not yet one year old. The vehicle's right front bumper hit the child's head, causing severe bleeding and leaving him semiconscious on the roadway. The report states the crash occurred at 21:38, after dark. Driver inattention and distraction are cited as the sole contributing factors in both the vehicle and person records. The narrative confirms the driver was distracted at the time of impact. No contributing factors are attributed to the infant pedestrian. The police report describes the scene in stark terms: 'The right front bumper hit his head. He bled on the asphalt, semiconscious.' The data underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, especially for the most vulnerable.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791835 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Before dawn on 90th Avenue, a speeding SUV tore into a parked sedan. Metal shrieked, the roof caved. A 63-year-old man, alone behind the wheel, died in the wreckage. The street fell silent, marked by violence and loss.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle traveling east on 90th Avenue near 143rd Street struck a parked sedan at 5:38 a.m. The report states the SUV was moving at 'Unsafe Speed' when it collided with the sedan, folding metal and collapsing the sedan's roof. The sole occupant of the SUV, a 63-year-old man, was killed in the crash. The sedan was unoccupied. The police narrative describes the scene: 'A speeding SUV slammed into a parked sedan. Metal folded. The roof collapsed.' The contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed,' underscoring the role of excessive speed in this fatal collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors are cited in the report. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when speed overtakes control on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787451 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 19-year-old motorcyclist collided with a Ford’s front on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue. His arm bled through torn fabric. The bike’s rear folded in. Driver inexperience and following too closely left no time to stop.

A 19-year-old motorcycle driver was injured when he struck the front of a Ford vehicle on Lefferts Boulevard near 84th Avenue in Queens at 11:00 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the motorcyclist suffered severe bleeding to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The crash narrative describes the motorcycle’s rear folding in from the impact. Police cite 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The report also notes 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a factor. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, according to the police report. The collision’s point of impact was the motorcycle’s center back end and the Ford’s center front end. The data highlights driver error and systemic danger as central to this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed into a 50-year-old cyclist near Liberty Avenue. The car’s front end crushed the man’s leg. He stayed conscious, pain sharp, bike twisted. Police cite driver distraction. The car rolled on, unscathed. The street bore the wound.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 170th Street near Liberty Avenue struck a 50-year-old man riding a bicycle. The report states the car’s center front end hit the cyclist, crushing his leg and leaving him with serious injuries, though he remained conscious at the scene. The police document lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The sedan showed no damage, while the bicycle was left twisted on the street. No evidence in the report points to any cyclist error or behavior as a cause. The collision underscores the systemic danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention, with vulnerable road users bearing the brunt of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman crossing 111th Avenue was struck by two westbound SUVs. Both drivers were distracted. Her pelvis shattered. Blood pooled on the street. She died before help could arrive. The night swallowed her last breath.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old woman was crossing 111th Avenue near 158th Street in Queens when she was struck by two westbound SUVs. The crash occurred at 21:33. The report states both drivers were inattentive or distracted at the time of the collision. The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries, including a shattered pelvis and internal bleeding, and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The victim was crossing without a signal, but this is only mentioned after the drivers' failures. The impact and aftermath are described in stark terms: 'Her pelvis shattered. Internal bleeding. She died on the street. Both drivers were distracted.' The sequence of events and the cited driver errors underscore the systemic danger faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781816 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 21-year-old man, unlicensed and alone, sped down Laurelton Parkway. The Audi slammed, right side crushed. He died inside, body broken. No one else was hurt. The road fell silent, marked by reckless speed and shattered metal.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed man was driving a 2015 Audi sedan alone on Laurelton Parkway when he changed lanes at an unsafe speed. The sedan struck with force, its right side crushed and the vehicle demolished. The report states the driver was killed, suffering injuries to his entire body. No other people were involved or injured. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with the driver’s lack of a valid license also noted in the data. No seatbelt use was recorded. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed and unlicensed driving, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan swung right on Archer Avenue. An e-scooter rolled straight. Steel struck flesh. The rider’s leg shattered. He wore a helmet. The street fell silent. Only the echo of failure remained.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn on Archer Avenue near Guy R Brewer Boulevard struck a 34-year-old man riding an e-scooter straight through the intersection. The collision occurred at 10:50 in the morning. The report states the sedan’s right front bumper hit the e-scooter rider’s leg, causing severe crush injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The e-scooter operator was listed as injured and in shock. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors in the crash. The e-scooter rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield and lack of attention. The violence of the impact left the rider silent on the pavement, underscoring the persistent danger vulnerable road users face from turning vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes surged down Union Turnpike, slamming into a man bent over his car. Metal hit bone. He fell, knees shattered, pain flooding his body. No crosswalk. No warning. The street swallowed his silence.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was working on his car near 149-11 Union Turnpike in Queens when a Mercedes sedan, traveling east, struck him directly in the legs. The report states the man was not at an intersection or crosswalk at the time. The narrative describes the Mercedes as coming 'fast,' hitting the pedestrian 'dead-on' and causing him to crumple to the pavement with severe injuries to his knees and lower legs. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, but the narrative highlights the vehicle's speed and the absence of any warning. The victim was engaged in 'Pushing/Working on Car' at the roadside. The report makes no mention of any actions by the pedestrian contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV barreled west on 140th Avenue. An 87-year-old woman walked outside the crosswalk. The vehicle struck her. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still, silent under the morning sky.

According to the police report, an 87-year-old woman was walking outside the crosswalk on 140th Avenue near Southgate Plaza when a westbound SUV struck her. The report states, 'Head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still.' The vehicle, a 2008 Toyota SUV, showed no reported damage and was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police narrative lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or violations, but the driver failed to remain at the scene after the collision. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The focus remains on the impact and the driver’s decision to leave, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW SUV struck a 74-year-old woman on Linden Boulevard at 205th Street. She lay bleeding from the head, conscious but motionless. The driver did not stop. No skid marks. No damage. Only blood and silence in the sun.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling east on Linden Boulevard at 205th Street struck a 74-year-old woman. The report states she suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was found conscious but motionless. The driver did not remain at the scene. The police report notes 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. There were no skid marks and no visible damage to the vehicle, as documented in the report. The narrative describes, 'Just blood on the street and silence in the sun.' The report does not cite any pedestrian actions or behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver's inattention and the failure to stop after the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound Kia SUV hit a 44-year-old woman head-on on Laurelton Parkway. Her skull broke. She died alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The road stayed still. No driver errors were specified in the report.

A 44-year-old woman walking in the roadway on Laurelton Parkway was struck head-on by a northbound Kia SUV, according to the police report. The impact broke her skull and she died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report states, 'A northbound Kia SUV struck her head-on. Her skull broke. She died there, alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front crumpled.' The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No specific driver errors, such as failure to yield or distraction, are cited in the data. The focus remains on the fatal impact and the absence of explicit driver accountability in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An e-bike rider turned on 165th Street, failed to yield, and struck a woman stepping from a car. She fell hard, blood pooling, her leg torn open. The rider kept going. The street bore witness. No damage to the bike. Only flesh.

A woman, age 54, was seriously injured on 165th Street near Jamaica Avenue in Queens when an e-bike rider making a right turn struck her as she stepped down from a car, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike 'did not stop' and that the rider 'kept going.' The woman suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg, with blood visible on the pavement. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the sole contributing factor, explicitly attributing the crash to the e-bike rider's actions. The victim was not at an intersection and was in the process of getting on or off a vehicle when struck. No damage was reported to the e-bike. The narrative centers the impact and aftermath, underscoring the consequences of driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal shrieked at 160th and 110th. An SUV struck a sedan turning wrong. A 63-year-old man, belted in, sat crushed and conscious, his back broken. The street held him still. Dawn broke over shattered glass and broken bone.

At the corner of 160th Street and 110th Avenue in Queens, a violent collision left a 63-year-old male driver with severe back injuries. According to the police report, a sedan executed an improper turn and failed to yield the right-of-way, leading to a forceful impact with a northbound SUV. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, remained conscious but suffered crush injuries to his back. The police narrative describes the scene: 'Metal screamed at dawn. A sedan turned wrong. The SUV struck hard. A 63-year-old man, belted in, sat crushed and conscious, his back broken.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver errors—specifically, improper turning and failure to yield—on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lincoln sedan tore into a boy on a bike. Blood pooled on 229th Street. The child’s head split open. The car’s right front crumpled. The boy stayed conscious, pain sharp and bright. Queens pavement bore the mark.

A nine-year-old boy riding a bike was struck by a northbound Lincoln sedan near 116th Avenue and 229th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'A 9-year-old boy on a bike, no helmet, struck by a northbound Lincoln. Head wound. Blood pooled on the pavement. The sedan’s right front crumpled. The child stayed conscious.' The crash left the child with a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The report notes the boy was not wearing a helmet, but places this detail after the collision and does not cite it as a cause. The sedan’s right front bumper bore the brunt of the impact. No driver errors are cited in the police report. The collision underscores the vulnerability of children on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 33-year-old woman died beneath the steel of an eastbound SUV on Grand Central Parkway. Her skull was crushed. She was walking outside the crosswalk, alone, in the darkness, when the vehicle hit her head-on. She died there.

A 33-year-old woman was killed on Grand Central Parkway near exit 24 when she was struck head-on by an eastbound SUV, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'walking outside the crosswalk' and was hit by the 'center front end' of a 2018 Toyota SUV. Her injuries were fatal, with the report noting her skull was crushed and she died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the available data. The narrative describes the woman as being alone and in the dark at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the impact and the deadly consequences of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford sedan surged north on Cross Island Parkway. Aggressive driving. Road rage. The right front struck hard. The driver, 54, belted in, never woke. One man, one car, one deadly burst. Then silence.

According to the police report, a 2016 Ford sedan was traveling north on Cross Island Parkway when it crashed, resulting in the death of the sole occupant, a 54-year-old male driver. The report states, 'Aggressive driving. Road rage.' The right front of the vehicle struck hard, causing fatal injuries to the driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness. The contributing factor listed is 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage,' highlighting reckless behavior behind the wheel. No other vehicles or road users were involved, and no victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The police narrative underscores the systemic danger posed by aggressive driving, with the crash ending in silence and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 2008 Honda, southbound on Cross Island Parkway, struck head-on. In the middle front seat, a 73-year-old man did not move again. The crash ended his life in the dark, silent and sudden, as the city pressed on.

A deadly collision occurred on Cross Island Parkway when a 2008 Honda sedan, traveling south, struck head-on, according to the police report. The report states, 'In the middle front seat, a 73-year-old man did not move again. He was not thrown. He simply lay there, still, as the dark pressed in.' The victim, an occupant in the middle front seat, was killed in the impact. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, consistent with a head-on crash. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the fatal consequences of the crash and the systemic dangers present on city roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700406 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

MTA plans $30 million for Queens bus overhaul. Eight new routes. More frequent service for thousands. Stops spaced farther apart. Most riders keep their stops. Councilmember Brooks-Powers doubts gains for her district. Borough President Richards backs the plan. Rollout not before 2025.

The MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign, announced December 12, 2023, proposes $30 million in service upgrades and expands local routes from 83 to 91. The plan, under review since 2020, aims to boost 10-minute-or-better service for 200,000 more residents, raising coverage from 60.1% to 68.9%. The official summary states the redesign will 'streamline and speed up service.' Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers voiced 'serious concerns' about disadvantages for her district, especially with congestion pricing. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, once critical, now supports the draft after public outreach. State Senator Leroy Comrie noted Brooks-Powers wants clarity for her community, not outright rejection. The redesign awaits further input and is expected no sooner than 2025. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• MTA’s Queens Bus Redesign: $30M in Service, 8 More Routes, Skepticism from Brooks-Powers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-12