Another Body, Another Excuse: Blood on Comrie’s Watch

A man on an e-bike slammed into a Kia’s side at 202nd Street and 104th Avenue. He flew off, struck the pavement, and bled from the head. The street fell silent. Traffic control was ignored. The rider suffered crushing head injuries.

An e-bike rider collided with the side of a southbound Kia at the corner of 202nd Street and 104th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man on the e-bike was ejected and landed hard, suffering crushing injuries to his head. The report states, “A man on an e-bike, unlicensed and bare-headed, struck the side of a southbound Kia. He flew, hit pavement, and lay crushed and bleeding from the head.” The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The data notes the e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but the primary failure was ignoring traffic control. No injuries to the Kia driver were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643899, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck hit a man on Hook Creek Boulevard. No intersection. No warning. The man, 41, died under the truck’s front end. Head broken. Chest crushed. Alone at 2:11 a.m. No driver errors listed. The road stayed silent.

A 41-year-old man was killed when a box truck struck him on Hook Creek Boulevard at 2:11 a.m., far from any intersection. According to the police report, the man was found beneath the truck’s front end, unconscious, with fatal injuries to his head and chest. The driver, a 61-year-old man, was traveling straight. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No specific driver errors or contributing factors were identified. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' There is no mention of helmet or signal use. The man died at the scene. The crash left the street quiet and empty.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630291, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV left Francis Lewis Boulevard. Its brakes failed. The car hit a 16-year-old girl who was not in the road. She lay conscious, her back torn, blood soaking through deep cuts. The driver was also injured.

A 2023 Honda SUV with defective brakes veered off Francis Lewis Boulevard near 109-62 in Queens. The vehicle struck a 16-year-old girl who was not in the roadway. According to the police report, 'a 2023 Honda SUV with bad brakes veered off-course. It hit a 16-year-old girl. She was not in the road. She lay conscious, her back torn, blood soaking through deep cuts.' The girl suffered severe lacerations. The driver, a 46-year-old woman, reported back pain. The police report lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor. No actions by the pedestrian contributed to the crash. The impact highlights the danger posed by vehicle defects in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630137, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW motorcycle slammed head-on into an SUV on Dunkirk Drive. The rider flew from the bike, legs crushed. He wore a helmet. The road was straight. Speed killed the line. The night left the rider broken.

A BMW motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV on Dunkirk Drive near Newburg Street in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle struck the SUV, launching the 35-year-old rider from his seat. He suffered crushed legs and was ejected, but remained conscious and wore a helmet. The SUV, carrying two men, was not reported to have injured occupants. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The road was straight, but speed proved deadly. The crash left the motorcyclist with severe injuries while the SUV occupants escaped harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622943, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on Merrick Boulevard. The driver failed to yield. The car hit a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She bled from her whole body but stayed awake. The car was untouched. The street bore her pain.

A sedan making a left turn on Merrick Boulevard struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, 'A sedan turned left. A 64-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The front struck her full. She bled from everywhere but stayed awake.' The woman suffered severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The sedan showed no damage. The driver’s failure to yield led to the collision and the woman’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597325, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk on Merrick Boulevard. He lay broken in the street. He died there as headlights passed. The new year began with loss and silence.

A sedan traveling west on Merrick Boulevard struck a 65-year-old man who was outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk. He lay crushed and unconscious in the street. He died there, beneath the cold sky, as headlights passed and the new year began without him.' The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594840, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan crashed into a parked diesel truck on Van Wyck Expressway. The front passenger, 28, died from head and crush injuries. Alcohol was present. The truck was oversized. The night ended in blood and steel.

A deadly crash unfolded on Van Wyck Expressway when a sedan struck a parked diesel tractor truck. According to the police report, 'A sedan slammed into a parked diesel truck. The front passenger, 28, died from head and crush wounds.' The crash killed the front passenger and left the driver, 31, with pain and nausea. Police listed 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The truck was parked and oversized, while alcohol was present in the car. The report does not mention any errors by the passenger. The impact proved fatal for the young man in the front seat.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586699, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned right on Farmers Boulevard. Its front end hit a 71-year-old woman in the crosswalk. Blood pooled on the street. She lay stunned, head bleeding. Glare and failure to yield marked the scene. Queens kept moving.

A 71-year-old woman was crossing Farmers Boulevard at Jordan Avenue in a marked crosswalk when a southbound Honda sedan turned right and struck her with its front end. According to the police report, 'A 71-year-old woman, crossing in the crosswalk, vanished in glare. A southbound Honda turned right. Its front crushed her head.' The woman suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was left in shock. The report lists 'Glare' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver, a 20-year-old woman, was licensed and uninjured. No other factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586609, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Night. Two SUVs crash at 209th and Murdock. Metal rips. A 28-year-old man, belted in, takes the blow. Blood runs from his face. Shock holds him silent. Glass glints under the streetlight. The city keeps moving.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at the corner of 209th Street and Murdock Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash happened at night. Metal tore. A 28-year-old male driver suffered severe facial lacerations and was in shock. He wore a lap belt and harness. Two other occupants, a 61-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, were involved but their injuries were unspecified. Both vehicles were going straight before impact. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The crash left one man bleeding and silent, the glass humming beneath the streetlight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584586, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City made Jamaica and Archer Avenue busways permanent. Jamaica Avenue hours slashed. Archer stays 24/7. Northern Boulevard bus lanes started after months of delay. Local politicians fought restrictions. Bus riders still face slow trips. City bows to business pressure.

On November 15, 2022, the Adams administration made busways on Jamaica and Archer avenues permanent after a one-year pilot. The Department of Transportation cut Jamaica Avenue’s busway hours from 24/7 to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, while Archer Avenue remains round-the-clock. The Northern Boulevard bus lane project, stalled for months after Council Member Francisco Moya lobbied against it, finally began installation. Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the busways, calling for their elimination and citing business concerns. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and other local officials pushed for even shorter hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the busways, saying, 'strong bus infrastructure is a necessity.' Despite opposition, the city kept some busway hours intact, but caved to business interests, reducing protection for bus riders and vulnerable road users.

• City Makes Jamaica Busways Permanent But With Shorter Hours; Begins Northern Blvd. Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-15

Councilmember Rita Joseph blasted DOT for years-long delays on speed hump installations in Flatbush. Twelve sites requested, one approved, none built. Meanwhile, crashes injure cyclists and pedestrians daily. Joseph calls the delay unacceptable. Streets stay dangerous. DOT offers no timeline.

On November 11, 2022, Councilmember Rita Joseph (District 40) issued a public letter to the Department of Transportation, demanding answers for the slow pace of speed hump installations. The matter, titled "#StuckAtDOT: It Takes Years (and Years) to Get a Speed Hump in this City," details Joseph’s frustration: 'In response to a speed hump request, my office was informed by the DOT that...studies are finalized after two years.' Joseph listed twelve locations needing speed humps; only one was approved, none installed. Eight were denied, several remain under review. Her district saw 1,173 crashes this year, injuring 87 cyclists and 141 pedestrians. Joseph, who lost students to traffic violence, calls the delay 'unacceptable.' DOT says it is reviewing her letter. Advocates demand faster action, saying, 'It should never take two years to implement these straight-forward safety measures.'

• #StuckAtDOT: It Takes Years (and Years) to Get a Speed Hump in this City, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-11-11

Two cars tore through a red light on Carson Street. Metal slammed metal. The Nissan driver’s head was crushed. Four others hurt. Sirens cut the dawn. The street lay still, marked by reckless speed and disregard.

A Jeep and a Nissan collided at Carson Street and 219th in Queens. Both vehicles ran the light, according to the police report: 'A Jeep slammed into a Nissan’s front. Both ran the light.' The Nissan’s driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious. Four other occupants, aged 20 to 24, were also injured, with complaints of back pain and other trauma. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both drivers. The Nissan driver wore no seatbelt, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash left the intersection scarred, a stark result of ignoring traffic signals and speeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Lawmakers spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want tight limits. Others push for taxi exemptions and tunnel credits. Advocates warn: too many carve-outs gut the plan. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, New York officials debated congestion pricing exemptions as the policy neared implementation. The discussion, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted shifting positions. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once opposed to exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll said, "I think that there should be limited exemptions." State Senator Andrew Gounardes added, "Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible." Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine backed toll credits for tunnel users and taxi exemptions. Taxi and for-hire drivers lobbied for relief, citing existing surcharges. Advocacy groups warned against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide on further exemptions after federal review. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-26

Council and state leaders spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want carve-outs. Others warn exemptions gut the plan. Vulnerable road users wait as drivers fight for special treatment. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, the council held a public debate on congestion pricing exemptions. The matter, titled 'Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions,' drew sharp lines. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once a hardliner against exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll backs limited carve-outs, saying, 'I think that there should be limited exemptions.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes stresses, 'Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible.' Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine pushes for toll credits and taxi exemptions. Advocacy groups warn against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide after federal review. The debate centers on who pays and who gets a pass, while the safety of people outside cars hangs in the balance.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-26

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a parked flatbed on Grand Central Parkway. The unlicensed rider, 34, crashed hard in the dark. He wore a helmet. His leg bled. He stayed conscious. Aggressive driving fueled the impact. The truck never moved.

A 34-year-old unlicensed man riding a Yamaha motorcycle struck the rear of a parked flatbed truck on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' contributed to the crash. The rider suffered severe bleeding to his leg but remained conscious at the scene. The flatbed was parked and unoccupied. The police report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The data lists no driver errors for the truck. The crash highlights the danger of aggressive driving and road rage on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556236, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man stepped off a vehicle on 118th Avenue. A car sped west, did not yield, and hit him head-on. His face split open. He stayed conscious, bleeding in the street. The driver failed to yield. The night was silent.

A 48-year-old man was struck by a car while stepping off a vehicle on 118th Avenue. According to the police report, 'A man stepped off a vehicle. A car came west, fast and straight. It hit him head-on. His face split. He stayed conscious, bleeding in the street. The driver did not yield.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered severe facial lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The driver’s failure to yield and excessive speed are cited as direct causes of the crash. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546949, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on Union Turnpike. Two pedestrians crossed with the signal. Metal hit flesh. Blood pooled on the pavement. One woman suffered a head wound. The driver failed to yield. The street showed no mercy.

Two pedestrians, a 60-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman, were struck and injured by a sedan making a left turn at Union Turnpike and Parsons Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal when the driver failed to yield right-of-way. The woman suffered severe bleeding from a head injury; the man sustained a contusion to his lower leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and traveling west in a 2017 Honda sedan. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash underscores the danger faced by pedestrians even when following the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547807, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda tore into the night on Cross Island Parkway. It hit hard, front-first. The passenger, 39, died with a broken neck. The driver, on a permit, survived with chest injuries. Alcohol was a factor. The road stayed silent. Lives changed.

A 2007 Mazda sedan crashed on Cross Island Parkway at 2:23 a.m. Three people were inside. The front passenger, a 39-year-old man, was killed with a broken neck. The driver, a 41-year-old woman with only a permit, suffered chest fractures. A 17-year-old rear passenger was ejected and injured. According to the police report, 'Alcohol was there.' The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor for all occupants. The driver held only a permit, not a full license. The car was demolished. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left one dead, two hurt, and a family changed forever.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529634, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans met head-on in the dark on 113 Avenue. Steel twisted. A 23-year-old driver, semiconscious, was pinned with crush injuries to his shoulder. Glass scattered. Both cars struck left-front. Neither yielded. The street fell silent.

Two sedans collided head-on on 113 Avenue. According to the police report, both vehicles struck left-front, and neither yielded. A 23-year-old male driver was left semiconscious and pinned with crush injuries to his shoulder and upper arm. Three others, ages 57, 27, and 61, were also involved and suffered unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for both drivers. The crash happened in darkness, leaving the street quiet and littered with broken glass. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524852, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan reversed on Zoller Road. It struck a parked tow truck’s rear bumper. The driver, 38, wore a lap belt. He did not survive. The street fell silent. Metal marked the end. The crash left one dead. No other injuries reported.

A deadly crash unfolded on Zoller Road near Sidway Place in Queens. According to the police report, a sedan reversed into a parked tow truck. The sedan’s driver, a 38-year-old man, wore a lap belt but did not survive the impact. The tow truck’s right rear bumper bore the mark of the collision. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The tow truck was parked and unoccupied at the time. The crash left the street quiet, marked by loss and the scar of metal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524723, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15