Northern Boulevard: Blood on the Asphalt, Silence in City Hall

A northbound SUV veered off course on 188th Street. The driver, a 48-year-old woman, fell asleep and crashed into a parked Jeep. Metal shrieked. Airbag burst. Blood spilled. The street held its breath. The city’s danger never sleeps.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old woman driving a northbound GMC SUV on 188th Street near 75-19 lost control after she 'drifted asleep behind the wheel.' Her vehicle collided with a parked Jeep, striking the left rear bumper and damaging the Jeep’s left rear quarter panel. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash triggered the airbag, and the driver suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. No other occupants or bystanders were involved. The parked Jeep was unoccupied. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver incapacitation and the vulnerability of everyone on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781898, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man lay on Clearview Expressway. Three cars struck him. His chest crushed, life ended there. Another man behind the wheel, pinned and broken. Steel and rain, speed and error. The road did not forgive.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man was killed on the northbound Clearview Expressway after being struck by three vehicles. The report states, 'A man lay in the road. Three cars struck. His chest crushed. He died there.' Another 56-year-old man, driving one of the vehicles, was injured and pinned, suffering chest injuries described as 'crush injuries.' The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors, along with 'Pavement Slippery.' These driver errors—specifically following too closely—are cited as direct contributors to the crash. The narrative highlights the systemic danger posed by multiple vehicles traveling straight ahead on a slick roadway, with no mention of pedestrian error as a contributing factor. The deadly sequence unfolded on a rain-slicked expressway, where human error and hazardous conditions combined with fatal results.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781815, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A flatbed truck rolled west on the Long Island Expressway. Its right front bumper struck a 65-year-old man lying off the roadway. Blood pooled. Death came before dawn. Driver inattention, police say, left the man unseen and unspared.

A 65-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway struck him with its right front bumper, according to the police report. The incident occurred off the roadway, with the pedestrian described as 'not in roadway' and 'not at intersection.' The police report states, 'Two flatbeds passed. One did not see. The right front bumper struck his head.' The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited in the police report is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No driver errors beyond inattention are listed. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the truck driver's failure to notice the man lying off the road, resulting in a fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779876, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A distracted SUV driver veered south on Van Wyck Expressway, slamming head-on into a man standing near a parked flatbed. The impact crushed his body. He died there, under the cold morning sky, another life ended by driver inattention.

A 41-year-old man was killed on the Van Wyck Expressway when a southbound SUV struck him head-on as he stood near a parked flatbed, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 11:35 a.m. The report states the SUV driver was 'distracted' and that 'alcohol was involved.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway,' but the police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The SUV's right front bumper delivered the fatal blow, crushing the man's body. The police narrative describes the victim's death as immediate, with his body 'crumpled beneath the wheels.' No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. The data underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and impairment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776236, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman, 32, died crushed in the back seat of a sedan on the Long Island Expressway. The car bore no damage. The road was silent. Her body remained where the night left it, unmoved, unmarked, a life ended in stillness.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old woman was killed while riding as a rear passenger in a sedan traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway. The report states she died of crush injuries and was not ejected from the vehicle. The narrative notes, 'No ejection. No skid marks. The car showed no damage. The road was silent. The body stayed where the night left it.' Police list the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as speeding, distraction, or failure to yield are cited in the available data. The vehicle, a 2019 Volkswagen sedan, had no visible damage and was reported to be going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The cause of the fatal crush injuries remains unexplained in the official account, leaving only the stark facts of loss and unanswered danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773456, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway, speed unchecked. The car flipped, metal shrieked, six inside. A seventeen-year-old boy, unbelted, was thrown from the wreck. His body shattered. Sirens wailed through the night, marking another life ended by reckless velocity.

According to the police report, a 2014 Nissan sedan traveling southbound on Cross Island Parkway with six occupants crashed after the driver lost control at unsafe speed. The report states, 'A 2014 Nissan, six inside, hit speed and flipped.' The vehicle overturned, and a 17-year-old male passenger seated in the left rear was ejected from the car. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The teen suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The narrative details, 'A 17-year-old boy in the back, no belt, thrown clear. Whole body broken.' No other contributing factors are cited for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers exceed safe speeds, especially with multiple passengers in the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762856, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota’s bumper slammed into a woman crossing 71st Avenue with the light. Blood streaked her face. She stayed upright, conscious, wounded. The signal turned green. The street stayed red. Steel met flesh at the intersection. The city kept moving.

According to the police report, a Toyota’s left front bumper struck a 37-year-old woman as she crossed 71st Avenue near Parsons Boulevard. The report states she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The impact caused severe bleeding to her face, but she remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood running down her face after the crash. The police report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but the point of impact and the pedestrian’s lawful crossing with the signal highlight a failure of the driver to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian error. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by people on foot at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760511, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound car swept past an 80-year-old man on 48th Avenue, its bumper slamming into his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious, wounded and cut. The street held no intersection, only danger and steel.

According to the police report, an 80-year-old pedestrian was walking with traffic along 48th Avenue near 206th Street at dusk when a westbound car 'passed too close.' The vehicle's right front bumper struck the man's head, causing severe lacerations and bleeding. The report notes that the pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Passing Too Closely,' a clear driver error. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative documents the impact, the injuries, and the absence of intersection controls, underscoring the peril faced by those on foot when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757802, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 21-year-old moped passenger died on 73rd Avenue, thrown from the seat, head striking asphalt. No helmet. Speed too high. Evening light fading. The crash left the street silent, the body still, the danger plain.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 73rd Avenue and 184th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a moped traveling east struck the center front end of an SUV heading north. The 21-year-old male passenger on the moped was ejected, suffering fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Speed too high,' and lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative describes the rider flying off the moped and striking his head on the pavement, with no helmet present. The crash occurred as daylight faded, underscoring the risks when speed overrides control. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, focusing instead on the excessive speed that led to the fatal impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750201, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A northbound Suzuki motorcycle struck a merging car on Van Wyck Expressway. The 28-year-old rider, helmeted, was ejected and left bleeding on the pavement. The crash tore his body. Shock set in. The highway roared on. He lay still.

According to the police report, a Suzuki motorcycle traveling northbound on Van Wyck Expressway collided with a car that was merging. The crash occurred at 4 p.m. The 28-year-old rider, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe lacerations to his entire body. The report states the rider was left in shock and motionless on the pavement. Police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor in the crash. The data makes clear that improper lane usage played a direct role in the violent collision. The rider's helmet use is noted in the report, but only after the primary driver error is established. No contributing factors are attributed to the merging car or to the victim beyond the cited lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744821, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A van struck a Ford SUV near 39th Avenue. A woman in front suffered a head wound. A young man in back could not move his leg. Blood pooled. Engines cooled. Both passengers remained trapped by their belts.

According to the police report, a van collided with a Ford SUV on College Point Boulevard near 39th Avenue in Queens. The crash left two passengers in the SUV injured: a 49-year-old woman in the front seat suffered head injuries, while a 21-year-old man in the rear seat sustained crush injuries to his lower leg. The report describes, 'The woman in front took the blow to her head. The young man behind could not move his leg. Belts held them in place. Blood pooled. Engines cooled.' Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both injured passengers and does not cite any specific driver error. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the vulnerability of vehicle occupants in crashes involving larger vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742054, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan turned left on 32nd Avenue and struck a 77-year-old woman crossing with the light. The car’s front bumper caught her head-on. She bled from the head but stayed conscious. Driver inattention marked the crash.

According to the police report, a 77-year-old woman was crossing 32nd Avenue at an intersection, walking with the signal, when a Toyota sedan making a left turn struck her head-on. The report states the vehicle’s front bumper hit her directly, causing severe bleeding from her head. The woman remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was reportedly distracted at the time of the collision. The police narrative confirms the pedestrian was crossing with the light, emphasizing that driver error—specifically distraction—led to the impact. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian’s actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738364, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV turned left at Bowne Street and 41st Avenue. A woman on a bike, age sixty-three, pedaled west. Steel struck flesh. She flew, her head hit pavement. She died alone, her bicycle twisted beside her.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 41st Avenue and Bowne Street in Queens when it struck a 63-year-old woman riding her bicycle westbound. The report states the SUV's driver was inattentive or distracted at the moment of impact. The cyclist was ejected from her bike, suffering fatal head injuries. The narrative notes, 'Her head struck pavement. She died there, alone on the asphalt, her bike crumpled beside her.' The contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention, especially during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731666, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

A Lexus SUV crashed into the back of a city bus on Union Street. The SUV’s front crumpled. The 63-year-old driver suffered head trauma and crushed limbs. The bus stood firm. Following too closely led to blood and metal.

A violent collision unfolded on Union Street when a Lexus SUV rear-ended a city bus, according to the police report. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled north. The SUV’s front end folded, and its sole occupant—a 63-year-old man—remained conscious despite sustaining head trauma and crush injuries. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both attributed to the SUV driver. The bus, a 2016 New Flyer, showed no damage and its driver was uninjured. The report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The impact underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to maintain safe following distances and proper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730112, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Senate Bill S 9718 passed. It pushes for complete street design. The aim: safer roads for everyone. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers stand to gain. The vote split. Some senators said no. But the bill moved forward. Streets may change.

Senate Bill S 9718, titled "Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles," advanced through the Senate with committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) and co-sponsored by Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, passed both votes despite opposition. The measure calls for redesigning streets to protect all users, not just drivers. The vote was not unanimous—several senators voted no, but the majority carried it through. The bill’s focus is clear: safer streets for people on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is to cut danger at the curb and crosswalk.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A man’s body shattered at the intersection. The car fled. He remained conscious, pain unending. Roosevelt Avenue swallowed the driver’s silence, leaving only broken bones and the echo of impact.

A 39-year-old man was struck and severely injured while crossing at an intersection on Roosevelt Avenue, according to the police report. The narrative states he suffered crush injuries to his entire body yet remained conscious at the scene. The vehicle involved fled, leaving the man behind, his injuries described as 'entire body' and 'crush injuries.' The police report does not specify the type of vehicle, the direction of travel, or any contributing factors from the driver, but it makes clear the driver left the scene without stopping. No driver errors are explicitly listed in the data, but the act of fleeing after a collision is a grave systemic failure. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. The report centers the violence of the impact and the abandonment that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729669, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes SUV hit a 60-year-old man crossing 41st Avenue. The impact split his head. Blood pooled on the hot pavement. The SUV showed no mark. The man stayed conscious, motionless, as traffic moved around him.

A 60-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a westbound Mercedes SUV while crossing 41st Avenue, near Flushing, according to the police report. The report states the man was crossing without a signal when the SUV, traveling straight ahead, hit him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious, lying still on the pavement. Blood pooled at the scene. The SUV bore no visible damage. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both driver and pedestrian. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the violent impact and the systemic danger posed by large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728482, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A northbound SUV struck a 13-year-old boy head-on as he crossed Parsons Boulevard. His body was crushed, yet he stayed conscious. The SUV showed no damage. The street offered no protection. No driver errors were cited in the report.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a northbound SUV while crossing Parsons Boulevard, according to the police report. The boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes the SUV sustained no damage. The collision occurred as the boy was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' and not at an intersection. The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian, and does not cite any explicit driver error such as 'Failure to Yield.' The narrative underscores that 'the street offered no protection.' The focus remains on the impact and the lack of systemic safeguards for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup rolled west on 43rd Avenue. A 53-year-old woman stepped into its path. Metal struck flesh. She was crushed from head to toe, left conscious but broken in the street.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck was traveling west on 43rd Avenue near 164th Street when it struck a 53-year-old woman. The narrative states, 'A Ford pickup rolled west. A 53-year-old woman stepped into the street, outside the crosswalk. Metal struck flesh. Her body broke beneath the weight. She lay conscious, crushed from head to toe.' The report lists the pedestrian's injuries as 'crush injuries' to her entire body, with the victim remaining conscious after impact. The police data records the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no details on specific driver errors or external conditions. The point of impact was the right side doors of the truck, which continued straight ahead. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal force of the vehicle and the systemic exposure of pedestrians to danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728427, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15