Ten Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Senator Liu: Streets Still Bleed

NYPD and DOT flood streets for New Year’s. Cops target drunk, reckless drivers. Speed cameras snap violators. Senator John Liu backs tougher laws. City pushes to lower legal blood alcohol limit. The goal: fewer deaths, less carnage, safer streets.

On December 28, 2023, New York City launched an aggressive drunk driving enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend. The effort, led by the NYPD and Department of Transportation, aims to keep inebriated motorists off the roads. Senator John Liu, representing District 16, publicly supported the crackdown and advocated for lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .08 to .05. The campaign includes increased police patrols and active speed cameras. The official matter summary states: 'Drunk driving crackdown: NYC launches aggressive enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend.' Liu said, 'Cracking down on drunk driving, which continues to destroy lives and families, is the right focus as New Year's approaches.' The DOT notes fatalities from drunk driving have risen nearly 30% in recent years. City lawmakers back state legislation to reduce the DWI threshold, aiming to save lives and protect vulnerable road users.

• Drunk driving crackdown: NYC launches aggressive enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend, amny.com, Published 2023-12-28

A BMW slammed into a Lexus at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman died. Speed killed. Metal bent. Life ended. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW struck the side of a Lexus SUV. The Lexus driver, a 72-year-old woman, was killed. The report states, “A BMW struck fast from the front. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman sat belted. Her body broke. She never woke.” The police list 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The victim was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash left one dead and exposed the lethal risk of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota SUV hit a 69-year-old woman as she crossed Parsons Boulevard with the light. The impact shattered her hip. She stayed conscious, lying in the street. The SUV showed no damage. The driver continued straight after the crash.

A 69-year-old woman was crossing Parsons Boulevard with the signal when a southbound Toyota SUV struck her on the right side. According to the police report, 'A 69-year-old woman crossed with the light. A southbound Toyota SUV struck her right side. Her hip shattered. She lay conscious in the street. The SUV bore no mark. The driver kept going straight.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The woman was not at an intersection but was crossing with the signal. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688146 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A three-year-old boy died on College Point Boulevard. The child crossed outside the crosswalk. A southbound Infiniti sedan pulled from parking. Tinted windows. The car struck him head-on. His skull crushed on the asphalt. He died at the scene.

A three-year-old boy was killed on College Point Boulevard when a southbound Infiniti sedan, pulling out from parking, struck him head-on. According to the police report, the sedan had tinted windows and the driver held only a permit. The child crossed outside the crosswalk. The impact crushed his skull. The report lists 'Tinted Windows' as a contributing factor. The driver’s permit status is noted. No other injuries were reported. The boy died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683366 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst on Union Street. Metal folded. Two young men pinned in front. Necks broken. Crush injuries. Sirens cut the silence. The street held its breath. Both survived, belts locked, eyes open.

Two young men were seriously injured when a 2019 Range Rover crashed headfirst on Union Street near District 20. According to the police report, 'A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst. Two young men pinned in the front. Belts locked. Necks broken. Eyes open. The metal folded inward. The street held its breath. No sound but the sirens.' The driver, 23, and the front passenger, 21, both suffered neck and crush injuries but remained conscious. No contributing driver errors were listed in the report. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The impact crushed the left front quarter panel, pinning the men inside the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Hyundai drifted down 164 Street. The driver, 66, lost consciousness. His car struck a parked Honda. His chest hit the belt. The street went silent. He died at the scene. No one else was hurt.

A 66-year-old man driving a Hyundai south on 164 Street lost consciousness at the wheel. According to the police report, his car drifted forward and struck a parked Honda sedan. The impact crushed his chest against the seatbelt. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. The driver was killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The parked Honda was unoccupied at the time. The police report does not list any other contributing factors or mention helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680918 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Governor Hochul killed a bill to study expanding the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway greenway. Cyclists and pedestrians lose a safe route. Lawmakers backed the plan. The veto leaves vulnerable road users with dirt paths and danger. The greenway remains unfinished.

On November 20, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have required the state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Mental Health to study expanding the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway greenway into Nassau County. The bill passed both the state Senate and Assembly unanimously. The matter summary called for a study to extend the greenway, which runs parallel to the hazardous Union Turnpike. State Senator John Liu sponsored the bill and vowed to keep pushing for the project, saying, 'I’m confident we’ll get there.' Hochul’s veto cited budget concerns and the risk of 'duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy.' Advocates like Joby Jacob called the veto a blow to years of organizing, noting that people are forced to walk dirt paths where sidewalks should be. The veto blocks progress on a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Hochul Vetoes Bill To Expand Eastern Queens Greenway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-20

City traffic chokes bus service. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Costs soar. Lawmakers push for more service, but congestion and double-parked cars stall progress. ABLE cameras help, but Mayor Adams drags feet on bus lanes. Riders pay the price. Streets stay dangerous.

This report, published November 14, 2023, details the ongoing crisis in New York City bus service. The article, titled "City Traffic Helps Make Bus Service Unbearable, Expensive And Difficult To Improve," highlights how traffic congestion, double-parking, and outdated routes cripple bus efficiency. State Sen. John Liu urges more service in neighborhoods where buses can move. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance says, "With better service, the path to more service is a much clearer one." ABLE cameras have improved bus speeds by 5 percent on enforced routes. Despite promises, Mayor Eric Adams has not delivered on expanding bus lanes. The MTA and advocates call for more funding and better service. Riders remain stuck, exposed to traffic danger, while systemic failures persist.

• City Traffic Helps Make Bus Service Unbearable, Expensive And Difficult To Improve, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-14

A sedan veered on College Point Boulevard. Its bumper slammed into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider flew from the frame. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled in the dark. He was awake, broken, and bleeding.

A sedan struck an e-bike on College Point Boulevard. The sedan changed lanes and hit the e-bike’s center front end. The 42-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries across his body. According to the police report, 'A sedan veered while changing lanes, its bumper crushing into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider, 42, flew from the frame. No helmet. He landed hard, broken across the pavement, awake and bleeding in the dark.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were unlicensed. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The primary cause was the sedan driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Midnight. College Point Boulevard. A Ford SUV hit a turning Honda. Steel bent. Blood spilled. A 39-year-old man gripped his head, bleeding but awake. The belt held him. Speed did not. The street stayed silent, except for pain.

A Ford SUV struck a Honda sedan on College Point Boulevard just after midnight. The SUV was heading straight. The Honda was turning left. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV slammed into a turning Honda. Steel twisted. A 39-year-old man in the front seat clutched his head. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The belt held him. Speed did not.' The 39-year-old front passenger in the Honda suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors were cited. The injured man was wearing a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Harley slammed a sedan’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider flew from his bike. His leg was crushed. He lay helmeted, conscious, on the cold asphalt. Traffic thundered by. The road did not stop for him.

A 31-year-old man riding a 2011 Harley motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan while traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his motorcycle and suffered crush injuries to his leg. He remained conscious and was wearing a helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The sedan’s right rear bumper and the motorcycle’s left front bumper were damaged. No other injuries are reported. The crash left the motorcyclist injured and exposed as traffic continued past.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV turned left on Main Street. The driver failed to yield. Metal hit a man’s head as he crossed with the signal. Blood spread on the crosswalk. The man lay unconscious. The city’s danger showed in the stillness.

A 68-year-old man was crossing Main Street at 68 Drive in Queens with the signal when an SUV turned left and struck him. According to the police report, 'The man crossed with the light. The SUV turned left. Metal struck his head. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. He lay still.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious. The driver was licensed. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The impact hit the left front quarter panel of the SUV. The data shows no other contributing factors from the pedestrian. Systemic danger persists at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV struck a motorcycle from behind on Bell Boulevard. The rider flew from his bike. Blood pooled on the street. His leg was torn open. He wore a helmet. The crash left him conscious, wounded, and alone in the early morning dark.

A 27-year-old man riding a Kawasaki motorcycle was ejected after an SUV struck the rear of his bike on Bell Boulevard near 36th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV hit the motorcycle’s center back end, causing severe lacerations to the rider’s leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The scene was marked by silence, pain, and blood on the asphalt. The crash highlights the dangers faced by motorcyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or keep a safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mazda sped south on Clearview Expressway. It merged hard. The roof folded under the force. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. He stayed awake. No one else was hurt. The crash left metal and blood behind.

A 2016 Mazda sedan, traveling southbound on Clearview Expressway, crashed while merging at high speed. According to the police report, 'A 2016 Mazda, southbound and merging fast, struck hard. The roof folded. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. Hurt all over. He was awake. No one else was there.' The only occupant, a 28-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations and injuries across his entire body. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The impact crushed the roof and left the driver trapped. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two Hondas met head-on in the dark. Metal twisted. Both drivers died. One was unlicensed and unbelted. The other buckled in. Distraction ruled the road. No borough, no cross street, just silence and steel.

Two SUVs collided head-on on the Whitestone Expressway. Both drivers, men aged 25 and 45, were killed. According to the police report, 'Distraction named.' The 25-year-old was unlicensed and wore no seatbelt. The 45-year-old was licensed and buckled in. Both vehicles struck left front to left front. The crash happened in darkness, with no cross street or borough listed. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other errors or violations are noted. The toll: two lives ended, metal crushed, silence left behind.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs crashed at 53rd Avenue and 206th Street. One slammed into the other’s side. A woman, 46, sat up front. Her head bled. The airbag burst. She stayed conscious. Inattention behind the wheel drew blood on glass.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at the corner of 53rd Avenue and 206th Street in Queens. According to the police report, one SUV struck the side of the other. A 46-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. She remained conscious after the crash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The airbag deployed in the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned right on Farrington Street. An e-scooter kept straight. The rider flew, leg crushed, blood on the pavement. Twenty-five years old, conscious, hurt bad. The car was untouched. The man was not.

A sedan collided with an e-scooter on Farrington Street. The sedan turned right as the e-scooter traveled straight. According to the police report, 'A sedan turned right. An e-scooter kept straight. No helmet. No chance. The rider flew, hit hard, leg crushed. Twenty-five, conscious, bleeding on the pavement. The car was fine. The man was not.' The e-scooter rider, a 25-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his leg and was ejected from his vehicle. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No helmet was noted, but driver errors came first. The sedan sustained no damage. The e-scooter rider was left injured and bleeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646731 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV on 189th Street. He flew off, hit the pavement, and lay still. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Sirens wailed. The street fell silent except for the sound of pain.

A 47-year-old man riding a bike crashed into the left side doors of a parked SUV on 189th Street near Underhill Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from his bike, struck the pavement, and suffered severe bleeding from his leg. He was found unconscious at the scene. The SUV was parked and unoccupied except for the driver. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are noted in the data. The police report states the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the absence of any listed driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 61-year-old man fell from his e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue. No other vehicles. No crash. He struck his head. The scooter stood untouched. The street was silent. He died there, under the cold lights.

A 61-year-old man riding an e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue was killed after being ejected from his vehicle. According to the police report, 'Jasmine Avenue, under cold streetlights — a 61-year-old man thrown from his e-scooter, headfirst to pavement. No crash, no wreckage. Just silence, and a still body in the dark. The scooter stood untouched.' The man suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were involved. The e-scooter showed no damage. The man was the sole occupant and driver. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644509 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep veered on Cross Island Parkway. It struck a man fixing his Ford. Steel crushed his pelvis. He stayed awake. Pain did not leave. Unsafe lane change left him broken on the roadside.

A 39-year-old man was working on his parked Ford SUV on Cross Island Parkway when a Jeep SUV, changing lanes, veered and struck him. According to the police report, "Unsafe Lane Changing" was the contributing factor. The impact crushed the man's pelvis, causing severe injuries. The police report states he remained conscious after the crash. The man was not at an intersection and was engaged in vehicle repair when the collision occurred. No errors are attributed to the pedestrian. The crash involved two SUVs, with the Jeep’s right front bumper hitting the Ford’s rear. No helmet or signal issues are listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04