No One is Safe on Staten Island—Lanza Lets the Bodies Pile Up

A pickup rolled south on Seguine Avenue. The driver did not yield. He struck a 62-year-old man crossing with the light. Blood pooled from the man’s head. He lay conscious, bleeding on the street.

A 62-year-old man was crossing Seguine Avenue at Hylan Boulevard with the signal when a southbound pickup truck struck him head-on. According to the police report, the driver did not yield and admitted he fell asleep at the wheel. The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was conscious but bleeding heavily at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Fell Asleep' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupant. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield and lose alertness behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624447, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 17-year-old, unlicensed, sped down Nippon Avenue. His sedan smashed into parked cars. Steel twisted. Glass flew. His legs crushed. A 15-year-old passenger hurt. Another driver suffered neck pain. The street bore the scars of reckless speed.

On Nippon Avenue near Edgegrove Avenue in Staten Island, a 17-year-old unlicensed driver lost control of his sedan and crashed into several parked vehicles. According to the police report, 'A 17-year-old, unlicensed, drove fast. His sedan slammed parked cars. Steel folded. Airbags burst. His legs crushed.' The crash left the teen driver with severe leg injuries and a 15-year-old passenger with back pain. A 19-year-old driver in another sedan suffered neck injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the teen driver and excessive speed led to a violent collision, leaving lasting harm for those inside the vehicles. Airbags deployed, but the force of the crash brought pain and silence to the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617297, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV hit a 66-year-old man on Clove Road near Tioga Street. The right front bumper struck his head. He died at the scene. The street was quiet. Speed did not forgive. The morning ended in loss.

A 66-year-old man was killed when a Ford SUV struck him with its right front bumper on Clove Road near Tioga Street in Staten Island. According to the police report, the crash happened early in the morning on a quiet street. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for the driver. The SUV was traveling south, going straight ahead. No other contributing factors were cited. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The crash shows the deadly risk of unsafe speed for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617066, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man biked south on Wilson Avenue. An SUV hit him from behind. The wheels crushed him. He died there, still and broken, on cold Staten Island asphalt. Driver inattention ended his ride. The street stayed silent after.

A 52-year-old man riding his bike south on Wilson Avenue was struck from behind by an SUV. According to the police report, 'An SUV struck him from behind. His body broke beneath the wheels. He was partially thrown. He died there, crushed and still, on the cold street.' The cyclist died at the scene from crush injuries to his entire body. The SUV's driver, a 35-year-old woman, was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a factor. The data shows a clear failure of attention by the driver, leading to a deadly outcome for the vulnerable cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609017, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford sedan turned left on Buffalo Street. Its bumper struck a 63-year-old man crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The man stayed conscious, head bleeding. The car showed no damage. The pedestrian did not walk away.

A 63-year-old man was crossing Buffalo Street with the signal when a Ford sedan making a left turn struck him. According to the police report, "The bumper struck his head. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. He stayed conscious." The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The report lists "View Obstructed/Limited" as a contributing factor for the driver. The car showed no damage. The man did not. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a contributing factor for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4608962, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep flipped on Ellsworth Avenue. Metal twisted. Glass flew. The driver, alone and belted, died at the scene. No one else was hurt. The SUV lay demolished. Silence followed the crash.

A 2007 Jeep SUV rolled over and broke apart on Ellsworth Avenue. The sole occupant, a 75-year-old man, was belted in and died where the vehicle landed. According to the police report, 'A 2007 Jeep rolled and broke apart. The driver, 75, belted in and alone, died where it landed. Metal twisted. Glass scattered. No one else came out.' The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The vehicle was demolished in the crash. No pedestrians, cyclists, or other road users were involved or injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4598676, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep crashed into an ambulance on Jewett Avenue. The impact was hard. A woman in the back of the ambulance died. Others suffered neck injuries. The driver ignored a traffic signal. The street was quiet. The loss was sudden.

A Jeep struck the rear of an eastbound ambulance on Jewett Avenue near Maine Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, 'A Jeep slammed into the back of an eastbound ambulance. Inside, a 35-year-old woman lay in the rear. She never got out. The light was ignored. Her head struck something hard. She died before sunrise.' The crash killed the 35-year-old woman and injured several others, including passengers and both drivers, who suffered neck injuries. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to obey a traffic signal. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572941, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge sedan tore down Jewett Avenue. A woman crossed the street. The car struck her head. She fell. She died where she landed. The street was quiet. The speed was not.

A 35-year-old woman was killed on Jewett Avenue near Keiber Court in Staten Island. According to the police report, a Dodge sedan traveling north struck her with its right front bumper as she crossed the street. The impact caused fatal head and internal injuries. The driver, a 38-year-old man, was not reported injured. Police listed 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors were cited for the pedestrian. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of excessive speed for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574548, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep turned left on Richmond Road. A motorcycle came straight. Steel met steel. A 55-year-old man hit the ground, his leg torn open. Blood pooled. The street stayed silent. Failure to yield cut flesh and bone.

A crash on Richmond Road near Midland Avenue left a 55-year-old motorcyclist with severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, a Jeep sedan turned left while a motorcycle traveled straight. The impact tore open the rider’s leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The Jeep’s driver, age 60, and a 14-year-old passenger were not seriously hurt. The motorcyclist was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield to oncoming traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4568925, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A dump truck slowed on Duncan Street. A man worked in the road. The truck’s right front struck him. His leg was torn off. Blood pooled. He stood, then collapsed. The truck rolled away. The street was left stained and silent.

A 39-year-old man working in the roadway on Duncan Street near Sparkhill Avenue was struck by the right front of a northbound dump truck. According to the police report, 'A dump truck slowed. A man worked in the road. The right front struck. His leg came off. Blood pooled. He stood a moment, then dropped. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered an amputation and was in shock. The driver, a 51-year-old man, was licensed and remained uninjured. No contributing factors were specified in the police data. The crash left the worker grievously hurt while the truck sustained no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566412, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle and SUV crashed head-on mid-turn on Klondike Avenue. Both drivers were distracted. The unlicensed, helmeted rider was thrown from his bike. He landed hard, bleeding and conscious, alone on the street. The SUV driver was unhurt.

A motorcycle and an SUV collided head-on at Klondike Avenue near Bridgetown Street. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time of the crash. The motorcycle rider, a 32-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore a helmet. He was ejected from his bike, suffering severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The SUV, driven by a 25-year-old woman, was making a left turn when the crash occurred. She was not injured. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. The motorcyclist's helmet is noted in the data, but distraction by both drivers is the primary cause cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565853, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Suzuki motorcycle turned left. The steering failed. The rider flew from the seat. He landed hard. Blood pooled from his pelvis. He stayed conscious. The road went still. Metal and flesh met the pavement. Silence followed.

A 31-year-old man riding a 2015 Suzuki motorcycle was injured on Arthur Kill Road near Giffords Lane in Staten Island. According to the police report, the motorcycle was making a left turn when the steering failed. The rider was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from the pelvis but remained conscious. The report lists 'Steering Failure' as the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the mechanical failure left him vulnerable. The crash underscores the risks when vehicle systems fail, leaving riders exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai sedan veered north on Hylan Boulevard. Tire failed. The car struck a parked Dodge truck. The driver, alone, died with chest injuries. Unsafe speed and tire failure listed. The street was empty. The silence stayed.

A Hyundai sedan traveling north on Hylan Boulevard crashed into a parked Dodge pick-up truck at 3:45 a.m. The driver, a 43-year-old man, was killed. According to the police report, 'A Hyundai sedan veered north, tire failed, struck a parked Dodge truck. The driver, 43, wore a lap belt. Chest crushed. Died conscious.' The report lists 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No other people were injured. The Dodge truck was unoccupied and parked. The crash left the driver alone in the dark, fatally injured by the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546582, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford sedan on a permit tore into a turning GMC on Hylan Boulevard. Metal ripped. Three teens died—two thrown, one trapped. Others bled and groaned. Speed and failure to yield left no escape. The wreckage sprawled across Staten Island asphalt.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan driven by a permit holder slammed into a GMC SUV turning left on Hylan Boulevard near Richard Avenue. Three teenage passengers were killed: two were ejected from the vehicle, one was trapped and crushed inside. Several others, including children and adults, suffered head, arm, and leg injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The Ford was demolished. The GMC driver was unlicensed. The violence of the crash left the scene scattered with debris and pain. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545310, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.

A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW sedan hit a 19-year-old man in a marked crosswalk on Clove Road. The car’s left front bumper smashed his head. He fell, unconscious and bleeding, under the streetlights. Driver inattention and unsafe lane changing led to the crash.

A 19-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a 2006 BMW sedan while crossing Clove Road near Victory Boulevard in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the left front bumper hit the pedestrian’s head, leaving him unconscious and bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The driver and another occupant were not reported injured. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but the primary causes cited were driver errors. No mention of helmet or signaling as contributing factors appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542170, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT aims to shrink Hylan Boulevard. Fewer lanes. Painted bike paths. Cyclists and pedestrians bleed here. Council Member Borelli fights back. He calls it needless. DOT stands firm. Data shows danger. Staten Island drivers protest. Safety hangs in the balance.

On June 16, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation proposed a 'road diet' for Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. The plan would cut the road from four lanes to one in each direction, add a turning bay, and paint bike lanes. The DOT cites high injury and fatality rates, especially among cyclists, as the reason for action, referencing success from similar projects. Council Member Joe Borelli opposes the plan, saying, 'Thousands who use this road each day will be inconvenienced...all for the benefit of 251 aspiring Greg LeMonds who cycle this stretch on the weekends.' Borelli calls the plan unoriginal and unnecessary. DOT spokesman Vin Barone defends the proposal, pointing to injury data and safety gains. The plan remains a proposal as DOT reviews community feedback. No formal safety analyst assessment is available.

• City Will Rein in Speeding Staten Islanders with Hylan Boulevard ‘Road Diet’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-16

State Senate passed bill to run speed cameras all day, every day. The vote was 51 to 12. Cameras now catch speeders at night and on weekends. Most deaths happen off-hours. Expansion aims to cut deadly crashes citywide.

On May 31, 2022, the State Senate approved a bill to extend and expand New York City's speed camera program. The measure passed 51-12 and now moves to the Assembly. The bill allows cameras to operate 24/7 in nearly 2,000 locations across 750 school zones until July 1, 2025. The matter summary states, 'The proposal to extend New York City's speed camera program for another three years and expand it to run every day and around the clock easily passed.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsored the bill, saying, 'We are going to see a marked reduction in traffic violence on our streets at a time when traffic deaths are at their highest in a decade.' Simcha Felder, Democrat from District 44, voted against. The expansion targets off-hours, which account for 59% of traffic deaths. Speeding dropped 72% and deaths fell 55% where cameras operated. The city pushed for this as fatalities rose under Mayor Adams. Some penalties for repeat speeders were removed during negotiations.

• State Senate votes to approve 24-hour speed cameras in NYC, amny.com, Published 2022-06-01

The State Senate backed Sen. Gounardes’s bill to run speed cameras nonstop in city school zones. The vote was 51-12. Supporters cited lives lost to speeding. Opponents called it a cash grab. The Assembly must act before the session ends.

Bill S. (no number given) passed the New York State Senate on June 1, 2022, by a 51-12 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, reauthorizes and expands New York City’s school-zone speed camera program to operate 24/7. The measure was debated in the Senate, with Sen. Robert Jackson and Gounardes defending it: 'Cars speeding in New York kill New Yorkers, injure New Yorkers.' Gounardes called the cameras 'life-saving.' Opponents, including Sen. Andrew Lanza, dismissed the program as a 'cash register.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives said, 'When New York City’s speed safety cameras turn off, speeding increases and crashes rise.' The bill awaits Assembly action before the legislative session ends.

• State Senate Overwhelmingly Supports 24/7 Speed Cameras for the City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01

A Buick SUV rolled on Page Avenue. The crash crushed a 74-year-old woman riding up front. She wore her belt. A parked Ford pickup took the hit. Police say the driver was distracted. Metal twisted. Lives changed. Streets stayed silent.

A violent crash unfolded on Page Avenue near Adelphi Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, a southbound Buick SUV flipped and struck a parked Ford pickup. The impact crushed a 74-year-old woman in the front passenger seat. She suffered injuries to her entire body. The report states, 'The driver was distracted.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The woman wore a lap belt and harness, but the crash force overwhelmed her protection. No injuries were specified for the other occupants. The parked pickup was struck on its left rear quarter panel. The crash highlights the danger of driver distraction and its toll on passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532689, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15