No More Names on Asphalt: Fix the Streets or Count More Dead

A sedan hit a man on Bleecker Street. The pedestrian, 26, bled from the head and drifted semiconscious. The car’s left front bumper took the blow. No driver error listed. The street stayed hard and unforgiving.

A 26-year-old man walking outside the intersection at 283 Bleecker Street in Manhattan was struck by a sedan traveling east. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was semiconscious at the scene. The car’s left front bumper was damaged. The report lists no specific driver error or contributing factor. Other occupants in the vehicle were not reported injured. The data shows the pedestrian was in the roadway but not at an intersection, performing 'other actions.' No helmet or signaling issues are cited. The crash underscores the danger pedestrians face, even when driver fault is not specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young cyclist suffered head wounds on Canal Street. An SUV struck him. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The crash left the rider bleeding, conscious, and partially ejected. The street stayed dangerous. The system failed to protect him.

A 23-year-old cyclist was injured in a crash with an SUV at Canal Street and Lafayette Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered severe lacerations to the head and was partially ejected but remained conscious. The SUV was traveling west, going straight, while the cyclist was making a left turn eastbound. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. No helmet or signaling issues were cited for the cyclist. The report shows the impact fell hardest on the vulnerable road user, exposing the ongoing risks faced by people outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811770, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three dead in two weeks. Cyclist crushed in Soho. Pedestrian killed crossing Woodhaven. Another cyclist struck by fire truck in Queens. Protected lanes grow, but streets remain perilous. City claims progress. The toll mounts. The danger persists.

amNY reported on May 4, 2025, that a surge in deadly collisions has struck New York City as spring brings more cyclists and pedestrians to the streets. On May 1, a cyclist died after hitting a van's open door and being thrown under a truck at Broome and Centre Streets. On April 25, a motorcyclist struck and killed Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard. On April 19, a fire truck responding to an emergency collided with a cyclist, who died at the scene. The article notes, 'each of which is under investigation by the NYPD.' The city’s Department of Transportation points to expanded protected bike lanes—87.5 miles added in three years—and new barriers, but the recent deaths highlight ongoing systemic risks for vulnerable road users.

• Spring Collisions Expose Street Dangers, amny, Published 2025-05-04

A van door swung open. The cyclist struck it. He fell. A truck crushed him. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The street stayed busy. The drivers waited. The city moved on.

According to NY Daily News (May 3, 2025), Georgios Smaragdis, 44, was killed while riding his e-bike west on Broome Street in Soho. The article states, "he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had just flung open," sending him into the path of a red delivery truck that ran him over. Both drivers remained at the scene. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy." Police have not announced charges. The crash highlights the persistent danger of dooring and the lethal consequences for cyclists when drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors. The incident underscores ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in Manhattan’s dense traffic.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Dooring in Soho, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

A cyclist died on Broome Street. A box truck and SUV stood in the mix. The crash hit hard. The man, 44, was ejected. Head trauma ended his ride. No driver errors listed. The street claimed another life.

A 44-year-old male bicyclist was killed in a crash involving a box truck and a parked SUV on Broome Street at Centre Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The crash involved a box truck traveling west and a parked SUV. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. The cyclist's use of safety equipment is listed as 'Unknown,' but this is not cited as a contributing factor. The collision resulted in the death of a vulnerable road user while all vehicle occupants reported only unspecified or no injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809521, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on an e-bike struck a van door on Broome Street. The door swung open. He fell into the path of a box truck. The truck ran him over. Medics tried to save him. He died at Bellevue Hospital.

NY Daily News reported on May 1, 2025, that an e-bike rider died in Manhattan after being doored by a Mercedes van and then run over by a box truck. The crash happened around 10:10 a.m. on Broome Street near Centre Street. The van driver told the outlet, "I opened the door. I didn’t even see the guy. I only saw the accident." The collision forced the cyclist into the path of a red delivery truck, which then struck him. The 54-year-old truck driver stayed at the scene. Police had not determined if charges would be filed. The article highlights the lethal risk of dooring and the vulnerability of cyclists in mixed traffic. The incident underscores systemic dangers at curbside and the consequences of inattentive door opening.

• E-Bike Rider Killed After Van Door Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-01

A pickup truck’s bumper caught an 87-year-old woman crossing Avenue C. She fell. Blood pooled on East 6th Street. The driver, unbelted, kept turning. The city’s streets remain hostile to its oldest walkers.

According to the police report, a pickup truck made a left turn at the corner of East 6th Street and Avenue C in Manhattan. Its left front bumper struck an 87-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection. The impact knocked her to the ground, causing severe head lacerations and visible bleeding. The report notes the driver, a 65-year-old man, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. The pedestrian was listed as 'crossing against signal,' but the police report does not cite any specific driver error or contributing factor beyond the vehicle’s turning movement. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of turning vehicles at intersections, especially for elderly pedestrians. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806893, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

A man lay bleeding in the crosswalk at Lafayette and Bleecker after a southbound cyclist hit him in the head and rode on. The street stayed quiet. The impact left the pedestrian semiconscious, blood pooling on the pavement.

A 54-year-old man was struck in the head by a southbound cyclist at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Bleecker Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The pedestrian was left semiconscious and bleeding severely in the crosswalk. The report states the cyclist did not stop after the collision. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist's bike showed no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian with a serious head injury. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the ongoing danger to people on foot when drivers—regardless of vehicle type—fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801050, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford SUV swung right on Waverly Place. The driver, distracted, plowed into a 55-year-old man crossing with the light. Bone met bumper. The man stayed conscious. His knee and foot shattered. The SUV rolled on, undamaged.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV turned right on Waverly Place near Broadway and struck a 55-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The report states the pedestrian was hit in the leg by the bumper, resulting in crush injuries to his knee and foot. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The pedestrian was crossing with the light, as documented in the report, and was located at the intersection. The SUV sustained no damage. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor, keeping the focus on the driver's failure to pay attention during the turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800189, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi struck a baby boy crossing East 11th Street. The front end crumpled. Blood pooled from his head. He lay semiconscious on the pavement as dusk fell and the city watched, silent and still.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on East 11th Street near Third Avenue struck a baby boy who was crossing outside the crosswalk. The report describes the vehicle's center front end as the point of impact, with damage matching the collision. The child suffered a head injury, severe bleeding, and was found semiconscious on the pavement. The narrative notes, 'His head bled. He lay on the pavement, semiconscious, as the light dimmed and the street watched in silence.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report, but the collision occurred as the taxi proceeded straight ahead and the pedestrian was not at an intersection. The focus remains on the impact and the systemic danger faced by vulnerable pedestrians in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797705, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel shrieked at Lafayette and Grand. Two Toyotas collided. A 67-year-old woman crossing the intersection fell, her leg torn open. Blood pooled. Drivers licensed, but distraction ruled. She left with pain and silence, flesh split by careless hands.

A 67-year-old woman was seriously injured at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Grand Street in Manhattan when two Toyotas, a sedan and an SUV, collided. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and 'struck' at the corner, resulting in the woman being knocked down with 'severe lacerations' to her lower leg. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and remained at the scene. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection when the crash occurred. The police report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on driver distraction and inexperience, which led to the violent impact and left the woman with lasting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794593, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a bike, unlicensed, sped through the night at Delancey and Norfolk. His head struck hard, blood pooling on the asphalt. The city watched, silent. He survived, conscious, but the street bore the mark.

A 47-year-old man riding a bike was severely injured at the corner of Delancey Street and Norfolk Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 1:35 a.m. The report states the cyclist was traveling at 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' is listed as a contributing factor. The man was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The narrative notes, 'Head split, blood on asphalt. Conscious. Unlicensed. The front end crumpled.' The impact caused severe bleeding from the head, but the cyclist remained conscious. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as driver errors. No mention is made of any other vehicles or external hazards. The focus remains on the cyclist’s actions and the systemic dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Toyota sedan hit an 88-year-old man crossing Canal Street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept straight. The man lay silent, head wounded, as traffic pulsed around him in the cold Manhattan dusk.

According to the police report, an 88-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Toyota sedan while crossing Canal Street near Centre Street in Manhattan. The incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. The narrative states, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the street, no signal, no crosswalk. A Toyota sedan struck him head-on. He fell, bleeding from the head, silent on the cold asphalt. The driver kept going straight.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan's point of impact was the right front bumper, and the driver was traveling straight ahead. The victim suffered severe head bleeding and was in shock. The police report does not cite any driver errors or violations, but emphasizes the pedestrian's location and action at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788957, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan sat parked on Avenue B. Inside, four people. The driver, distracted and speeding, struck something. Silence. A woman in the rear seat, her leg crushed, no belt. Metal untouched. Flesh broken. Night in Manhattan, danger in motion.

According to the police report, a sedan was parked on Avenue B near East 2nd Street in Manhattan with four occupants inside. At 21:50, the driver, described as distracted and traveling at an unsafe speed, caused the vehicle to strike while parked. The report states: 'Driver distracted. Speed too fast. Silence followed.' No damage was recorded to the vehicle’s metal, but a 34-year-old woman in the right rear passenger seat suffered crush injuries to her leg. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The injured passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, but this detail is only noted after the driver’s errors. The crash underscores the persistent threat posed by driver distraction and excessive speed, even when vehicles are not in motion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790147, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford sedan fleeing police tore through LaGuardia Place and struck a westbound cyclist. The man flew from his bike, blood pooling as he lay broken and incoherent. Sirens wailed. The car’s front end crumpled against the city’s cold pavement.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan, pursued by police, disregarded traffic control and struck a 44-year-old man riding a bicycle westbound on LaGuardia Place near West 3rd Street. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. The report describes the victim as incoherent at the scene. The sedan's front end sustained significant damage. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, underscoring driver error and systemic danger. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The crash unfolded in Manhattan's 10012 zip code, with the impact and aftermath described in stark, physical terms by responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780933, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two bikes collided head-on at speed on E 1st Street and 2nd Avenue. A 48-year-old man hit the pavement, his face torn, blood pouring. Confusion and sirens filled the night. The street fell silent in the aftermath.

Two bicycles crashed head-on at speed at the corner of E 1st Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. The collision left a 48-year-old male bicyclist with severe facial injuries and heavy bleeding. The police report states, 'Two bikes met head-on at speed. A 48-year-old man hit the pavement, face torn, blood spilling. Confusion in the dark. Sirens rose.' The official contributing factors listed are 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The report highlights confusion and excessive speed as central to the crash. No mention is made of helmet use or other victim behaviors as contributing factors. The impact underscores the danger when speed and confusion intersect on city streets, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776278, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 69-year-old cyclist collided with an open BMW door near Church Street. Blood streaked his face. The driver, distracted, looked away. The street froze. The wound cut deep. Silence hung heavy in Manhattan’s morning air.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old male cyclist was injured on Park Place near Church Street when he struck the open door of a parked BMW sedan. The incident occurred at 8:50 a.m. in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered severe facial lacerations, with blood running down his face as described in the narrative. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The BMW driver, licensed in New Jersey, was present and reportedly looked away at the moment of impact. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but helmet use is not cited as a contributing factor in the police report. The focus remains on the driver’s inattention and the systemic danger posed by inattentive dooring in dense city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773079, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel met flesh at Bowery and Delancey. A flatbed swung left. A man, crossing against the light, took the blow. Blood spilled on the crosswalk. He stayed conscious, head split, the truck untouched, danger written in daylight.

A flatbed truck turning left at the corner of Bowery and Delancey in Manhattan struck a 45-year-old man in the crosswalk, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. Police cited 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver, who was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. Blood ran on the crosswalk. He stayed awake, bleeding.' The truck sustained no damage. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'crossing against the light,' but this is listed after the primary driver error. The impact and injury underscore the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users in busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764799, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman bicyclist traveling north on Pitt Street was struck by a Ford sedan making a left turn. Her lower leg shattered, blood pooled at the curb, and her bike lay broken. Shock and pain marked the early morning collision.

According to the police report, a woman riding a bike northbound on Pitt Street was struck by a Ford sedan making a left turn early in the morning. The cyclist suffered severe crush injuries to her lower leg, described as 'knee-lower leg foot' injuries with an injury severity level of 3. The report states she was 'riding with traffic' when the Ford turned into her path. The Ford was making a left turn while the cyclist was going straight ahead. The police data lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and does not explicitly cite driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision highlights the danger posed by turning vehicles to cyclists lawfully riding in the lane. No cyclist behaviors are noted as contributing factors. The cyclist was wearing pads only and was incoherent after the crash, standing in shock with blood at the curb and her bike broken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763138, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14