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

A young man lies unconscious in the crosswalk, head bleeding, after a Toyota sedan hits him at Delancey and Clinton. The bumper is bent. The street holds its breath. Blood pools on the asphalt. Manhattan’s danger remains, silent and cold.

A 22-year-old man was struck by a Toyota sedan at the intersection of Delancey Street and Clinton Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 4:51 a.m. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The impact left the man unconscious in the crosswalk with a head injury and severe bleeding. The police narrative describes a bent bumper and blood pooling at the scene. The report lists the contributing factor for the driver as 'Unspecified.' The only victim behavior noted as a contributing factor is 'Crossing Against Signal,' which is mentioned after the absence of any cited driver error. The focus remains on the force of the impact and the ongoing systemic danger at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755651, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Night on Pearl Street. A Tesla plows into a parked taxi. Steel folds. The cab driver, thirty-five, is pinned and crushed. Sirens echo, but the street holds its breath. Metal groans. Nothing moves except the memory of impact.

A violent collision unfolded on Pearl Street near Broad in Manhattan when a Tesla sedan struck a parked taxi, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 9:30 p.m. The report describes, 'A Tesla slammed into a parked taxi. Steel crumpled. The 35-year-old driver was trapped, crushed in the cab.' Emergency responders arrived as the street stood silent, pierced only by sirens and the sound of twisted metal. The taxi driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered crush injuries and was not ejected from the vehicle. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The data shows the taxi was parked and the Tesla was traveling straight ahead before the impact. No driver errors are explicitly named in the report, but the sequence of events centers on the moving vehicle colliding with a stationary one, leaving the vulnerable driver trapped in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757148, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-scooter, fast and unyielding, hit an 11-year-old girl off the roadway on South Street. Her face split open. She stayed conscious, blood pooling on the sidewalk. The scooter kept going, untouched, leaving pain and silence behind.

According to the police report, an e-scooter traveling at unsafe speed struck an 11-year-old girl off the roadway near South Street and Maiden Lane in Manhattan. The report states the girl was not in the roadway at the time of impact. She suffered severe lacerations to her face but remained conscious. The narrative describes the scooter as 'fast and straight,' making contact with the child and then continuing on without stopping. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The e-scooter sustained no damage, and the driver did not remain at the scene. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the danger posed by high-speed vehicles, even off the main roadway, and the consequences of reckless operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748096, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a man lying on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. The driver, distracted, hit him head-on. The man died instantly, his head taking the blow. The road was dark. The driver kept going. Silence followed.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old man was killed on FDR Drive at 3:30 a.m. when a southbound sedan struck him head-on. The report states, 'A man lay in the dark. A southbound sedan struck him head-on. His head took the blow. He died there, still and silent.' The driver was found to be distracted at the time of the crash, with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' listed as a primary contributing factor. The sedan's center front end took the impact, matching the pedestrian's fatal head injury. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver's inattention, which led to the fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746817, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan plowed into a stopped taxi near Broadway. The cabbie, trapped and bleeding, waited for help. Police cited driver distraction. The sedan driver had no license. Metal screamed. The street fell silent.

According to the police report, a sedan crashed into a stopped taxi near 160 Broadway in Manhattan. The taxi driver, a 39-year-old man, was trapped inside his vehicle with severe lacerations. The report states the sedan driver was unlicensed and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan struck the taxi's right rear bumper with its center front end. The narrative describes the cabbie lying trapped, blood slicking the seat, as the street held its breath. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the taxi driver. The focus remains on the unlicensed, distracted sedan driver whose actions led directly to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746073, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ducati tore down Lafayette. A man entered the crosswalk. The motorcycle’s front slammed his arm. Blood pooled on the pavement. Sirens echoed. The city paused, watching danger claim another body.

A collision occurred at the corner of Lafayette Street and Grand Street in Manhattan when a southbound Ducati motorcycle struck a 34-year-old man crossing the intersection. According to the police report, the motorcycle was traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact from the motorcycle’s left front bumper caused severe bleeding to the pedestrian’s arm and hand. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor on the part of the motorcycle driver. The police narrative describes the scene: 'A Ducati sped south. A man stepped into the street, against the light. The bike’s front struck his arm. Blood spread on the crosswalk.' The pedestrian was reported as 'Conscious' but suffering from 'Severe Bleeding.' The report also notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this detail follows the documented driver errors of unsafe speed and failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742187, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into a turning bus at Avenue D and East 10th. The rider struck the pavement headfirst. Blood pooled. The signal was there. It was not obeyed. Sirens cut the silence. One man lay unconscious, grievously hurt.

A violent collision unfolded at Avenue D and East 10th in Manhattan when a Yamaha motorcycle, traveling straight, crashed into a bus making a left turn. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:39 a.m. and involved a 39-year-old male motorcyclist who suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious, bleeding heavily. The report explicitly lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, stating, 'The signal was there. It was not obeyed.' The impact was to the center front end of the motorcycle and the left side doors of the bus. The data does not specify which driver disregarded the signal, but the failure to obey traffic control devices stands out as the central cause. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report after the primary driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738035, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup truck surged onto Jackson Street, crushing four people not in the roadway. Three women and a man, ages 30 to 59, died beneath the truck’s front end. The street ran red. Metal and bone. No warning. No escape.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck traveling north on Jackson Street near Water Street struck four pedestrians who were not in the roadway. The report states the victims—three women and one man, ages 30 to 59—were hit head-on and suffered fatal crush injuries to the chest and skull. All four died at the scene, pinned beneath the truck’s front end. The police narrative describes the collision as occurring off-street, with the pedestrians explicitly listed as 'not in roadway.' The report lists the contributing factor for the driver as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrian behavior was cited as contributing. The crash highlights the lethal danger when a large vehicle leaves the roadway and enters spaces where people walk or gather.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738033, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 31-year-old woman died beneath the city’s hush, struck by a northbound SUV on FDR Drive. The driver’s inattention cut her down, leaving her alone in the dark, far from any crosswalk, her life ended by steel and neglect.

A 31-year-old woman was killed when a 2003 Ford SUV, heading north on FDR Drive, struck her with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the collision occurred far from any crosswalk, with the victim crossing the roadway. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The narrative notes she was alone, in the dark, and not at an intersection. The data does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact and the cited driver inattention underscore the persistent systemic dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City’s high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi tore through Bowery, striking a 79-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She died on the sunlit concrete, blood pooling, engines idling. The cab’s nose crumpled. The city’s rhythm never faltered. Another life ended beneath steel and glass.

A 79-year-old woman was killed at the intersection of East 4th Street and Bowery in Manhattan when a taxi struck her as she crossed the street. According to the police report, the collision occurred at 13:37 and resulted in a fatal head wound. The report states the driver’s actions included 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting a failure to obey traffic signals. The taxi’s center front end bore the impact, its nose crumpled from the force. The pedestrian was described as 'crossing against the signal,' but this detail appears only after the driver’s error is cited. The scene was marked by blood on hot concrete and the persistent hum of engines, underscoring the relentless danger faced by those on foot. No other contributing factors were listed for the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735570, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 27-year-old cyclist crashed into a sedan’s side on Fulton Street. His face struck steel. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. The cyclist was left with severe lacerations and no helmet.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male cyclist collided with the right side doors of a Toyota sedan while both were traveling west on Fulton Street. The report states, 'A cyclist, 27, struck a sedan’s side. No helmet. His face hit steel. Blood marked the pavement. He stayed conscious. The car was fine. He was not.' The cyclist suffered severe facial lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The sedan sustained no damage and its occupants were unharmed. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors or vehicle violations are cited in the data. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the contributing factor. The crash underscores the raw physical risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733458, 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 sedan lost control on East 2nd Street. A tire failed. The car veered into a parked Hyundai. The driver, a 29-year-old woman, died alone in the quiet dark. The street was still. Metal and silence marked the aftermath.

A deadly crash unfolded just before midnight on East 2nd Street near Avenue C in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 2012 Acura sedan experienced 'Tire Failure/Inadequate,' causing the vehicle to veer off course and strike a parked Hyundai sedan. The report states, 'A tire gave out. A 2012 Acura veered into a parked Hyundai.' The sole occupant, a 29-year-old woman in the driver's seat, was killed in the collision. No contributing factors are listed for the victim beyond the tire failure. The parked Hyundai was unoccupied. The police report makes clear that the crash was set in motion by the mechanical failure, with the Acura's driver losing control and the vehicle striking a stationary car. The scene remained still, marked by the loss and the silence that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728453, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A garbage truck backed down Cornelia Street. Its right rear bumper struck a man. The truck’s wheels crushed his skull. He died alone in the street before dawn. The driver’s unsafe backing left no chance for survival.

A 35-year-old man was killed on Cornelia Street in the early morning when a garbage truck, traveling south, backed unsafely and struck him with its right rear bumper. According to the police report, the truck’s wheels crushed the pedestrian’s skull, causing fatal injuries at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The victim was not at an intersection and was described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The focus remains on the driver’s action: reversing a large refuse vehicle without adequate care, as documented by police. This crash underscores the lethal consequences when heavy vehicles back unsafely on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725065, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan hit a 67-year-old man head-on at West and Liberty. He lay bleeding from the head, conscious beneath the city’s lights. The impact left the intersection silent, save for the echo of metal and flesh colliding.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a southbound Toyota sedan at the corner of West Street and Liberty Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 21:27. The report states the man was crossing in the dark when the sedan, traveling straight, hit him with its center front end. The pedestrian was left conscious but bleeding severely from the head. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. No driver-specific errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' were cited in the report. The narrative describes the victim as crossing with no signal or crosswalk. The focus remains on the impact and the vulnerability of the pedestrian at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724988, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young woman pedaled straight down Washington Street. Her bike snapped at the front. Flesh tore. Blood pooled fast. She lay silent, stunned, the city indifferent. Metal failed. The street swallowed her pain.

A 27-year-old woman suffered severe lacerations to her leg when her bicycle broke at the front while riding straight on Washington Street near Canal, according to the police report. The report describes how her 'bike broke at the front,' causing her to sustain a deep leg wound and enter a state of shock, with 'blood pooled on the pavement.' The narrative notes she wore no helmet, but the police report does not list helmet use as a contributing factor. No other vehicles or driver errors are cited in the report. The data underscores the vulnerability of cyclists to equipment failure and the harsh consequences when infrastructure or machinery fails. The city moved on as she lay injured, her pain unnoticed by the passing world.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726950, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 19-year-old cyclist hurled forward on East 12th Street, blood streaming from his eye, after another bike struck him from behind. He lay conscious, bleeding on the darkened pavement. The crash left the street marked by violence and error.

According to the police report, two cyclists were traveling eastbound on East 12th Street near 2nd Avenue when one bike struck the other from behind. The report states the 19-year-old rider was ejected, landing hard on the asphalt, bleeding severely from his eye but remaining conscious. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the collision. The rear cyclist's failure to maintain a safe distance led directly to the violent impact, sending the victim forward onto the street. The report describes the point of impact as the right rear bumper of the lead bike and the left front quarter panel of the trailing bike. No information is provided about helmet use or other victim behaviors. The crash highlights the persistent danger when riders are not given adequate space, even on city streets dominated by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721227, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel slammed steel on Grand Street. A truck and sedan collided head-on. The 27-year-old driver, conscious but bleeding from the head, was pinned in the wreck. Distraction steered disaster. Sirens chased silence down Eldridge.

A head-on collision between a truck and a sedan unfolded at Grand Street and Eldridge Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash left a 27-year-old male driver injured, suffering crush injuries and bleeding from the head, but conscious at the scene. The police report attributes the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the truck moving north and the sedan heading west. The report details that steel met steel as the two vehicles collided, emphasizing the force of the impact. No contributing factors are listed for the victim beyond the cited driver inattention. The data underscores distraction behind the wheel as the critical factor in this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715621, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two motorcycles sped south on FDR Drive near the Manhattan Bridge. One slammed into a Honda SUV’s rear bumper, shattering on impact. A 28-year-old rider was ejected headfirst onto the asphalt, bleeding but conscious. Speed and reckless lane changes shaped the violent crash.

According to the police report, two motorcycles were traveling southbound on FDR Drive near the Manhattan Bridge at unsafe speeds. One motorcycle, operated by an unlicensed 28-year-old male, collided with the left rear bumper of a Honda SUV that was proceeding straight ahead. The report states the motorcycle rider was ejected headfirst onto the roadway and suffered severe head injuries while not wearing a helmet. Both motorcycles were cited for 'Unsafe Speed' and were changing lanes prior to the collision. The SUV sustained damage to its left rear bumper. Another motorcycle occupant, a 12-year-old passenger, was also ejected and suffered fractures. The police report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and dangerous lane changes on New York City highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715490, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV hit a 55-year-old man head-on on Canal Street before dawn. The impact killed him instantly, his body broken beneath the headlights. The street was empty, the sky still dark. He died alone, another life ended by steel.

A 55-year-old man was killed when a Chevy SUV traveling east on Canal Street struck him head-on, according to the police report. The crash occurred just before dawn. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk' and was not at an intersection. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle was described as 'going straight ahead.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The narrative notes the victim 'died there, alone, under the empty sky.' No specific driver errors are cited in the report, but the fatal outcome underscores the lethal risk vulnerable road users face on wide, fast-moving corridors like Canal Street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707766, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15