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

Three sedans collided mid-turn on FDR Drive. Metal shrieked. A 57-year-old man crushed at the wheel. A six-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck injured, crying. Southbound traffic surged past. No one stopped. Systemic failure echoed in steel.

According to the police report, three sedans crashed near FDR Drive and Delancey Street during a right turn. The report states, 'Three sedans slammed mid-turn. A man, 57, crushed at the wheel. A 6-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck hurt, crying.' Both the man and the child suffered crush injuries, with the girl sustaining neck trauma. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. These driver errors—improper turning and tailgating—created a chain reaction that left two people injured. The report notes that southbound traffic continued moving and no one stopped. The focus remains on the hazardous driver behaviors and the systemic dangers present at this Manhattan intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707032, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus turned right at Avenue D and East 10th. Its rear wheel crushed a man’s skull. Blood spread across the street. The bus rolled on, undamaged. The man, age forty-five, died where he fell. The city’s machinery did not stop.

A 45-year-old man was killed at Avenue D and East 10th Street in Manhattan when a bus making a right turn struck him with its rear wheel, according to the police report. The report states: 'A bus turned right. The rear wheel struck a man’s head. He was 45. Blood pooled on the pavement. The bus showed no damage. He died where he fell.' The pedestrian was at the intersection, engaged in 'other actions in roadway' as described in the report. The vehicle, a 2018 bus, was undamaged and driven by a licensed male driver. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the narrative centers the lethal consequences of a turning bus and the vulnerability of those on foot. No mention of pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708174, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

At a Manhattan forum, MTA officials defended congestion pricing. Council Member Marte and Assembly Member Glick pressed for answers. Residents doubted government motives. The toll’s impact on traffic, revenue, and safety hung in the air. No easy answers. Streets stay dangerous.

On February 20, 2024, a public forum at Borough of Manhattan Community College brought congestion pricing to the front lines. The event, covered by Charles Komanoff, featured MTA specialists Julia Kite-Laidlaw and Daniel Randell, with State Senator Brian Kavanagh moderating. Council Member Christopher Marte questioned the zone’s boundaries. Assembly Member Deborah Glick demanded action on toll theft. The MTA repeated the need for revenue and warned that exemptions would push more traffic into environmental-justice neighborhoods. The forum’s matter title: 'What Was Left Unsaid to Congestion Pricing Opponents.' The debate exposed deep mistrust and skepticism about government promises. No direct safety analysis was provided, but the stakes for vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders—remain high as congestion pricing inches forward.

• Komanoff: What Was Left Unsaid to Congestion Pricing Opponents, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-20

A tow truck swung left on Avenue C. The front end hit a 67-year-old woman standing in the roadway. Her head took the blow. She died beneath the streetlights, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a tow truck traveling south on Avenue C turned left onto East 10th Street. During this maneuver, the front of the truck struck a 67-year-old woman who was standing in the roadway at the intersection. The report states, 'The front of the truck struck her. Her head took the blow. She died there, beneath the streetlights and steel.' The pedestrian was killed on impact, suffering fatal head injuries. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, providing no further detail about specific errors or circumstances. The driver was licensed and operating a 2022 Dodge tow truck. The narrative centers on the lethal consequences of a left turn at a city intersection, with the pedestrian's presence in the roadway noted but not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700486, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 81-year-old man steps into the crosswalk at Delancey and Willett. A Ford SUV turns right, driver fails to yield. Head trauma, internal bleeding. He dies beneath the streetlights. No damage to the car. The city keeps moving.

According to the police report, an 81-year-old pedestrian was killed at the corner of Delancey Street and Willett Street in Manhattan. The crash occurred at 23:06, when the man entered a marked crosswalk. A Ford SUV, registered in New York and driven by a licensed New Jersey man, made a right turn without signaling. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered fatal head trauma and internal bleeding. The police report notes there was no damage to the vehicle. The victim was crossing with no signal, in a marked crosswalk, but the report attributes the crash to driver errors. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700193, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus swung left at Battery Place. Steel clipped a 69-year-old man’s leg. Blood pooled on the curb. The bus rolled away. The man stayed conscious, flesh torn, pain sharp. The city’s machinery did not pause.

A 69-year-old man was injured when a bus making a left turn at Battery Place and Greenwich Street struck him, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was at the intersection when the bus’s left front quarter panel hit his lower leg, causing severe lacerations. The narrative describes, 'Steel struck his leg. Flesh tore. Blood pooled by the curb. He stayed awake. The bus rolled on, unmarked.' The bus sustained no damage and continued on its route. Police list both driver and pedestrian contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The report highlights the systemic danger of large vehicles turning through crosswalks, with no evidence of driver accountability or intervention at the scene. No contributing victim behavior is cited; the focus remains on the impact of the turning bus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699836, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan reversed on Avenue of the Americas. Steel struck a man’s head as he crossed with the signal. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. He stood, dazed, upright. The car’s rear bore the mark. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Avenue of the Americas at Spring Street backed unsafely and struck a 35-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The report states the pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious and upright after the impact. The narrative describes the car’s rear end bearing the mark of the collision, with blood pooling on the crosswalk. The police report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was located at the intersection and was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The focus remains on the driver’s unsafe backing and inattention, which led to the pedestrian’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694173, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Land Rover crashed into a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Sixth Avenue. The SUV driver, age 40, died at the scene. The night was cold and silent. Police cited distraction as the cause. The street stood still after impact.

A Land Rover SUV struck the rear of a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Avenue of the Americas. The driver of the SUV, a 40-year-old man, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A Land Rover slammed into the back of a parked taxi. The driver, 40, died behind the wheel. The street was still. The cause: distraction.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupant. The crash left the street quiet, marked by the consequences of a moment’s distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Rivington Street. Metal tore. The rider, a 29-year-old man, died on the pavement. The sedan’s side split open. The crash left silence under a gray Manhattan sky.

A 29-year-old man riding a moped crashed into a parked sedan near 166 Rivington Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the moped’s front folded on impact and the sedan’s side split open. The rider died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when inexperience meets city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682231, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A boom lift reversed at East 7th and 1st. No horn. Steel crushed a 19-year-old crossing the street. The machine showed no damage. The young man died there, body broken beneath the weight. Morning light revealed the loss.

A 19-year-old man was killed at the corner of East 7th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a boom lift backed up without sounding a horn. The vehicle struck the pedestrian as he crossed, crushing him beneath its steel frame. The report lists 'Oversized Vehicle' as a contributing factor. The boom lift sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. No other contributing factors were cited in the report. The young man died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681113, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Bike and moped slammed head-on under harsh lights. The cyclist, thirty-three, flew from his seat. He struck the ground headfirst. Blood pooled. He lay unconscious as the city roared past. The street swallowed the sound.

A bike and a moped collided head-on at Delancey and Chrystie Streets in Manhattan. The cyclist, age 33, was ejected and landed headfirst, suffering severe lacerations and losing consciousness. According to the police report, 'bike and moped struck head-on, center to center. The cyclist, 33, no helmet, flew. Landed headfirst. Blood on the pavement. Unconscious.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary causes cited are driver inattention and unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672835, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine wants to tear down FDR Drive south of the Brooklyn Bridge. He calls for federal funds to turn the highway into a bike and pedestrian haven. The plan faces legal and political hurdles but aims to reclaim space for people.

On September 20, 2023, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine revived a proposal to remove the FDR Drive viaduct south of the Brooklyn Bridge. The plan, not yet in committee or assigned a bill number, seeks federal support through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant. Levine urges Mayor Adams to apply for funding, stating, 'We’re a perfect candidate for Reconnecting Communities.' State Senator Brian Kavanagh voiced support, saying, 'We will work with the borough president.' The proposal would transform the underused highway into a waterfront space for cyclists and pedestrians, echoing successful removals in cities like Seattle and Seoul. The project faces major legal, environmental, and jurisdictional obstacles, as the FDR is state-owned and exempt from congestion pricing. The city previously considered this removal for coastal resiliency, but dropped it from the final plan. No formal safety analysis was provided, but the plan centers vulnerable road users by reclaiming space from cars.

• Manhattan BP Wants To Raze FDR Drive South of Brooklyn Bridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-20

A moped crashed head-on on Allen Street. The rear passenger, a 21-year-old woman, flew off. Her skull hit the pavement. Blood pooled. She was conscious, bleeding badly. The driver was distracted. Sirens cut through the night.

A violent crash unfolded on Allen Street near Rivington. A moped, heading north, slammed head-on. According to the police report, 'A 21-year-old woman, riding rear, flew off. No helmet. Skull struck pavement. Blood pooled. She bled, conscious.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman, ejected from the moped, suffered a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. The data also notes the absence of a helmet, but only after the driver’s distraction. The street was left silent, broken by sirens. The crash left one young passenger hurt, the system unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662013, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-bike struck a 69-year-old woman at Chrystie and Grand. She fell hard. Blood stained the street. She died there. The crash left a scar on the city’s morning.

A 69-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Chrystie Street and Grand Street in Manhattan when an e-bike hit her head-on. According to the police report, the crash happened as she crossed the intersection and the e-bike, traveling north, struck her. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The e-bike’s front end was damaged in the impact. No helmet use or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors. The data shows the deadly result when traffic controls are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659736, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man rode south on Avenue C. His e-scooter bucked. He flew off. His head struck the pavement. He lay still. The street fell silent. The undercarriage cracked. He did not get up.

A 44-year-old man riding a KAABO Mantis e-scooter southbound on Avenue C was killed after being ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'He was thrown off. His head struck pavement. He lay still. The undercarriage cracked.' The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were involved. The man suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious at the scene. The crash highlights the vulnerability of e-scooter riders in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659489, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 28-year-old man sat lifeless in a parked Ford truck on Sullivan Street. No crash. No screech. Just the stillness of death and the city’s noise rolling past. The seatbelt hung unused. Manhattan moved on.

A 28-year-old man was found dead inside a parked Ford truck near 81 Sullivan Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, there was no crash, no skid marks, and no sign of impact. The man, an occupant of the vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt. The police narrative states: 'Sullivan Street near Spring—inside a parked Ford truck, a 28-year-old man sat still, seatbelt unused. No crash, no skid marks. Just the silence of death in the cab, and the hum of Manhattan carrying on around him.' No contributing driver errors or external factors were listed in the report. The incident involved only the parked vehicle, and no other persons were injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658535, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup truck struck parked cars on Washington Street. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from an SUV. He died at the scene. Police cite driver distraction. The street was quiet. Metal twisted. The man did not move.

A pickup truck veered into parked vehicles near 712 Washington Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was partially ejected from a parked SUV and died beside the vehicle's crushed front. The report states: 'Near 712 Washington Street, a pickup veered into parked cars. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from the SUV. He died beside its crushed front. The cause: distraction.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other errors or factors are cited in the data. The man was not blamed in the report. The crash left the street still and silent, marked by the violence of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643763, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman on a bike dodged a car at Canal and Forsyth. She crashed. Blood pooled from her head. She lay conscious, alone, ejected on the pavement. No other injuries reported. The night swallowed the scene.

A 32-year-old woman riding a bike on Canal Street in Manhattan swerved to avoid a car and crashed. According to the police report, she was ejected from her bike and suffered severe bleeding from the head. The report states, 'A 32-year-old woman swerved her bike to dodge a car that never touched her. No helmet. She hit the pavement hard. Head bleeding. Conscious. Ejected. Alone in the dark.' The contributing factor listed is 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' No driver errors are cited in the data. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary cause. No other people were injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643318, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV swung right on East Houston. The e-scooter kept straight. The rider, 28, was thrown and crushed. Her leg mangled. She lay conscious, half-flung from the scooter. Sirens cut the silence. The SUV showed no dents. The street bore the pain.

A collision at East Houston Street and Avenue C left a 28-year-old e-scooter rider with severe crush injuries to her leg. According to the police report, an SUV made a right turn while the e-scooter continued straight. The rider was partially ejected and remained conscious at the scene. The report notes, 'Her leg was crushed. She lay conscious, half-flung from the scooter.' Both vehicles showed no visible damage. The police listed 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for the crash. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but no helmet use was cited as a cause. The impact came from the SUV’s right front bumper striking the scooter’s side. No driver errors were specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644483, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young man thrown from a bike at West 4th and Barrow. Hip torn open. Blood on the street. The driver wasn’t looking. The city stayed quiet.

A crash at the corner of West 4th Street and Barrow Street in Manhattan left a 27-year-old male cyclist, riding as a rear passenger, ejected and severely injured. According to the police report, 'A bike moving east. A sedan, parked. A young man thrown from the rear seat. No helmet. His hip torn open. Blood on the street. The driver wasn’t looking.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. No helmet was worn, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The sedan was parked at the time. The city stayed quiet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630651, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15