Bowery and Canal: two deaths, a promise, and a corridor still lethal

Apr 7 - Two motorcycles tore south on FDR Drive. One struck a Honda SUV’s rear. Metal shattered. A 28-year-old rider flew headfirst onto the asphalt, bleeding but awake. A 12-year-old passenger was ejected and fractured. Unsafe speed ruled the crash.

According to the police report, two motorcycles sped southbound on FDR Drive near the Manhattan Bridge. Both were changing lanes at unsafe speeds. One motorcycle, operated by an unlicensed 28-year-old man, slammed into the left rear bumper of a Honda SUV. The rider was ejected, suffering severe head injuries and bleeding, with no helmet listed as safety equipment. A 12-year-old passenger was also ejected and suffered fractures. Both motorcycles were cited for 'Unsafe Speed.' The SUV driver was proceeding straight and was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash left the motorcycles demolished and the SUV damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 6 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 3 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 1 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 20 - 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

Feb 5 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 3 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 2 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 17 - Steel met flesh at Bleecker and Mercer. A FedEx truck turned right. A moped, too close, caught the truck’s rear. Blood pooled on stone. The young rider, helmeted but unlicensed, sat in shock, clutching his torn, bleeding leg.

At the corner of Bleecker Street and Mercer Street in Manhattan, a FedEx truck made a right turn as a moped followed closely behind. According to the police report, the moped 'followed too close' and collided with the truck’s right rear quarter panel, resulting in the rider’s leg being severely injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The twenty-six-year-old moped rider, who was unlicensed but wearing a helmet, suffered severe bleeding to his lower leg and sat in shock at the scene. The police report describes the aftermath: 'Blood spilled on cold stone. He sat in shock, clutching torn flesh.' The FedEx truck sustained no damage. The collision underscores the dangers posed by driver inattention and improper following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 9 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 2 - Steel met steel on East Houston. Two bikes, westbound. A woman, 43, thrown partway off. Blood streaked her arm. Hands torn. Shock in her eyes. No horns. No engines. Only silence and the sharp edge of inattention.

Two cyclists crashed on East Houston Street at Mott. Both were heading west. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor for both riders. One cyclist, a 43-year-old woman, was partially ejected from her bike. She suffered severe lacerations to her arm and hand and was in shock. The report notes no vehicle damage. The collision was silent, marked only by the violence of distraction. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when attention lapses, even without cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684286 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 18 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 17 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 21 - A taxi hit a 27-year-old man at 7th Avenue South and Grove Street. Blood marked the street. The cab’s bumper bore the wound. The man stood, conscious, his face cut deep in the quiet dawn.

A taxi struck a 27-year-old pedestrian at the corner of 7th Avenue South and Grove Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the man suffered severe lacerations to his face and remained conscious after the impact. The collision left blood on the street and damage to the taxi’s left front bumper. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The incident highlights the persistent danger faced by pedestrians at city intersections, even in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673401 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 18 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 5 - A bike struck a woman at Norfolk and Grand. Her leg snapped under the wheels. She stayed awake, pain sharp and clear. The cyclist sped away. The street bore witness. No metal bent, only flesh and bone.

A 43-year-old woman was hit by a westbound bike at the corner of Norfolk Street and Grand Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist did not stop after the collision. The woman suffered a broken leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The bike showed no damage. The crash left the pedestrian with crush injuries to her lower leg and foot. The incident underscores the danger faced by people on foot in city intersections, where even a bike can cause lasting harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668272 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 20 - 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

Sep 12 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 8 - A Ford bus turned right on Allen Street. The front struck an 88-year-old woman crossing with the light. She was crushed under the wheels. She died on the pavement. The bus showed no damage. The street stayed silent.

An 88-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Allen and Canal Streets in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a Ford bus made a right turn and struck her with its front quarter panel. She was crushed beneath the wheels and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The bus showed no visible damage. The woman was following the signal. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by turning vehicles when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660648 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18