Blood on 149th Street, Silence in Albany: Demand Safe Streets Now

A baby boy, alone in darkness, was struck and killed by an unlicensed SUV driver on the Major Deegan Expressway. The driver did not stop. The child died far from any crosswalk, crushed beneath the left front bumper.

A baby boy was killed on the Major Deegan Expressway when he was struck by the left front bumper of a 2008 Toyota SUV, according to the police report. The report states the child was crossing alone in the dark, far from any crosswalk, when the unlicensed driver hit him and did not stop. The police describe the child as suffering crush injuries to his entire body and dying at the scene. The driver’s license status is listed as 'Unlicensed' in the report, and the vehicle was traveling straight ahead. The police narrative makes clear the driver left the scene. No contributing factors are specified beyond the unlicensed status and failure to remain. The focus remains on the actions of the driver and the systemic danger posed by unlicensed, hit-and-run motorists on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752519, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck barreled through East 109th and 3rd, ignoring the signal. The driver struck a 63-year-old cyclist head-on. The man flew, landed hard, and bled on the asphalt, conscious but torn. The truck’s disregard left violence in its wake.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on East 109th Street at 3rd Avenue 'ran the light,' disregarding traffic control. The truck struck a 63-year-old man riding a bike, hitting him headfirst. The report states the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, lying conscious but injured on the street. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the truck driver's failure to obey the signal. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver's traffic violation. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when large vehicles ignore basic traffic controls in Manhattan’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW sedan merging eastbound struck a westbound Jiaju motorcycle head-on on East 156th Street in the Bronx. The 19-year-old unlicensed, helmetless rider was thrown, face torn, and left unconscious. A passenger was ejected and injured.

On East 156th Street near Saint Anns Avenue in the Bronx, a BMW sedan merging eastbound collided head-on with a westbound Jiaju motorcycle. According to the police report, the BMW's point of impact was its center front end, striking the motorcycle's left front bumper. The 19-year-old motorcycle rider was unlicensed and helmetless, ejected from the vehicle with severe facial lacerations and unconscious at the scene. The report states: 'The 19-year-old rider, unlicensed, helmetless, thrown to the pavement. Face torn. Unconscious.' The BMW driver was licensed and merging at the time of impact. A female passenger on the motorcycle was also ejected, sustaining injuries to her lower leg and foot, and was in shock. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the collision resulted from the BMW merging into the motorcycle's path, causing a violent head-on crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751463, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young man on a motorcycle struck an SUV’s side on Saint Anns Avenue. The light was ignored. He flew from his bike, his head hitting pavement. He died where he landed. Systemic disregard for traffic control proved fatal.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound on Saint Anns Avenue collided with the right side doors of an SUV traveling east on East 156th Street. The report states that 'the light was ignored' and lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, underscoring a critical driver error. The motorcyclist, described as unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries upon impact with the pavement. The police report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The crash resulted in the death of the motorcycle rider at the scene. The data highlights the deadly consequences of ignoring traffic signals and failing to observe safe speeds, with systemic danger compounded by the lack of licensing and safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747426, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi rolled east near 545 East 142nd. A man walked outside the crosswalk. Steel met flesh. His leg folded, pain sharp. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent, the city’s danger exposed.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east near 545 East 142nd Street in the Bronx struck a 37-year-old man who was walking where no crosswalk marked the way. The report states the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes, 'No screech, no dent. Just his leg folded under steel.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. There is no mention of driver evasive action or vehicle damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The absence of a marked crosswalk and the lack of specified driver error in the report highlight the persistent systemic dangers faced by people on foot in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746385, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV hit a 25-year-old woman in the Bronx. She crossed against the signal. Her body crumpled under the wheels. She stayed conscious, pain radiating. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The intersection bore witness to her suffering.

At the corner of 127th Street and Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, a Toyota SUV struck a 25-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, the woman was 'crossing against the light' when the SUV, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. The impact left her with crush injuries to her entire body, though she remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the SUV showed 'no damage' and continued on after the collision. The police report lists the pedestrian's action as 'crossing against signal' but does not cite any specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'unspecified.' The narrative describes the violence of the impact and the pain left behind, focusing on the systemic danger present at this Bronx intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747955, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans collided on 1st Avenue. One struck a man stepping from behind a parked car. His hip shattered. He died in the street. Alcohol and unsafe speed fueled the crash. The sun was still up. The city swallowed another life.

A 60-year-old man was fatally injured on 1st Avenue at East 105th Street in Manhattan when two sedans collided and one struck him, according to the police report. The report states, "A man stepped from behind a parked car. Two sedans collided. One struck him. His hip shattered. He died in the street." The crash occurred at 15:42 in daylight. Police explicitly cite "Alcohol Involvement" and "Unsafe Speed" as contributing factors. The sedan that struck the pedestrian was changing lanes at the time of the crash. The pedestrian's action is listed as "Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle," but the primary focus remains on driver errors: alcohol use and unsafe speed. These driver actions caused the deadly impact described in the police narrative.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744546, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel shrieked on Manida Street. Two sedans collided in the dark. One ran the light. A 21-year-old woman in the front seat died, her body broken in silence. The parked box truck watched, untouched, useless.

According to the police report, two sedans collided near Manida Street and Viele Avenue in the Bronx at 2:40 a.m. The report states that 'one ran the light.' The contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' This means a driver ignored a traffic signal, a critical error that led to the crash. The impact was severe: a 21-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger, was killed. Her injuries were described as affecting her entire body, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The report notes a parked box truck was present but was not involved in the collision. No driver or vehicle errors are attributed to the victim. The fatal outcome stemmed from a driver’s failure to obey traffic controls, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741599, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An unlicensed, intoxicated driver sped an SUV into parked vehicles on Park Avenue. Metal screamed as the SUV tore through the street. A 26-year-old rear passenger suffered a bleeding arm injury but stayed conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 1399 Park Avenue in Manhattan at 12:48 a.m. An unlicensed driver operating a 2015 Toyota SUV at unsafe speed collided with multiple parked cars. The report states, "an unlicensed driver in a speeding SUV plowed through parked cars. Metal screamed." Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor. The SUV carried three occupants; the right rear passenger, a 26-year-old man, sustained a severe bleeding injury to his upper arm but remained conscious. The police report explicitly identifies the driver as "unlicensed" and lists "Alcohol Involvement" and "Unsafe Speed" as key contributing factors. No errors or contributing factors were attributed to the injured passenger. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of unlicensed, impaired, and reckless driving in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739686, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel screamed at East 135th and Lincoln. A Jeep and a Honda met in the dark. Two young passengers, seatbelts biting, bones breaking. Pelvis shattered, back torn. Both awake, both hurting. Metal and flesh, twisted by force.

At 1:35 a.m. at the corner of East 135th Street and Lincoln Avenue, a Jeep SUV and a Honda sedan collided, according to the police report. The impact left a 21-year-old woman with a shattered pelvis and a 28-year-old man with severe back injuries. Both were passengers, both were conscious, both wore seatbelts, and both suffered crush injuries. The police report states that both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' before the crash, with the Jeep traveling north and the Honda heading east. The Jeep's right front quarter panel and the Honda's left front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. No specific driver errors were cited in the report; contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The violence of the crash and the resulting injuries underscore the dangers passengers face when vehicles collide at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737973, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi struck a 61-year-old man crossing East 149th Street. The driver, distracted, kept his hands on the wheel. The man’s head hit the pavement. He lay still. He died there, another life ended by inattention behind the wheel.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was killed on East 149th Street when a taxi hit him with its right front quarter panel, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 1:46 a.m. The report states the man was crossing the street when the taxi, traveling east, struck him. The impact caused the pedestrian’s head to hit the pavement, leaving him unconscious and fatally injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was cited as the primary contributing factor. The driver remained at the wheel after the collision. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian error contributed to the crash. The data underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan slammed on Brook Avenue, its front crumpled. A woman pinned in the back seat, a man trapped at the wheel. Both conscious, both broken. Sirens split the silence before dawn. Passing too closely left bodies shattered.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan traveling south on Brook Avenue near East 146th Street crashed before dawn. The sedan's front end was crushed. A 33-year-old man, identified as the driver, was trapped at the wheel with crush injuries to his lower body. A 43-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was pinned in the back seat, suffering injuries to her entire body. Both occupants were conscious when first responders arrived. The police report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the driver. The narrative describes a violent impact: 'A Toyota sedan crushed at the front. A woman, 43, pinned in back. A man, 33, trapped at the wheel. Both conscious. Both broken.' No contributing factors are attributed to the passenger. The report centers driver error as the cause of this severe crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746710, 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 Toyota SUV reversed on East 138th Street. Its distracted driver struck a woman stepping down from a vehicle. She stayed upright, conscious, but her knees and feet were crushed beneath the bumper’s weight. The driver’s inattention left her injured in the Bronx.

According to the police report, a woman was injured on East 138th Street in the Bronx when a Toyota SUV, operated by a licensed male driver, backed up and struck her as she stepped down from another vehicle. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV backed up. Its bumper struck her legs. She stayed upright, conscious. Her knees and feet crushed beneath the weight. The driver was distracted.' The collision occurred at 15:10, and the victim, a 56-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her knees and feet. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The impact and resulting injuries stemmed directly from the driver’s failure to pay attention while reversing the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732480, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An ambulance slammed left-front on East 149th. Inside, a woman’s arm was crushed. Blood pooled beneath red lights. She stayed conscious, seatbelt tight, pain sharp. Sirens cut the night. Metal and flesh bore the cost.

A 30-year-old woman riding as a front passenger in a westbound ambulance on East 149th Street in the Bronx suffered severe crush injuries to her arm when the vehicle was struck on its left front quarter panel. According to the police report, the woman was belted and remained conscious as blood pooled beneath the flashing lights. The report lists her injury as 'Elbow-Lower-Arm-Hand' with a severity of 4 and describes her complaint as 'Crush Injuries.' The ambulance, a Ford truck, was traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred. The police report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, instead listing them as 'Unspecified.' No mention is made of passenger behavior contributing to the crash. The incident underscores the persistent danger even inside emergency vehicles when systemic risks and collision forces converge.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724398, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man pedaled south on Jerome Avenue before dawn. A vehicle followed too close, struck him from behind. His face split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, alone, bleeding in the dark.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old man riding a bike southbound on Jerome Avenue near East 161st Street was struck from behind before dawn. The report states the cyclist suffered a severe facial injury, with blood pooling on the asphalt, but remained conscious at the scene. The police report identifies 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The impact was to the center back end of the bicycle. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is listed after the driver errors. The incident underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to maintain safe following distances and remain attentive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722567, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A diesel truck reversed near East 132nd Street. Its rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man standing off the road. Bones shattered. The truck rolled on. The man stayed conscious, pain radiating through his crushed leg.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck was backing west near 650 East 132nd Street in the Bronx when its right rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man. The report states the pedestrian was 'off the road' and 'not in roadway' at the time of impact. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the man’s knee, lower leg, and foot, but he remained conscious. The report notes, 'Bones crushed. He stayed awake. The machine rolled on.' No damage was reported to the truck. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' and does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The incident underscores the lethal risk heavy vehicles pose, even when vulnerable road users are not in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718348, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man lay still on East 106th, struck down by a northbound bike. The street was silent. The front of the bike bore the mark of impact. No one spoke. He died where he fell, another life ended at the curb.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the intersection of East 106th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan after being struck in the head by a northbound cyclist, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:17, and the victim died at the scene. The report notes the front of the bike was visibly marked from the collision. The contributing factors for both the cyclist and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified' in the police data, offering no further detail on driver error or pedestrian behavior. The narrative underscores the quiet aftermath and the fatal outcome for the pedestrian. The focus remains on the deadly impact and the unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717402, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman riding west on Story Avenue was hit from behind. She stayed upright, but her knee split open. Blood soaked her jeans. She did not fall, but her body buckled. One moment riding, the next—broken, bleeding, still.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old woman operating a moped westbound on Story Avenue near Metcalf Avenue in the Bronx was struck from behind. The report states, 'A moped struck from behind. The woman stayed upright. Her knee split open. Blood soaked her jeans.' The impact caused severe lacerations to her knee, though she did not fall from the vehicle. The moped sustained damage to the center back end, consistent with a rear impact. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' but the collision's nature—center back end impact—points to a failure by the striking vehicle to maintain safe distance or control. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the danger posed to vulnerable road users by rear-end collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709878, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-bike slammed confusion at East 96th and 1st. The front end buckled. Blood streamed from his face. He stayed conscious. The street held him. The bleeding would not stop. The night pressed in.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound at the corner of East 96th Street and 1st Avenue was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states that the e-bike's front end crumpled on impact and the rider suffered severe bleeding from the face but remained conscious on the street. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report describes the crash as a head-on collision with confusion, emphasizing the vulnerability of the rider and the unforgiving nature of the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703104, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15