No More Excuses: Streets Are Killing Us

An SUV turning left on 8th Avenue struck a northbound cyclist. The man flew, hit pavement, head split, blood pooled. Shock froze his eyes. The SUV’s bumper bent where his body broke. Night swallowed the scene in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/SUV traveling south on 8th Avenue near 262nd Street made a left turn and struck a man riding a bike northbound, who was proceeding straight ahead. The report details that the cyclist was ejected, suffering a severe head injury and bleeding, with shock evident in his expression. The narrative states, 'He flew, hit pavement. Head split. Blood pooled. Eyes wide with shock. The bumper bent where his body broke.' The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both parties, but the SUV driver’s action—making a left turn into the path of a cyclist going straight—remains central to the crash. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s maneuver. The crash occurred late at night in Manhattan, underscoring the persistent danger for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743142, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 29-year-old cyclist slammed into a parked Jeep on West 136th Street. Steel met bone. Blood pooled on the pavement. The SUV stood untouched. The cyclist stayed conscious, his arm shattered in the morning silence.

A 29-year-old cyclist was injured after striking a parked Jeep on West 136th Street near Riverside Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:25 a.m. The narrative states, 'A 29-year-old cyclist struck a parked Jeep. No helmet. His arm crushed against steel. The SUV stood untouched. He stayed conscious. Blood on the pavement. Silence in the morning light.' The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his arm and remained conscious at the scene. No injuries were reported for the SUV, which was parked and undamaged. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the contributing factors. The focus remains on the collision and the resulting harm to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741682, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A three-year-old girl crossing with the signal on Lenox Avenue was struck in the head by a turning SUV. She died at the scene. The SUV’s front end bore the impact, marking the fatal collision.

At Lenox Avenue and West 135th Street in Manhattan, a three-year-old girl was fatally struck by an eastbound SUV making a left turn. According to the police report, the child was 'crossing with the signal' when the 2020 Nissan SUV hit her in the head at the 'center front end' of the vehicle, which sustained damage there. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' but highlights the driver’s action of making a left turn into a crosswalk occupied by a pedestrian. The narrative states, 'She died there on the street. The front end bore the mark of her final moment.' No victim error is cited, focusing attention on the lethal consequences of the driver’s maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739974, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV struck an 18-year-old cyclist on West 123rd Street. The driver’s inattention split the night and the rider’s head. Blood pooled. Four sat in the car. The cyclist, alone, was ejected and left with severe bleeding.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male cyclist riding alone on West 123rd Street was struck by a westbound Ford SUV near midnight. The report states the SUV had four occupants and was traveling straight ahead when it collided with the cyclist, who was also moving straight. The cyclist was ejected on impact, suffering a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the crash, placing responsibility on the SUV driver’s lack of focus. The report also notes the cyclist was listening to headphones and not wearing a helmet, but these details are cited only after the driver’s error. The collision’s violence and aftermath underscore the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733137, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi struck a 67-year-old cyclist at West 111th and 8th Avenue. The rider flew from his bike, head split, blood pooling on the street. Evening fell as he lay incoherent, victim of driver distraction and failure to yield.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on West 111th Street collided with a 67-year-old man riding a bicycle northbound at the corner of 8th Avenue. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The report states the cab’s left front bumper was damaged in the crash. The cyclist was found incoherent at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors in the collision. The narrative describes blood on the street and the rider’s head split open. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the driver’s errors, as listed in the police report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention in Manhattan’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732710, 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

Two taxis, too close on Henry Hudson Parkway. Metal slammed metal. A 29-year-old driver’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the floor. He stayed conscious, pain mounting as traffic rushed by. The crash was sudden. The injury, brutal.

According to the police report, two taxis traveling southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway collided when one followed too closely behind the other. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The impact tore open the leg of a 29-year-old driver, causing severe bleeding and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The narrative details, 'Metal struck metal. A 29-year-old driver’s leg split open. Blood pooled. He stayed awake.' No other contributing factors are cited. The crash underscores the danger of tailgating in high-speed traffic. No mention is made of victim behavior as a cause. The report focuses on driver error—specifically, the failure to maintain a safe following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733872, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A southbound Acura hit a 57-year-old woman at Lexington and East 121st. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. The sedan’s rear dented. The driver remained. Harlem bore silent witness. Steel and flesh collided in the crosswalk’s shadow.

A 57-year-old woman was struck by a southbound Acura sedan at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and East 121st Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The collision occurred in the intersection, leaving the woman bleeding from her entire body but conscious. The report notes, 'She bled from her whole body. Conscious.' The sedan’s left rear quarter panel was dented in the crash. The driver stayed at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, and no mention is made of pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The report describes a silent Harlem watching the aftermath. The focus remains on the impact between the vehicle and the vulnerable pedestrian in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727559, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan swung wide on West 155th. An e-scooter rider, straight ahead, collided and flew. Blood pooled on the blacktop. The man, gasping, lay conscious, his skull split. Driver inattention and unsafe lane change carved the night.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn on West 155th Street collided with a man riding an e-scooter who was traveling straight. The report states the sedan driver engaged in 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact ejected the 39-year-old e-scooter rider, sending him headfirst onto the pavement. The narrative describes him as lying conscious, gasping, with severe head lacerations and a split skull. The police report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving and improper lane changes, which left a vulnerable road user grievously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725932, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan veered at West 141st and St. Nicholas, striking a 22-year-old cyclist. The driver, distracted and failing to hold the lane, sent the rider flying. Blood pooled. The cyclist lay conscious, head bleeding, the bike twisted in the street.

A crash unfolded at the corner of West 141st Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan, where a sedan struck a 22-year-old cyclist, according to the police report. The report states the sedan driver was 'distracted' and failed to maintain lane position, citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, landing head-first and suffering severe bleeding, with injuries focused on the head. The police report describes the aftermath: 'He flew, landed head-first. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He lay conscious, bleeding.' The bike was left twisted on the street. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention and maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724593, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound car hit a 60-year-old man head-on on East 119th Street. His head split open. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The street kept moving. The crash left him bleeding, the city indifferent, the danger unyielding.

A 60-year-old man walking with traffic on East 119th Street in Harlem was struck head-on by a westbound car, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was not at a crosswalk and was walking along the street when the vehicle, traveling straight ahead, hit him with the center front end. The impact caused a severe head injury and heavy bleeding; the man remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'His head split open. Blood ran. He stayed awake. The street kept moving.' The report does not mention any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722288, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A runaway BMW fleeing police tore down Amsterdam Avenue. Its left bumper smashed into a 29-year-old man. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The car did not stop. The man stayed awake, wounded and alone.

According to the police report, a 2016 BMW sedan, described as a 'runaway vehicle' and 'fleeing police,' struck a 29-year-old pedestrian on Amsterdam Avenue near 152nd Street at 1:30 a.m. The report states the vehicle was traveling at an 'unsafe speed' and was involved in a police pursuit. The BMW's left front bumper hit the pedestrian low, causing severe lacerations to his knee and lower leg. The man remained conscious as blood pooled around him. The report notes the driver was unlicensed and did not stop after the collision. The primary contributing factors listed are 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway,' but the report attributes fault to the vehicle's dangerous movement and the driver's actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718935, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle skids on slick Harlem River Drive pavement, slamming head-on into an SUV. The rider, helmeted, is thrown hard, suffering fatal head trauma. Blood stains the asphalt. The bike lies shattered. Morning breaks over a silent road.

A 42-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a violent crash on Harlem River Drive, according to the police report. The incident occurred early in the morning when the motorcycle, traveling south, lost control on slippery pavement and collided head-on with a southbound SUV. The police report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. The rider, who was helmeted, was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe head trauma, resulting in apparent death at the scene. The motorcycle was described as 'demolished,' and blood was visible on the road. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are cited in the report, but the hazardous road surface is explicitly noted. The victim's helmet use is mentioned in the police report after the primary contributing factor of the slick pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712117, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota swung wide in a U-turn. Its bumper caught a cyclist’s leg. Flesh tore, blood pooled. The man stayed conscious as the SUV kept moving. The street bore witness to driver error and the cost paid in flesh.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV attempted a wide U-turn near 2360 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV’s left front bumper struck a 36-year-old man riding a bike straight ahead. The impact caused severe lacerations to the cyclist’s knee and lower leg, leaving him conscious but bleeding in the street. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The cyclist’s behavior is only mentioned as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' in the data, but the primary focus remains on the SUV driver’s actions. The SUV continued moving after the collision, underscoring the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers misjudge turns and fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708035, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan swung right on West 144th. Its bumper struck a man crossing with the signal. Bones broke. He stayed conscious. The street bore the wound. The driver failed to yield. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

According to the police report, a 2023 Honda sedan turned right at the corner of West 144th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. The vehicle's center front bumper struck a 33-year-old man who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The impact crushed the pedestrian’s hip and upper leg, leaving him injured but conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The pedestrian’s action—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failure to yield. The sedan sustained no damage, but the man suffered severe crush injuries. The incident underscores the persistent danger faced by those on foot when drivers disregard the right-of-way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701162, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man crossed 8th Avenue with the signal. A vehicle hit him. His leg was crushed. He lay silent on the cold street. The car showed no damage. The light turned green. No one moved.

A 42-year-old man was struck while crossing 8th Avenue at West 147th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, he crossed with the signal when a vehicle hit him, crushing his leg and leaving him unconscious in the intersection. The report states, 'A man, 42, crossed with the signal. A vehicle struck him. He fell, leg crushed, silent on the cold street.' The car showed no visible damage. The police listed the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The pedestrian suffered serious crush injuries to his lower leg and foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692571, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi hit hard on Morningside Drive. Four SUVs crumpled. Metal shrieked. A 44-year-old man burned in the back seat. His chest blistered. He stayed awake. Airbags hung limp. Smoke filled the street.

A violent crash erupted near 50 Morningside Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, a taxi struck at unsafe speed, colliding with four SUVs. The impact left a 44-year-old male passenger in the taxi with severe chest burns. He remained conscious as airbags deployed and the street filled with smoke. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No helmet or signal issues are noted. The crash underscores the danger when drivers exceed safe speeds. The man’s injuries came as metal twisted and vehicles piled up. The police report details the chaos: 'A taxi hit fast. Four SUVs crumpled. Metal screamed. A man, 44, burned in the back seat. His chest blistered. He stayed conscious. Airbags hung limp. The street smoked.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688793, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 53-year-old cyclist, merging south on Central Park West, was hit by an SUV’s front bumper. He flew from his bike, landed headfirst, and bled on the pavement. The driver was distracted. The cyclist was left semiconscious. No helmet was worn.

A 53-year-old man riding a bike southbound on Central Park West was struck by the left front bumper of a southbound SUV. According to the police report, the cyclist was merging when the SUV hit him, causing him to be ejected and land headfirst on the pavement. He suffered severe bleeding and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver’s distraction. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673571, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two bikes collided head-on on West 125th. Metal struck metal. A woman, 33, hit the ground hard. Her head split. Blood pooled. She lay still, unconscious. The street went silent. The crash left her broken and bleeding.

Two bicycles crashed head-on near 215 West 125th Street in Manhattan. A 33-year-old woman riding east was thrown from her bike. She suffered a severe head injury and lost consciousness. According to the police report, 'Two bikes, head-on. East met west. A woman, 33, hit the pavement. Head split. Blood pooled. She lay unconscious.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. The woman was partially ejected from her bike and severely bleeding. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left one cyclist gravely hurt, the street stained and silent.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674001, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle slammed into a cyclist on West 133rd Street. The cyclist flew from his bike, smashed face-first, and bled in the road. Both vehicles shattered. The rider had no license. The crash left the cyclist injured and bleeding.

A motorcycle struck a 41-year-old cyclist head-on on West 133rd Street. The cyclist was ejected, landed face-first, and suffered severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle struck a 41-year-old cyclist head-on. He flew from the bike, hit face-first, and lay bleeding in the road. No helmet. The rider was unlicensed. Both machines shattered at the front.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The motorcyclist was unlicensed. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver distraction and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671878, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15