Left for Dead on 174th: How Many More Must Die Before We Act?

Aug 6 - Distracted driver hit a 44-year-old woman on Macombs Road near W 174th Street. Center-front impact. Crush injuries. She was killed. She was not in the roadway. Police recorded driver inattention by the driver.

A driver traveling north on Macombs Road hit a 44-year-old woman near W 174th Street in the Bronx. The driver hit her with the center front end. The impact crushed her body. She was killed. She was not in the roadway. According to the police report, the pedestrian was off the roadway when the driver struck her with the center front end. According to the police report, police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. No other contributing factors were listed. The vehicle type was not specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833327 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 29 - A 44-year-old man was struck by a vehicle on West 168th Street in Manhattan. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. He remained conscious. The police report lists no vehicle type, driver errors, or contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man pedestrian was struck on West 168th Street in Manhattan and suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. He remained conscious. The report does not identify the vehicle type. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. Police records show the pedestrian’s injury as a head wound with severe bleeding and list him as injured and conscious. The crash file contains no narrative of driver actions and no recorded contributing factors in the data provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - A driver in an SUV turned left on W 179 St and hit a 47-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk at Fort Washington Ave. She suffered back and crush injuries and was in shock. Police recorded driver inexperience and inattention.

A driver in an SUV made a left turn and struck a 47-year-old woman crossing W 179 St at Fort Washington Ave in Manhattan. She suffered back and crush injuries and was reported in shock. According to the police report, "the pedestrian was in the intersection, crossing with the signal, when the crash occurred." Police listed "Driver Inexperience" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The SUV's center front end struck the pedestrian while making the left turn. Vehicle occupants were not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - A moped and SUV collided on Broadway. A 23-year-old man walking outside the crosswalk suffered crush injuries to his hip and leg. Driver inexperience, bad lane use, and alcohol played a role.

A crash on Broadway in Manhattan involved a moped and an SUV. A 23-year-old pedestrian, not at an intersection, was struck and suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, driver inexperience, improper passing or lane usage, and alcohol involvement contributed to the crash. The moped driver, a 36-year-old man, was partially ejected and injured. The SUV driver held only a permit. Helmet use was noted for the moped driver, but only after the listed driver errors. No blame is placed on the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 12 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Apr 30 - A sedan hit a 64-year-old woman crossing St Nicholas Ave. She suffered deep leg cuts. Alcohol was involved. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed loud. The blood stayed bright.

A 64-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing St Nicholas Ave at W 174 St in Manhattan. She suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was noted as a contributing factor for both the pedestrian and the driver. The driver, a 34-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unspecified' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. No driver errors beyond alcohol involvement were documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 19 - A motorscooter sped down Edgecombe. It flipped. A 9-year-old boy hit, head bleeding. Rider thrown, bleeding. A baby inside, silent. Unsafe speed tore flesh and scattered lives.

A motorscooter, traveling at unsafe speed on Edgecombe Avenue near West 165th, overturned. According to the police report, the crash left a 9-year-old pedestrian with severe head lacerations and the 32-year-old rider bleeding after partial ejection. A baby, listed as an occupant, was also involved. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other errors or equipment issues were noted. The crash marked the street with blood and pain, its cause clear in the record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - SUV struck a young woman on an e-bike. She lay bleeding from the head, incoherent, helmetless. The SUV’s front left crumpled. Two inside, unhurt. Broadway turned brutal. She did not get up.

A 20-year-old woman riding an e-bike was struck by an SUV on Broadway near West 181st. According to the police report, she suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, lying incoherent and helmetless. The SUV’s front left was damaged. The 63-year-old driver and a 79-year-old passenger were unhurt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The helmet is mentioned only as absent, after driver errors. The crash left the e-bike overturned and the rider gravely hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806217 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Apr 3 - A stolen SUV crashed and burned in Inwood. Two NYPD officers chased it, then left the wreck. The driver died in the flames. The officers returned to their Bronx precinct. They did not report the crash. Both are now suspended.

According to the NY Daily News (April 3, 2025), two NYPD officers pursued a stolen Honda CR-V from the Bronx into Manhattan. The chase ended when the SUV crashed into a building near Dyckman St and burst into flames. The officers 'fled the scene,' leaving the driver, who died in the fire. Surveillance footage showed their patrol car leaving. The officers did not report the incident and finished their shift. Both were suspended as the NYPD Force Investigation Division launched a probe. This crash comes after the NYPD tightened pursuit policies, now allowing chases only for felonies or violent misdemeanors. The department aims to avoid pursuits that 'lead to crashes and injure other motorists and pedestrians.' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police would instead use 'advanced tools of modern-day policing' to track suspects.

• Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 29 - A Ford van turned right onto University Avenue. Its bumper struck a 65-year-old man crossing with the signal. He died on the pavement, body broken. The van showed no damage. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, a Ford van made a right turn at University Avenue and West Kingsbridge Road in the Bronx. The van's right front bumper struck a 65-year-old man who was crossing the intersection with the pedestrian signal. The report states the man suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The van sustained no damage. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The victim's action—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the driver's failure to yield. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to respect pedestrian priority at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 22 - A Mercedes plowed into a Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. The Ford’s driver died at the wheel, his body broken by the impact. Darkness lingered. Police cite driver inattention. The road bore witness to another life lost to distraction.

According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan traveling southbound on the Major Deegan Expressway struck the rear of a 2009 Ford sedan at 3:47 a.m. The Ford’s driver, a 39-year-old man, died at the scene. The report states the Mercedes 'crushed the rear' of the Ford, leaving the victim dead at the wheel with injuries to his entire body. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The Ford was hit in the right rear bumper by the Mercedes’s left front bumper, consistent with a rear-end impact. The victim was unbelted, but the police report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the deadly consequences of driver distraction, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800421 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 15 - A BMW SUV struck a 64-year-old man crossing Broadway. The left bumper ripped his face open. He lay bleeding on the pavement, conscious, far from any crosswalk. The streetlights blinked. The city moved on. The wound marked the night.

A 64-year-old man was struck and severely injured by a BMW SUV near 5203 Broadway in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 21:58, with the SUV’s left front bumper tearing into the pedestrian’s face. The report states the man was crossing against the signal and was not at an intersection when the collision happened. The narrative describes him lying conscious and bleeding on the pavement, far from any crosswalk, as the streetlights blinked overhead. According to the police report, the vehicle was traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred. The contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the devastating impact and the systemic danger present on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Steel screamed on Henry Hudson Parkway. Two sedans, too fast, turned right and collided. Two young men slumped inside, heads bleeding, semiconscious. The echo of unsafe speed lingered in the wreckage, leaving blood and silence behind.

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway in the early morning hours, leaving two 22-year-old men injured and semiconscious, both suffering severe head wounds. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'making right turn' when they crashed. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the scene: 'Steel kissed steel. The Honda's side split. The BMW's nose crushed. Two young men, both 22, slumped inside, heads bleeding. Semiconscious. Silent. The speed still echoed in the wreckage.' The data shows both drivers were licensed and neither occupant was ejected. The focus remains on driver actions—unsafe speed and improper turning—as the root causes of this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - On Broadway near West 190th, a parked sedan’s door swung wide. A cyclist, heading south, struck it head-on. His arm split open, blood running to the gutter. Police cite driver distraction. Metal, motion, pain—no warning, no helmet, just impact.

A cyclist suffered a severe arm injury when he collided head-on with a parked sedan’s door on Broadway near West 190th, according to the police report. The crash occurred as the sedan’s right side door was opened directly into the cyclist’s path. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist, a 25-year-old man, was conscious but bleeding heavily from his arm. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The sedan was stationary, and its right rear quarter panel was damaged. The incident underscores the danger posed when drivers or passengers open doors without checking for oncoming cyclists, as detailed in the police narrative: 'No warning. Just metal, motion, and the sound of pain on pavement.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - A 77-year-old woman walking along Harlem River Drive was crushed by a southbound SUV. The driver left her unconscious on the asphalt and did not stop. The city’s traffic violence spares no one, not even the oldest among us.

A 77-year-old woman was struck and severely injured by a southbound SUV on Harlem River Drive, according to the police report. The narrative states the woman was 'walking with traffic' when the vehicle's left front bumper 'crushed her body.' She was left unconscious on the roadway with injuries to her entire body. The driver did not remain at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further explanation for the driver’s actions. The vehicle involved was a 2024 SUV, registered in New York, traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the collision. This incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians from drivers who fail to remain at the scene after a crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792174 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19