Major Deegan, Minor Consequences: Blood on the Streets, Silence in City Hall

A BMW sedan struck a man crossing 10th Avenue with the signal. The car tore away his arm. He stayed conscious. The driver failed to see him. The street did not stop. Blood marked the intersection in Manhattan.

A 34-year-old man crossing 10th Avenue at West 207th Street in Manhattan was struck by a BMW sedan, according to the police report. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle hit him, resulting in a traumatic amputation of his arm. The report states the driver was inattentive and distracted, and also cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The narrative confirms the driver 'didn’t see him.' The pedestrian remained conscious after the collision. The police report makes no mention of any pedestrian error or unsafe behavior, emphasizing instead the role of driver inattention and speed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and remain alert at intersections, especially when pedestrians have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756627, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge sedan veered head-on into a southbound pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. Steel folded. Two men in the truck died crushed. The Dodge driver held no license. The road stayed dark. Impact and error left only silence.

According to the police report, at 2:25 a.m. on Henry Hudson Parkway, a Dodge sedan veered and struck a southbound pickup truck head-on. The report states, "Steel folded. Two men inside the truck, ages 38 and 40, died crushed." The contributing factor cited is "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The Dodge driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash, as documented in the vehicle data. The collision resulted in fatal crush injuries to both the driver and front passenger of the pickup. The police report makes no mention of any contributing actions by the victims. The report highlights the unlicensed status of the Dodge driver and improper lane usage as key factors in this deadly crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750210, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 62-year-old cyclist, helmeted and westbound on Albany Crescent, struck headfirst and was ejected. He suffered crush injuries to the head. The bike’s front end bore the mark. Confusion clouded the cause, pain marked the aftermath.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Albany Crescent near Bailey Avenue was involved in a violent crash. The report states he was 'struck headfirst' and 'ejected,' suffering 'crush wounds to the head.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the impact. The front of the bike was damaged, described as bearing 'the scar.' The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion as a cause. No other vehicles or persons are cited in the report. The data does not indicate any driver errors by a motor vehicle operator, and mentions helmet use only after describing the crash and injury. The focus remains on the confusion that led to the cyclist’s severe injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749147, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 13-year-old boy bled in the Bronx night, struck head-on by a speeding SUV. His arm split open. He stayed conscious, pain echoing down Undercliff Avenue. Steel met flesh. The street bore witness. The driver’s speed left no room for mercy.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle on Undercliff Avenue near 1501 in the Bronx at 10:40 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the boy was crossing the street outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the SUV, traveling at an unsafe speed, hit him head-on. The impact caused severe bleeding from his arm, but he remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the crash. The driver was traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred, and the vehicle’s center front end struck the boy. The police report does not list any pedestrian actions as contributing factors, focusing solely on the driver’s unsafe speed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750128, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two motorcycles northbound on Saint Nicholas. The rear machine too close, slamming the lead. A 33-year-old, unlicensed, helmetless, thrown down. His leg split, blood pooling on West 176th. Metal, flesh, and asphalt tangled in the dusk.

According to the police report, two motorcycles were traveling northbound at West 176th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The rear motorcycle, operated by a 33-year-old man, was 'following too closely' and struck the motorcycle ahead. The report states the rear rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The collision left him with severe lacerations to his lower leg, described as his leg 'split open' and blood pooling at the scene. Both motorcycles were damaged at the center front and back ends, consistent with a rear-end impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the rear rider. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to maintain safe distance and speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747006, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep struck a motorcycle on Harlem River Drive. The rider flew, arm shattered, skin burned on the pavement. The bike overturned. A sedan’s bumper bore the bruise. Speed carved the scene. Metal, flesh, and asphalt collided in daylight.

According to the police report, a Jeep traveling south on Harlem River Drive collided with a motorcycle, sending its 50-year-old rider flying onto the pavement. The report states, 'A Jeep slammed into a motorcycle, hurling its 50-year-old rider onto the hot pavement. His arm shattered. His skin burned. The bike overturned.' The motorcyclist suffered severe burns and a broken upper arm. The crash also involved a sedan, which sustained damage to its rear bumper. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, underscoring the role of excessive speed in the collision. The motorcyclist was ejected and injured, but the report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The impact left a vivid mark of danger and violence on Harlem River Drive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743798, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young man on a KTM motorcycle crashed into two parked SUVs on Fort George Avenue. Ejected, he suffered fatal head trauma. Blood pooled beneath the streetlights. The police report cites driver inexperience. He died there, alone, on the summer night.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old man riding a KTM motorcycle northbound on Fort George Avenue near Audubon Avenue struck two parked SUVs. The collision occurred at 21:44. The report states the rider was ejected on impact and suffered severe head trauma, with blood found on the pavement. He died at the scene. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor in the crash. The narrative notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The parked SUVs were unoccupied and stationary at the time of the collision. The report provides no evidence of any contributing factors beyond those attributed to the motorcycle operator.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743277, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A GMC SUV struck a 46-year-old woman on Wadsworth Avenue before dawn. Blood ran from her head. She stayed conscious. The unlicensed driver fled south. The car showed no damage. The street stood silent, danger unbroken.

According to the police report, a 2023 GMC SUV traveling south on Wadsworth Avenue at 2:40 a.m. struck a 46-year-old woman in the roadway. The impact caused severe bleeding from her head, though she remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the driver was unlicensed and fled south after the collision, leaving the vehicle undamaged. Police cite 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and is listed as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' also recorded as a contributing factor, but only after the primary driver error. The event underscores the systemic danger posed by unlicensed and inexperienced drivers operating large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738735, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Three SUVs slam together in Bronx darkness. Steel crushes a 34-year-old man behind the wheel. His belt holds him, but the force is absolute. The night stays silent. One life ends, pinned by metal and momentum.

According to the police report, three SUVs collided near Major Deegan Expressway and West 230th Street in the Bronx at 2:01 a.m. A 34-year-old male driver, strapped in with a lap belt and harness, died from crush injuries to the head. The report states, 'Three SUVs collide in the dark. A man, 34, strapped in the driver's seat, dies from crush wounds to the head. The belt held him. The steel closed in.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for all involved drivers, providing no further detail on the precise errors that led to the crash. No evidence in the report points to victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when multiple large vehicles converge at speed, leaving a driver dead and the cause unresolved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738193, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man crossed the Major Deegan alone at night. A southbound Toyota struck him with its right front bumper. His head broke. His limbs twisted. No crosswalk. No signal. Only silence and steel remained.

A 35-year-old man was killed while crossing the Major Deegan Expressway in the early morning hours, according to the police report. The report states that a southbound Toyota sedan struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The narrative details, 'His head broke. His limbs twisted. No crosswalk. No signal. Just silence and steel.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing where there was no signal or crosswalk, as documented in the police report. The contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the impact and the lethal danger present on this high-speed roadway, where a single misstep or moment of inattention can result in fatal consequences for those outside a vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730009, 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 man on an e-bike rode east on West 181st Street and collided with the rear of a parked diesel truck. His chest was crushed. He wore a helmet. There was no movement, only silence in the dark.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old man riding an e-bike eastbound on West 181st Street struck the right rear bumper of a parked diesel tractor truck. The report states the crash occurred in darkness and notes the cyclist was wearing a helmet. The narrative describes the impact as crushing the rider's chest and causing internal bleeding, with no skid marks at the scene. The e-bike's front end was damaged. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The parked truck, registered in Indiana, was unoccupied at the time. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor beyond noting helmet use after listing driver error. The collision left the cyclist motionless and silent, underscoring the lethal consequences of distraction and systemic street danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729767, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist’s arm split open against the side of a stopped taxi at Fort Washington and 161st. Blood marked the pavement. The helmeted rider stayed awake. The taxi sat untouched. The street fell silent, holding the aftermath in its grip.

A cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm after striking the side of a stopped taxi at Fort Washington Avenue and 161st Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 10:12 a.m. The report states, 'A cyclist struck the side of a stopped taxi. His arm split open. Blood on pavement. He wore a helmet. He stayed awake. The taxi sat untouched.' The taxi was stopped in traffic and sustained no damage, while the cyclist’s bike impacted the right side doors of the vehicle. The police report lists no specific contributing factors and does not cite any driver errors. The only victim behavior noted is helmet use, which is mentioned after the description of the crash. The focus remains on the physical impact and aftermath, with the police narrative emphasizing the silence and gravity that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729960, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped cut right on University Avenue. An SUV turned. A girl, fifteen, flew from the back seat. She struck the pavement, motionless. No helmet. The street claimed her before the day could finish.

According to the police report, a moped attempted to pass on the right at University Avenue and West 192nd Street as a Honda SUV made a right turn. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The moped's male driver was unlicensed. The collision ejected a fifteen-year-old girl riding as a rear passenger on the moped. She was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The narrative states, 'The girl on the back flew off. No helmet. Fifteen years old. She hit the pavement and lay still.' The impact killed her. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of improper passing and unlicensed operation, as documented by the responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728164, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan SUV slammed head-on into stillness on Jerome Avenue. The driver, alone, drifted asleep and never woke. Smoke curled above the wreck. No other lives touched. The morning street bore witness to a solitary fatal mistake.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old man driving a Nissan SUV on Jerome Avenue near 1709 lost control of his vehicle after he 'fell asleep at the wheel.' The SUV struck head-on, resulting in the driver’s death. The report states the crash occurred in the early morning, with the street described as 'still' and 'nothing moved but the smoke.' The only person involved was the driver, who died alone in the vehicle. The police report explicitly lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, underscoring the critical role of driver inattention and fatigue in this fatal incident. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists were involved or harmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724137, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A new state bill would let New York City street sweepers use cameras to catch cars blocking cleaning routes. Repeat offenders rack up most tickets. Lawmakers say dirty streets and blocked drains endanger everyone. The law would sunset in 2029.

Assembly Bill (unnumbered) was introduced by Brooklyn Assembly Member Brian Cunningham on April 25, 2024. The bill is pending in the state legislature. It would allow New York City to mount enforcement cameras on street sweepers to ticket cars parked illegally during street cleaning hours. The bill summary states it 'fulfills the Sanitation Department's longstanding ask for help getting vehicles out of the way of road-cleaning operations.' Cunningham, who sponsors the bill, said, 'Dirty streets are totally unacceptable.' Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch supports the change, noting that state law must allow automated ticketing. Uptown Manhattan State Senator Robert Jackson introduced a similar Senate bill. The law would phase in after a year and expire by mid-2029, giving officials time to assess its impact. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Street Sweepers Could Nab Illegal Parking Under State Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-25

Steel met steel on 10th Avenue. A left turn ran the light. Fire tore through the wreck. In the front seat, a young woman died, burned and broken. The street glowed with flame and loss.

A deadly crash unfolded at 10th Avenue and West 213th Street in Manhattan. Two vehicles collided after one made a left turn and disregarded a traffic signal. According to the police report, 'A left turn ignored the signal. Steel struck steel. Fire bloomed.' The front passenger, a 21-year-old woman, suffered fatal burns and died at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors are noted for the drivers. The victim was a passenger and played no role in the crash. The police report does not specify if safety equipment was used.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685068, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan pulled from the curb. A 62-year-old man crossed West 178th. Metal hit skull. Blood pooled on the street. The man stayed awake. The car’s right front bore the wound. Failure to yield marked the moment.

A 62-year-old man was struck by a sedan at the corner of West 178th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a Toyota sedan pulled from the curb and hit him. The man suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The impact damaged the car’s right front quarter panel. The data does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678761, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW slammed into a Toyota’s rear on the Major Deegan. Metal tore. A 36-year-old man in the Toyota bled from the head. He stayed conscious. The harness held. His skin split where steel did not. Blood on the expressway. Sirens followed.

A crash on the Major Deegan Expressway left a 36-year-old man injured. According to the police report, a BMW struck the rear of a Toyota. The impact crumpled metal and split skin. The Toyota’s driver, belted in, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' The BMW’s front hit the Toyota’s back. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead. The man’s harness held him in place, but the force cut deep. No other injuries were reported. The report does not specify further driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678001, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 15-year-old on a moped struck an SUV on Saint Nicholas Avenue. He flew from the seat. His head hit hard. He died on the street. Speed played a role. The crash left a mark on Manhattan’s roads.

A 15-year-old boy riding a Zhilong moped died after colliding with a GMC SUV near Saint Nicholas Avenue and West 185th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the moped rider was traveling at unsafe speed and was ejected from his seat, suffering fatal head injuries. The crash occurred as both vehicles went straight ahead. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The boy was not wearing any safety equipment, which is noted after the driver error. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver. The impact crushed the moped’s front and the SUV’s left front quarter panel. The street bears the cost of speed and force.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678005, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15