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

Dec 27 - A sedan tore down W 204th Street, the driver distracted. Metal shrieked as it struck a parked truck. The driver’s head hit hard. Blood pooled. He was conscious, but crushed and silent. Distraction behind the wheel left only pain and wreckage.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old man drove his sedan southbound on W 204th Street near 9th Avenue and crashed straight into a parked truck. The report states the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered head injuries and crush injuries, though he remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The parked truck was unoccupied at the time. The impact crumpled metal and left the sedan’s front end destroyed. No other injuries were reported. The report makes clear that distraction behind the wheel was the direct cause of this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 13 - A man on a bike, helmeted, struck hard by a distracted driver on Broadway. He lay unconscious, blood on his face, as the car’s front quarter crumpled. The cold street carried the violence forward. The city did not yield.

A 38-year-old man riding a bike southbound on Broadway at West 220th Street was struck by a vehicle, according to the police report. The cyclist, who wore a helmet, was left unconscious with severe facial lacerations. The report states the crash occurred when a driver, traveling straight ahead, collided with the cyclist, crumpling the car’s right front quarter panel. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative describes the aftermath: the cyclist lying in the cold, bloodied and unmoving, while the street remained unchanged. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist’s behavior. The crash highlights the ongoing systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 25 - A parked pickup truck struck a 56-year-old cyclist on W Tremont Avenue. The man flew, helmet cracked, hand severed. Blood pooled on the street. The truck never moved, but the cyclist’s life changed in an instant.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man was riding his bicycle southbound on W Tremont Avenue at University Avenue in the Bronx when a parked pickup truck struck him. The narrative states, 'A 56-year-old man pedaled south. A parked pickup struck. He flew. His helmet cracked. His hand did not follow. Blood on the street. The truck never moved. But his life did.' The cyclist suffered an amputation injury to his hand and was ejected from his bike. The report lists the pickup truck as parked at the time of the crash, with the point of impact and vehicle damage noted at the center front end. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, which cracked on impact. Contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The police report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the parked vehicle’s involvement and the catastrophic outcome for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A 24-year-old woman crossed Corlear Avenue with the signal. An SUV turned left, its bumper smashing her head. She fell. Blood pooled. She did not move. The street stayed quiet. The SUV showed no damage. The city’s silence deepened.

A 24-year-old woman was struck while crossing Corlear Avenue at West 230th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a 2022 SUV, driven by a licensed driver, made a left turn and hit her with the left front bumper. The impact caused head injuries and apparent death at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative notes, 'The bumper struck her head. She fell. Blood pooled. She did not move.' The SUV sustained no visible damage. The victim’s action—crossing with the signal—is documented in the report, but the focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield. The crash unfolded in a moment, leaving the street quiet and the danger of left turns unmitigated.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - A BMW SUV reversed off Broadway, striking three pedestrians—a man, another man, and an infant girl. Abdomen crushed. Pelvis shattered. All conscious. All broken. The SUV showed no damage. The street stayed quiet. Metal met flesh. Lives changed.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV backed into three pedestrians off the roadway near 5716 Broadway in the Bronx at 11:35 p.m. The victims—a 43-year-old man, a 39-year-old man, and an infant girl—suffered severe crush injuries to their abdomens and pelvises. All three were conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The pedestrians were not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The SUV showed no visible damage. The police report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The impact left bodies broken while the vehicle remained unscathed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771956 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - Moped sped down W 225 St, flipped at Broadway. Passenger, 18, thrown clear. His leg caught fire. He wore a helmet. Unsafe speed drove the crash. Both riders injured. The street burned and silent.

According to the police report, a moped traveling southwest on W 225 St at Broadway overturned due to unsafe speed. The report states, 'A moped tore southwest, too fast. It flipped. An 18-year-old passenger flew off. His leg caught fire.' The passenger, age 18, was ejected and suffered severe burns to his leg. He was conscious and wore a helmet. The 16-year-old driver was partially ejected and suffered bruises to his knee and lower leg. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The crash left both riders injured and the moped overturned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 22 - A moped overturned on Kingsbridge Avenue. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, was thrown to the pavement. Blood pooled in the dark. Sirens cut the silence. The rider lay semiconscious, head bleeding, as the street bore witness to another violent crash.

According to the police report, a 2023 JIAJU moped overturned on Kingsbridge Avenue near Naples Terrace in the Bronx. The sole occupant, a 35-year-old male, was driving southbound when the crash occurred. The report states the rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He was ejected from the moped, landed on the pavement, and suffered a severe head injury, described as 'head bleeding' and 'semiconscious.' The police narrative notes the crash ended in 'silence, sirens, and blood.' While the report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified,' it explicitly documents the rider's lack of a license and helmet. No other vehicles or road users were involved, and no victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors after the driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774089 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - A parked Ford van on Jerome Avenue was struck with violent force. The front passenger, age 39, suffered a shattered shoulder. Metal screamed. Flesh gave. The lap belt held him. The street stayed silent after the impact.

According to the police report, a parked 2012 Ford van was struck hard on Jerome Avenue in mid-afternoon. The collision left the front passenger, a 39-year-old man, with severe crush injuries to his shoulder and upper arm. The report states the van was stationary ('Parked') when it was hit, and the impact targeted the right front quarter panel. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The front passenger, 39, crushed in his seat. His shoulder shattered. The lap belt held. Metal screamed. Flesh gave.' No driver errors or contributing factors are listed in the police data. The focus remains on the devastating outcome for the passenger, who was restrained by a lap belt but still suffered grave injuries. The report does not cite any passenger actions as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 16 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 24 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - A bus swept west on West 179th, scraping a parked SUV. Metal shrieked. A man, thirty-five, bled from the gut, torn but conscious. The bus rolled on, leaving silence and pain behind. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on West 179th Street at Saint Nicholas Avenue struck the side of a parked SUV. The impact tore through metal and left the 35-year-old SUV driver with severe abdominal lacerations. The report states the bus did not stop after the collision. Contributing factors cited in the police report include 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Oversized Vehicle,' both pointing to driver error and the inherent risks of large vehicles maneuvering through city streets. The injured man was conscious at the scene, bleeding heavily from the abdomen. No evidence in the report suggests any action by the SUV driver contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the bus driver's improper lane usage and the dangers posed by oversized vehicles in dense urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 11 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 27 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 26 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A moped slammed into the rear of a Jeep on Broadway. The unlicensed, helmetless rider flew from his seat, struck the pavement headfirst, and never woke. Limbs crushed, skull broken. The city’s streets claimed another life before dawn.

According to the police report, a violent collision occurred at Broadway and Bennett Avenue in Manhattan when a moped, traveling north, struck the rear of a Jeep SUV that was slowing or stopping. The 26-year-old moped rider, unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered fatal head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the moped operator. The narrative states, 'He hit the pavement headfirst. Limbs crushed. Skull broken. He did not wake.' The Jeep driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The crash unfolded at 12:48 a.m., underscoring the lethal consequences of driver inattention and excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - A sedan tore south on Broadway, colliding head-on with a northbound moped. The rider, helmetless, was ejected and left bleeding on the hot street. The crash carved pain into the city’s concrete and left a body still.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southbound on Broadway at West 190th Street struck a northbound moped head-on at 16:55 in Manhattan. The moped rider, a 29-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding across his entire body. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error that led to the violent collision. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, a detail noted in the report after the documentation of driver error. Both vehicles were reported as going straight ahead before impact. The force of the crash left the moped rider motionless on the street, underscoring the grave consequences of improper lane usage by vehicle drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19