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

Jun 4 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

May 31 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Apr 25 - 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

Apr 19 - A moped rider was crushed at the hip after a high-speed collision on Grand Avenue. The unlicensed KIA driver struck the moped front-first, damaging a parked SUV. The rider was ejected but remained conscious, highlighting reckless driving dangers.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on Grand Avenue involving a moped, a parked SUV, and a KIA sedan. The moped, carrying two occupants, was traveling east when it was struck front-first by the KIA, which was traveling west at unsafe speed. The 36-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered crush injuries to the hip but remained conscious. The parked SUV absorbed part of the impact, sustaining damage to its right front bumper. The KIA sedan, driven by an unlicensed male driver, sustained damage to its center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor and notes the KIA driver was unlicensed. No contributing factors related to the moped rider were reported. The incident underscores the hazards posed by unlicensed driving combined with excessive speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 13 - A BMW tore through the red at Jerome and Fordham. Steel met steel. Two men, 23 and 21, crushed inside. Alcohol in their veins. No belts. The crash was instant. Death was certain. The street swallowed their breath.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling north on Jerome Avenue at East Fordham Road disregarded a traffic control device and collided at speed with another SUV. The report states, 'A BMW ran the light at speed. No belts. No breath. Two young men, 23 and 21, crushed inside. Booze in blood.' Both occupants of the BMW were killed, suffering fatal crush injuries. The driver’s actions—specifically 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed'—are cited as primary contributing factors. Alcohol involvement is also listed as a contributing factor for both the driver and the passenger. The data does not indicate any contributing behavior by the victims beyond the lack of safety equipment, which is noted only after the driver’s errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore signals and drive impaired.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 26 - A Cadillac swung right on Broadway. An e-scooter kept straight. Metal struck flesh. A 32-year-old man crashed down, head split open, blood pooling in the street. He lay conscious in the city’s dark, breathing through pain.

A collision unfolded on Broadway when a Cadillac sedan made a right turn and struck an e-scooter proceeding straight, according to the police report. The crash occurred near latitude 40.87°N, longitude 73.90°W. The report states the e-scooter operator, a 32-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations and was found conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor, as cited by police, was 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The Cadillac’s right front bumper collided with the center front end of the e-scooter. The narrative details: 'A Cadillac turned right. An e-scooter went straight. Metal met bone. A 32-year-old man hit the ground, head gashed, no helmet, blood on asphalt.' The police report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s failure to yield. The impact left the rider bleeding and awake on the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714952 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 23 - A car struck a 65-year-old woman crossing West 204th Street with the light. The right front bumper crushed her leg. She lay conscious on the cold street. The signal stayed green. The driver failed to yield. The city kept moving.

A 65-year-old woman was hit by a car while crossing West 204th Street at Post Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when an eastbound car’s right front bumper struck her, crushing her leg. She remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the driver failed to yield. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash left her with severe lower leg injuries. The incident highlights the ongoing danger to pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 15 - A northbound Audi struck a turning Toyota on Mosholu Parkway. The Toyota’s right side crumpled. Inside, a five-year-old girl bled from the face. Seven people jolted. Traffic control ignored. Night air cold. Metal screamed. Lives changed.

A crash on Mosholu Parkway near West Gun Hill Road left a five-year-old girl injured. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan making a left turn was struck broadside by a northbound Audi SUV. The Toyota’s right side was crushed. The child, belted in the Toyota, suffered severe facial bleeding. Seven people were inside the Toyota. The report states, “Traffic Control Disregarded” as a contributing factor. The data does not list any other driver errors. The child’s use of a lap belt and harness is noted, but the primary cause remains the disregard for traffic control. No blame is placed on the victims. The night ended with blood on the seats and sirens in the dark.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 10 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 10 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 26 - A woman on a GOTRAX e-scooter was thrown from her ride on Sedgwick Avenue. She hit the street headfirst. Blood pooled. She lay unconscious. Distraction behind the handlebars. No helmet. The avenue stayed hard and unforgiving.

A 32-year-old woman riding a GOTRAX e-scooter on Sedgwick Avenue near Undercliff Avenue was ejected and struck her head, suffering severe bleeding and unconsciousness. According to the police report, 'Distraction carved the wound.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary cause cited is distraction. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The street offered no protection. The crash left the rider gravely hurt, her blood marking the pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 23 - A man walked with traffic on the Major Deegan. No crosswalk. No lights. A vehicle hit him. His head split open. He bled on the cold asphalt, semiconscious and alone in the dark.

A 47-year-old man was walking along the Major Deegan Expressway at night when a vehicle struck him. According to the police report, he was not at an intersection and there were no lights or crosswalk. The impact left him semiconscious with a severe head injury, bleeding on the roadway. The report does not list any specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle type is unspecified. No mention of helmet or signaling is made in the report. The man was left injured and alone on the expressway, highlighting the danger faced by pedestrians on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 76-year-old man crossed Broadway at West 161st. A Dodge sedan, windows dark, sped south. Steel struck flesh. The man fell. His head hit the pavement. Blood pooled. He died there, under the evening sky.

A 76-year-old pedestrian was killed at Broadway and West 161st Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the man was crossing at the intersection when a southbound Dodge sedan with tinted windows struck him. The report lists 'Tinted Windows' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The impact caused fatal head injuries. The police narrative states, 'He hit the pavement, skull split, blood pooling. He died there, under the evening sky.' The data highlights driver errors: unsafe speed and illegal window tint. The man died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 8 - A 46-year-old man rode south on Henry Hudson Parkway. He was unlicensed. No helmet. He struck the right front of his Vespa. Thrown from the moped, his skull hit hard. He died alone in the dark. No other vehicles involved.

A 46-year-old man was killed while riding a Vespa southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, 'A 46-year-old man, unlicensed and bareheaded, was thrown from his southbound Vespa. The right front struck. His skull bore the blow. He died alone in the dark. Crush injuries. No one else involved.' The report lists the driver as unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. The only contributing factors noted are 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash. The man was ejected from the moped and suffered fatal head injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 2 - A moped hit an SUV’s side at West 160th and Saint Nicholas. The rider, 25, was ejected. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He lay incoherent, pain thick in his voice. The moped was crushed. Sirens cut the morning.

A violent crash unfolded at the corner of West 160th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. A moped slammed into the side of an SUV. According to the police report, the moped rider, age 25, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped was demolished. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19