Seven Dead, a Thousand Broken—How Many Bodies Before City Hall Acts?

Dec 3 - A Jeep struck a parked Toyota on Broadway. The Jeep fled. Inside the wreck, a nine-year-old girl bled from the eye. Her face was cut deep. She stayed conscious. The street ran south. The light still held. Metal and blood marked the scene.

A Jeep crashed into a parked Toyota sedan at Broadway and West 61st Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the Jeep vanished after impact. A nine-year-old girl, riding as a passenger in the Toyota, suffered severe lacerations to her face and eye but remained conscious. The report states, 'A parked Toyota, front crushed. A Jeep vanished. Inside the wreck, a 9-year-old girl, bleeding from the eye, stayed conscious. Her face cut deep.' The contributing factor listed is 'Other Vehicular.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are specified in the data. The girl’s use of safety equipment is unknown. The crash left the street marked by violence and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 26 - A Cadillac taxi hit an 89-year-old man in a marked crosswalk on Riverside Boulevard. The impact shattered his hip and leg. He died where he fell. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed silent after the crash.

An 89-year-old man was killed while crossing Riverside Boulevard at West 70th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, he was in a marked crosswalk when a southbound Cadillac taxi struck him head-on. The report states, 'An 89-year-old man, crossing in a marked crosswalk, was struck head-on by a southbound Cadillac taxi. His hip and leg shattered. He died there, in the crosswalk, where he had the right to walk.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The man suffered fatal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The data shows no contributing factors related to the pedestrian. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers fail to yield to people in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 23 - Albany lawmakers move to force moped registration before sale. The bill aims to block illegal, unregistered mopeds from city streets. Dealers, not riders, would handle paperwork. Advocates say this targets bad actors and protects pedestrians from rogue machines.

On October 23, 2023, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) introduced a bill in Albany to require moped dealers to register vehicles with the DMV before buyers leave the shop. The bill, supported by Assembly Member Alex Bores (D-Upper East Side), seeks to close a loophole that lets illegal mopeds flood city streets. The matter summary states: 'New legislation in Albany seeks to eliminate the use of illegal mopeds by requiring sellers to register them with the DMV before buyers can take them out of the shop.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This common-sense bill would simply ensure that the registration happens at the point of sale, before someone rides out of the shop.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project backs the move, stressing manufacturer responsibility. Attorney Daniel Flanzig says the law could clear streets of unregistered, dangerous vehicles. The bill is not yet law, but enforcement actions against illegal mopeds are already underway.

• State Lawmaker Seeks to Close Moped-Registration Loophole, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-23

Oct 13 - A man on a speeding e-scooter slammed head-on into an object on 12th Avenue. Thrown from the scooter, his skull struck the pavement. Blood pooled. He died at the scene. The street claimed another life in the night.

A 32-year-old man riding an Apollo Ghost e-scooter was killed on 12th Avenue after crashing head-on into an object. According to the police report, the rider was unlicensed, helmetless, and traveling at unsafe speed. He was ejected from the scooter, suffering fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The man never regained consciousness. No other vehicles or persons were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 11 - Council Member Holden’s e-bike license bill piles red tape on riders but leaves pedestrians exposed. The proposal skips real fixes—wider sidewalks, protected lanes, safer work rules. It targets e-bikes, not the cars and street chaos that truly endanger walkers.

Council Member Robert Holden introduced a bill, co-sponsored by a Council majority, to require licenses for all e-bikes. The bill, discussed in October 2023, has not specified a streamlined process for licensing. The matter’s summary states: 'Holden's bill does nothing to rectify the fundamental issues of inadequate space and dangerous workplace practices.' Holden and his colleagues push regulation, but critics say the bill ignores the real threats: narrow sidewalks, blocked crosswalks, and unsafe delivery work. The proposal would burden riders and discourage micromobility, while failing to address illegal mopeds or car dominance. State Senator Brad Hoylman’s employer-provided ID plan is cited as a better alternative. The opinion calls for protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and fair enforcement, not more bureaucracy. Holden’s bill, critics argue, misses the mark for pedestrian safety.

• Opinion: Holden’s E-Bike License Proposal Misses the Mark on Pedestrian Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-11

Oct 10 - A man crossed West 44th. A car followed too close. No screech, no stop. He fell. Blood ran down his leg. Shock in his eyes. The car rolled on, untouched. The street held the pain.

A 46-year-old man was injured while crossing West 44th Street near 8th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the car was 'following too closely.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot and showed signs of shock. The report states, 'A car followed too close. No screech, no stop. He fell hard. Blood spilled down his leg.' The vehicle showed no damage. The only driver error listed is 'Following Too Closely.' No other contributing factors are mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 4 - A cyclist struck a 77-year-old woman crossing with the light at West 76th and Amsterdam. She fell hard. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. The cyclist kept riding. The woman lay conscious, bleeding from the head. The street stayed loud and indifferent.

A northbound cyclist hit a 77-year-old woman as she crossed West 76th Street at Amsterdam Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, the woman fell and suffered severe bleeding from the head. She remained conscious as blood pooled on the crosswalk. The cyclist did not stop. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The victim was crossing with the light. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 3 - A Chevy sedan turned left at West 10th and Greenwich. The driver hit a 76-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She bled on the pavement. Semiconscious, then still. The car’s front end took the impact. She died at the scene.

A 76-year-old woman was killed at the corner of West 10th Street and Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a Chevy sedan made a left turn and struck the pedestrian head-on as she crossed with the signal. The report states, 'The light was with her. She was 76. She crossed with the signal. The car struck her head-on.' The driver’s action is listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The impact was to the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered severe head injuries and was semiconscious before succumbing to her wounds. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - A cyclist lies in critical condition after a crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street. Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out the city’s inaction. The intersection has claimed lives before. The community rallies, but danger remains. Cyclists keep dying. The city stalls.

On September 26, 2023, Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39) issued a statement following a severe crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street in Park Slope. The incident left Jacob Priley, a cyclist and advocate, critically injured. Hanif highlighted the intersection’s deadly history, referencing the 2021 death of Arcellie Muschamp. She pressed the Department of Transportation for urgent safety upgrades, saying, 'How many more crashes until the DOT pays attention?' Hanif noted the recent completion of a protected bike lane on Ninth Street but stressed that more action is needed. She thanked neighbors for their support and vowed to work with the DOT. So far in 2023, 3,702 cyclists have been injured and 22 killed on New York City streets. The city’s pace on safety remains too slow for those at risk.

• Brooklyn rallies behind biker critically injured in Park Slope crash, raises funds for medical bills, amny.com, Published 2023-09-26

Sep 13 - A Nissan sedan hit a man on West 42nd Street. The bumper smashed his head. Blood spilled on the street. He stayed awake, hurt and bleeding. The car rolled east. The driver was distracted. The city failed to protect him.

A 29-year-old man was struck by a Nissan sedan while crossing West 42nd Street just before 1 a.m. According to the police report, 'A distracted driver in a Nissan sedan struck a 29-year-old man crossing against the light. The bumper hit his head. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious. Hurt bad. The car kept moving east.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver distraction. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 9 - A box truck rolled east on West 57th. A young man crossed outside the crosswalk. Steel hit flesh. His face broke. He fell, unconscious, blood pooling on the street. The truck rolled on, untouched. The city swallowed another life.

A 25-year-old man was struck by a box truck on West 57th Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck rolled east as the man stepped into its path, far from any crosswalk. The impact shattered his face and left him unconscious on the pavement. The truck showed no damage. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. The pedestrian suffered severe crush injuries to the face. The report notes he was crossing with no signal or crosswalk, but does not list this as a contributing factor. The crash left a young man broken and the truck unscathed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

Aug 12 - A man on a Bravo motorcycle crashed northbound on 8th Avenue before dawn. He flew headfirst, helmeted, into the dark. The front end crushed. He lay bleeding, unconscious, ejected from the wreck. One rider. One silence.

A 36-year-old man riding a 2016 Bravo motorcycle was severely injured in a crash on 8th Avenue near 47th Street in Manhattan at 4:06 a.m. According to the police report, the rider was ejected, suffered a head injury, and was found unconscious and bleeding. The report states, 'A man on a 2016 Bravo motorcycle flew headfirst into the dark. Helmeted, bleeding, unconscious. The front crushed, the rear torn.' The motorcycle was traveling northbound when the crash occurred. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 10 - A moped sped east through Central Park at dawn. The driver lost control. He flew from the seat. His hip shattered. Flesh tore. He screamed in pain. The trees stood silent. No helmet. No brakes. No answer.

A 30-year-old moped driver was ejected and severely injured on Central Park’s Transverse Road Two. According to the police report, the moped was traveling at unsafe speed, with no helmet and no brakes. The driver suffered a shattered hip and severe lacerations. The report states, 'A moped tore east at dawn. No helmet. No brakes. The driver, 30, flew from the seat, hip shattered, flesh torn.' Unsafe speed is listed as the contributing factor. The data notes the absence of a helmet only after the primary driver error. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash left the driver conscious but in agony, alone in the early morning park.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653002 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 27 - A box truck crashed into a taxi near 34th Street. Metal shrieked. The taxi driver’s arm split open. Blood ran in the quiet dark. Police cited following too closely. One man hurt. The city’s night stayed cold and still.

A box truck struck a taxi on 8th Avenue near 34th Street in Manhattan. The 61-year-old taxi driver suffered severe arm lacerations. According to the police report, the box truck 'slammed the slowing taxi’s side.' The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The taxi was slowing or stopping when the box truck, traveling west, hit its left side doors with its right front bumper. The taxi driver was the only person injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes the taxi driver wore a lap belt. The crash underscores the risk when drivers follow too closely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 25 - A woman crossed West 42nd Street with the signal. A driver did not yield. Metal struck flesh. Her hip broke. Blood streaked her leg. She stayed awake on the pavement. The light kept blinking. The city moved on.

A 37-year-old woman was struck while crossing West 42nd Street with the signal. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and made an improper lane usage or passing maneuver. The impact broke her hip and left her with severe lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The report states: 'She crossed with the signal. A driver did not yield. Her hip broke. Blood streaked her leg.' The listed contributing factors are 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' No information about the vehicle or driver was provided. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - A motorscooter slammed into a sedan at West 55th and 10th. Two riders flew off, struck hard, and lay broken in the street. Blood pooled. The city’s lights blinked on. No helmets. No mercy. The night swallowed the sound.

Two people riding a motorscooter were ejected after a violent crash with a sedan at the corner of West 55th Street and 10th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the motorscooter hit the sedan at 3:02 a.m. Both riders, a 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, suffered severe crush injuries and were found unconscious or semiconscious, sprawled on the pavement. The report notes neither wore helmets. The sedan’s left front bumper and the motorscooter’s right side took the impact. No specific driver errors were listed in the data; contributing factors are marked as "Unspecified." The city moved on as the injured lay in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647628 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - A car tore down West 42nd. A woman crossed. The driver did not slow. Metal struck flesh. Her leg split open. Blood stained the street. The driver vanished into the night. The city kept moving.

A 27-year-old woman was struck while crossing West 42nd Street near Times Square. She suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the driver was traveling at an unsafe speed and was inexperienced. The driver did not stop after the crash. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The woman was crossing without a signal, but the data highlights driver actions as the primary causes. No information is provided about the vehicle or the driver’s identity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 20 - A young pedicab driver met an e-bike head-on on West 36th Street. Her abdomen crushed. She stayed conscious but did not survive. Inexperience and distraction shaped the crash. The city’s streets claimed another vulnerable life.

A 23-year-old pedicab driver was killed in a head-on collision with an e-bike near West 36th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The victim suffered fatal abdominal injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes she was not wearing a helmet, but only after listing driver inexperience and distraction as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users in New York City’s dense traffic. No blame is placed on the victim. The police report documents the fatal toll of inexperience and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 14 - Cops seized mopeds from Brooklyn delivery workers. Police claim safety, but data show cars and trucks cause most harm. App companies profit. Immigrant workers pay. Advocates say crackdowns punish the vulnerable, not the reckless. The city misses the real threat.

On July 14, 2023, NYPD officers from Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct seized illegal mopeds from delivery workers outside fast-food chains. The enforcement action follows years of crackdowns dating back to Mayor Bloomberg, ramped up under Mayor de Blasio. Police say the seizures make streets safer, but city crash data show cars and trucks—not e-bikes or mopeds—cause most pedestrian injuries. Delivery worker Roziev Akmal warned, 'Livelihoods will be ruined because of the seizure.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called it 'another example where you see deliveristas being economically impacted.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Council Member Gale Brewer cited constituent complaints, but advocates and legal experts argue enforcement targets workers, not the root causes. The crackdown leaves low-paid, mostly immigrant workers exposed to fines, lost income, and road danger, while app companies escape responsibility.

• Latest Cop Crackdown on Deliveristas Misses the Point: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-14