No One Should Die Crossing the Street—Hold Their Killers Accountable

NYC leaders went to Albany. They demanded lawmakers pass Sammy’s Law. The bill lets the city set its own speed limits. Brad Hoylman-Sigal led the charge. The law is named for a child killed by a car. The fight is urgent. Lives hang in the balance.

On May 30, 2023, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and other NYC officials lobbied the state legislature to pass key transportation and housing bills before the session ends June 9. The centerpiece is 'Sammy’s Law,' which would let New York City set its own speed limits, potentially lowering them to 20 mph. Hoylman-Sigal, the bill’s sponsor, said, 'Senators in Massapequa shouldn’t set the speed limit for Manhattan—or the reverse.' The law is named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old killed by a car in Brooklyn. The bill had stalled before, but this year the required home rule resolution was submitted. Mayor Adams’ administration also pushed for affordable housing reforms. The push for Sammy’s Law is a fight to give NYC control over its streets and protect vulnerable road users from deadly speeding.

• NYC officials press Albany to pass critical bills on housing, city speed limit and others before session ends, nypost.com, Published 2023-05-30

An e-bike struck a 74-year-old woman on West 72nd Street. She bled from the head. The bike stood untouched. Blood marked the pavement. She stayed conscious. The street fell silent. The city kept moving.

A 74-year-old woman was hit by an e-bike on West 72nd Street. According to the police report, she was outside the crosswalk when the crash happened. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'She lay bleeding from the head. Conscious. Hurt. The bike stood untouched.' The e-bike showed no visible damage. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The crash left the woman injured and the street stained with her blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631167, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist rode south on 11th Avenue. He struck the doors of a parked taxi. Metal flashed. The cyclist was bruised. The taxi driver, sixty, was found dead inside. The street moved on. The loss stayed behind.

A crash unfolded on 11th Avenue near West 36th Street in Manhattan. A cyclist, heading south, struck the left doors of a parked taxi. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a knee and lower leg injury. The taxi driver, a 60-year-old man, was found dead inside the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both the cyclist and the taxi driver. No other contributing factors were cited. The impact left one man injured and another dead. The city kept moving, but the loss remained.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624451, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a Citi e-bike struck by two sedans at West 51st and 11th Avenue. Thrown from his seat. Blood on the cold street. He lay conscious as traffic moved past. The city kept moving. He did not.

A 30-year-old man riding a Citi e-bike was struck by two sedans at West 51st Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A man on a Citi e-bike hit by two sedans. Thrown from the saddle. No helmet. Bleeding from everywhere.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe bleeding to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. No driver errors are listed in the data. The sedans involved were a Mazda, moving west, and a Honda, which was parked. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the facts of the crash. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610626, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-scooter hit a woman crossing West 74th near Central Park West. The taxi stood still. Her face took the blow. Crush wounds. Dusk pressed in. Driver inattention cut through the street. The woman fell. The city watched.

A 55-year-old woman was struck by an e-scooter while crossing West 74th Street near Central Park West in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A woman crossed without a signal. The e-scooter struck her face. The taxi stood still. Her body crumpled. Crush wounds. No helmet. No warning.' The woman suffered facial injuries and was in shock. The e-scooter driver, a 40-year-old man, was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The taxi was parked and not involved in the impact. The report notes the pedestrian was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s inattention. The crash shows how distraction behind the handlebars endangers those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609689, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy sedan slammed into a barrier on West 30th near 12th Avenue. The driver, 27, died at the scene. Alcohol was involved. The car’s front end crumpled. No one else was hurt. The street fell silent after the crash.

A 27-year-old man died when his Chevy sedan crashed on West 30th Street near 12th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the car's front end was crushed and the driver was found alone, with alcohol involvement noted. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other people were injured. The airbag deployed, but the force of the crash caused fatal injuries to the driver. The data does not indicate any helmet or signal issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602964, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A speeding Infiniti crashed into a parked Lexus on West 47th. Metal screamed. A 60-year-old woman sat inside. No belt. No airbag. She died in the cold Manhattan dark. The street kept her last breath.

A fatal crash took place on West 47th Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, an Infiniti sedan struck a parked Lexus sedan. A 60-year-old woman was inside the Lexus. She died at the scene. The report states, 'A parked Lexus. An Infiniti moving fast. Metal struck metal. A 60-year-old woman inside. No belt. No airbag. No time.' The data lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The woman was not using safety equipment at the time of the crash, as noted in the report. The impact was deadly. The street was left silent.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599686, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Governor Hochul backs Sammy’s Law. She wants Albany to let New York City set its own speed limits. Advocates and city officials support her. Lower speeds mean fewer deaths. The fight now moves to the legislature. Streets could get safer. The city waits.

On January 10, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her support for a state bill—known as Sammy’s Law—that would let New York City lower its own speed limits. The bill, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, has stalled in the legislature before. Hochul’s State of the State address declared, 'she will introduce her own version of the existing "Sammy's Law" bill.' Hoylman-Sigal called City Council members his 'partners' and urged their support. Amy Cohen, whose son was killed by a speeding driver, pressed the Council to act, saying, 'We need the Council to make it a priority to support Sammy's Law and redesign streets ... at a safe speed limit.' DOT spokesman Vin Barone added, 'DOT strongly supports Sammy’s Law.' The Adams administration and street safety advocates back the measure. If passed, the law would let the city drop speed limits below 25 mph citywide and below 15 mph near schools, giving local officials real power to protect vulnerable road users.

• State of the State: Hochul Seeks to Let New York City Lower its Speed Limits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-10

Three sedans raced north on Henry Hudson Parkway. A man walked in the dark. One car struck him head-on. His body broke on the cold asphalt. He died alone, under the headlights. Two drivers were injured. Unsafe speed ruled the night.

A man walking north along Henry Hudson Parkway, near 96th Street, was struck and killed by a sedan. According to the police report, 'Three sedans came fast. One struck him head-on. His body shattered on the cold road. He died there, alone, beneath the speeding lights.' Two drivers were injured—one to the shoulder and upper arm, the other to the head. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the crash. The data also shows one driver was unlicensed. The crash left a pedestrian dead and two drivers hurt, all under the shadow of reckless speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595960, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man rode north on West 31st. Illness hit. He crashed his e-scooter. His head slammed the pavement. Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, alone. No helmet. The street stayed silent.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-scooter northbound on West 31st Street crashed after illness struck. According to the police report, 'Illness struck. He crashed, unhelmeted. Head split on pavement. Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, alone.' The report lists 'Illnes' as the contributing factor. The rider suffered a severe head injury and was incoherent at the scene. No other vehicles or people were involved. The data notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary cause, which was illness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595530, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter slammed into a taxi on 5th Avenue at East 84th. The unlicensed rider fled. A woman passenger flew from the seat, helmet split, blood pooling on the street. Failure to yield and ignored signals led to carnage.

A motorscooter crashed into the front of a taxi at 5th Avenue and East 84th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the unlicensed motorscooter rider fled south after the collision. A woman passenger was ejected from the motorscooter, her helmet split, and she suffered severe bleeding from the head. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The injured woman was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No blame is placed on the victim. The crash underscores the lethal risk faced by vulnerable road users on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595192, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda sedan slammed forward on West 90th. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. The right front caved in. The driver, 48, died in the seat. No passengers. The street fell silent. Metal twisted. One life ended.

A 2001 Honda sedan crashed on West 90th Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The sole occupant, a 48-year-old male driver, was killed. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' caused the collision. The right front quarter panel of the Honda was crushed. No other injuries were reported. The police report lists no contributing factors for the victim beyond the aggressive driving. The crash left the driver dead at the scene. No passengers were present. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor. This crash highlights the lethal consequences of aggressive driving, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595452, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup swung a U-turn on Broadway. Its front bumper struck a 73-year-old man crossing. He fell, crushed and unconscious. The truck kept moving south. The street held him in silence. The man’s body was broken. The city did not stop.

A Ford pickup truck made a U-turn at Broadway and West 100th Street in Manhattan. The truck’s front bumper struck a 73-year-old man crossing the intersection. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was left unconscious. The report states, “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” as the contributing factor. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was licensed and traveling south. The impact left the pedestrian broken and silent in the street. No helmet or signal issues were listed. The crash highlights the deadly risk when drivers fail to yield to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594316, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A parked sedan. A woman inside. An SUV struck from behind. Her head took the blow. She died before sunset. Metal twisted. The street fell silent. No warning. No chance.

A 37-year-old woman sat inside a parked sedan on West 53rd Street in Manhattan. An SUV crashed into the rear of her car. According to the police report, the SUV struck hard, front to rear. The woman suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No seat belt was used, but this is noted only after the absence of driver errors. The crash left the street quiet, the toll clear: one life lost, another deadly impact in the city.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589347, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck surged forward on 8th Avenue. Its left bumper hit a 62-year-old man crossing near West 44th Street. He suffered crush injuries. He died on the pavement. The truck stopped. The street fell silent.

A 62-year-old man was killed when a northbound box truck struck him on 8th Avenue near West 44th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the man was crossing the street without a signal when the truck's left front bumper hit him. He suffered fatal crush injuries and died at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The truck stopped after the collision. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a contributing factor. The loss highlights the lethal risk faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570900, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV struck at West 44th and 11th. Inside, a 67-year-old woman bled from the face. The driver, distracted, kept southbound. No damage outside. The wound ran deep. The city’s danger hid in plain sight.

A Toyota SUV crashed at the corner of West 44th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver was southbound and distracted when the crash happened. A 67-year-old woman, seated in the right rear, suffered severe facial lacerations. She wore her seatbelt. The driver, a 59-year-old man, was also in the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No exterior damage was noted, but the injury inside was serious. The crash shows how distraction behind the wheel can bring sudden harm, even when the vehicle itself appears untouched.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577953, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV struck a sedan’s rear on West 57th and 12th Avenue. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man bled from the arm, trapped by his lap belt. Distraction ruled the moment. He stayed conscious. The street stayed dangerous.

A southbound Honda SUV crashed into the rear of a sedan at West 57th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A southbound Honda slammed another’s rear. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man bled from the arm, held in place by a lap belt. He stayed awake. Distraction didn’t.' The crash left the 51-year-old male driver with severe lacerations to his arm. Other occupants, including a 58-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, were listed as uninjured. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data does not list any errors by the injured driver. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569858, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford tow truck rolled west on West 39th. The unlicensed driver did not see the woman. Steel crushed her leg. She stayed awake. The truck showed no damage. The street bore the mark. She will never walk the same.

A Ford tow truck struck a 39-year-old woman on West 39th Street near 10th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the unlicensed driver did not see her. The truck’s undercarriage crushed her leg, causing severe injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The truck sustained no damage. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian conscious but badly hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567013, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-scooter slammed into a woman crossing 11th Avenue at West 15th Street. She fell. Her face was crushed. The driver failed to yield. He did not see her. Both were hurt. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A man riding an e-scooter struck a 24-year-old woman as she crossed 11th Avenue in the marked crosswalk at West 15th Street. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted. The woman suffered severe crush injuries to her face but remained conscious. The e-scooter driver, age 29, was ejected and sustained a bruised upper arm. Both were listed as injured. The report highlights 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or pedestrian signal violation appears in the data. The crash underscores the persistent risk faced by people on foot at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563153, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter and motorcycle slammed head-on on Henry Hudson Parkway. The woman on the scooter died at the scene. She wore a helmet. The man on the motorcycle survived with leg injuries. Unsafe speed drove the crash. Metal and flesh scattered on the road.

A deadly crash unfolded on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, a 48-year-old unlicensed woman riding a motorscooter was struck head-on by a southbound motorcycle. She wore a helmet, but it did not save her. She was ejected and died from severe head wounds. The 26-year-old man on the motorcycle survived, suffering injuries to his lower leg and foot. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the collision. The motorscooter driver was unlicensed, but the report centers on speed as the primary cause. No pedestrians or bystanders were involved. The force of the impact left one dead and one injured, marking another violent night on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553407, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15