Manhattan Community Board 5: Traffic Crash Statistics

Recent severe crashes

1. Unlicensed SUV driver backs into Midtown pedestrians 2025-09-24T14:40:00+00:00
   E 40 ST
   An unlicensed SUV driver backed on E 40th at Fifth and hit two people at the intersection. A woman died of head wounds. A 55-year-old man suffered fractures. Police recorded backing unsafely by the driver. A box truck's driver was stopped in traffic.
   An unlicensed SUV driver backing on East 40th Street at Fifth Avenue hit two people at the intersection in Manhattan. A woman was killed with head trauma. A 55-year-old man sustained head injuries and a fracture. A box-truck driver was stopped in traffic during the crash. According to the police report, police recorded backing unsafely by the SUV driver. The SUV showed damage to the center rear. The truck had damage to the left front bumper. The crash happened at 2:40 p.m. and was logged under collision ID 4844847. The report lists the SUV driver as unlicensed.
2. Cyclist Killed After Striking Parked SUV Door 2025-02-18T15:05:00+00:00
   W 51 ST
   A 67-year-old man pedaled west on W 51st. The door of a parked SUV swung open. His bike crashed. His head struck hard. Blood pooled. The SUV stood untouched. The man died on the street, another life ended by steel and carelessness.
   According to the police report, a 67-year-old man riding a bike westbound on W 51st Street at 5th Avenue collided with the door of a parked SUV. The narrative states, 'A 67-year-old man on a bike hit the door of a parked SUV. No helmet. His head struck hard. He flew, then fell. Blood spread. The SUV was untouched. He died.' The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, marking them as 'Unspecified.' The SUV was parked, and the cyclist was ejected upon impact, suffering fatal head injuries. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but does not cite this as a contributing factor to the crash. The focus remains on the lethal interaction between vulnerable road users and parked vehicles in Manhattan’s dense streetscape.
3. Turning SUV Kills Elderly Woman in Midtown Crosswalk 2025-02-11T22:22:00+00:00
   W 58 ST
   An SUV turned left on W 58th Street and crushed an 83-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The left bumper struck her head. She died in the crosswalk, beneath the city’s cold lights. The street swallowed her name.
   An 83-year-old woman was killed while crossing W 58th Street at Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was 'crossing with the signal' when a northbound SUV made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The impact crushed her head, and she died at the scene, in the crosswalk. The vehicle involved was a 2020 Mazda SUV, operated by a licensed male driver. The police report lists the driver’s pre-crash action as 'making left turn.' No driver errors are explicitly cited beyond the vehicle’s movement, but the victim’s lawful crossing is clear. The report notes her position as 'Pedestrian at Intersection' and her action as 'Crossing With Signal.'
4. Parked Box Truck Lurches, Kills Driver Nearby 2025-02-10T08:10:00+00:00
   851 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
   A box truck, left parked on Avenue of the Americas, lurched forward and struck a 33-year-old man behind the wheel of another vehicle. He wore a harness. He did not move again. Cold air hung over the still street.
   According to the police report, a box truck parked near 851 Avenue of the Americas suddenly lurched north and struck a 33-year-old man who was behind the wheel of another vehicle. The man, identified as the driver and sole occupant, wore a lap belt and harness but was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at 8:10 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical lapse in driver vigilance. The truck, registered in Ohio and operated by a licensed driver from Louisiana, was supposed to be stationary but instead moved forward, causing fatal impact. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the dangers posed by large vehicles left unattended on city streets.
5. Bus Strikes Man Off Roadway on Fifth Avenue 2025-01-26T21:34:00+00:00
   5 AVE
   A southbound bus slammed into a 39-year-old man near East 51st Street. The right front bumper hit with force. The man, not in the roadway, died at the scene. Steel and speed left no chance. The city’s danger is relentless.
   A 39-year-old man was killed when a southbound bus struck him near Fifth Avenue and East 51st Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 21:34. The report states, 'A southbound bus struck a 39-year-old man who was not in the roadway. The right front bumper hit him. He died at the scene. His body bore the full weight of steel and speed.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The bus was traveling straight ahead when its right front bumper made contact with the pedestrian. The victim was not in the roadway at the time of impact. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the lethal outcome underscores the ever-present risk posed by large vehicles in dense urban environments. Victim behavior is not cited as a contributing factor.