Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island: Traffic Crash Statistics

Recent severe crashes

1. Taxi driver hit pedestrian outside crosswalk 2025-08-30T05:03:00+00:00
   YORK AVE
   The driver of a southbound taxi struck a male pedestrian outside the crosswalk on York Avenue at East 72nd. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries and died. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.
   A southbound taxi struck a male pedestrian outside an intersection on York Avenue at East 72nd. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to the entire body and was killed. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Data show the taxi was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end, with damage to the right front bumper. Police listed driver error: Failure to Yield Right-of-Way, and an additional factor recorded as Unspecified. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was in the roadway. No data indicate fault by the victim.
2. Taxi Strikes Elderly Woman, SUV Rolls Over Her 2025-02-05T17:41:00+00:00
   YORK AVE
   A ninety-year-old woman stepped off the curb on York Avenue. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed. She lay still. Two drivers kept straight. They did not see. She died on the street.
   According to the police report, a ninety-year-old woman was killed on York Avenue near East 72nd Street when she was struck by a taxi and then run over by an SUV. The crash occurred at 17:41 in Manhattan. The report states, 'she stepped off the curb, alone, no signal. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. Both vehicles, a taxi and an SUV, were traveling straight ahead. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The drivers 'did not see' her, according to the narrative. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No driver errors beyond inattention/distraction are cited in the report.
3. Tesla Speeding on FDR Drive Ejects Infant 2025-02-04T02:44:00+00:00
   FDR DRIVE
   A Tesla tore down FDR Drive at unsafe speed. Metal screamed. A baby girl, unbelted, was thrown from the car and killed. The sedan crumpled. The road bore witness. No warning, no mercy, only silence and wreckage.
   According to the police report, a Tesla sedan traveling north on FDR Drive crashed at 2:44 a.m. The report states the vehicle was moving at 'unsafe speed.' The impact left the sedan demolished. A baby girl, listed as an occupant, was ejected from the vehicle and died on impact, her injuries described as affecting her 'entire body.' The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. No seatbelt was used, as noted in the report. The narrative describes the scene as the Tesla 'slammed at speed,' resulting in the infant's death. The focus remains on the excessive speed and the catastrophic consequences that followed.
4. Sedan Driver Rear-Ends Motorcyclist on 59th 2025-10-16T16:09:00+00:00
   217 E 59 ST
   Both headed east on 59th. A sedan driver hit a motorcyclist from behind near 217 East 59th Street in Manhattan. The rider suffered leg lacerations. Police recorded driver inattention.
   At 4:09 p.m. on October 16, 2025, both vehicles traveled east near 217 East 59th Street in Manhattan. The driver of a sedan hit the back of a motorcycle that was going straight. The 35-year-old rider was injured with severe lacerations to the lower leg and foot and was conscious. According to the police report, Driver Inattention/Distraction contributed to the crash. Impact entries list the motorcycle’s back end and the sedan’s left front bumper. The sedan showed no recorded damage. Other people in the report are listed with unspecified injuries. The rider took a rear-end hit while moving with traffic.
5. Driver Ejected, Bleeds After E 78th Crash 2025-07-09T10:19:00+00:00
   E 78 ST
   A 33-year-old male driver was ejected on E 78th at 3rd Avenue. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police listed Driver Inattention/Distraction. Helmet use was recorded.
   A 33-year-old male driver of an Other Motorized device listed as "Standing S" was injured on East 78th Street at 3rd Avenue. He was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" contributed to the crash. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver as the contributing factor. Helmet use was noted in the report. The vehicle was traveling north, going straight ahead; point of impact and damage were recorded at the center back end. No other injuries were listed.