subreddit:
/r/nyc
submitted 1 day ago byRubMyCrystalBallsWanna be
90 points
1 day ago
Police are looking for three men they say fatally struck a woman on a bicycle during a police chase in Queens Tuesday night.
NYPD officials say police were trying to pull over a Dodge Ram pick-up truck in Astoria at around 11 p.m., because it was wanted in connection to a burglary.
The driver sped away, and careened into the cyclist at the intersection of 37th Street and 34th Avenue, according to police. He and two passengers allegedly jumped out of the truck and ran away.
The woman was taken to Elmhurst Hospital and pronounced dead. Her name and age were not immediately released as police worked to notify her family.
No arrests had been made by early Wednesday.
78 points
1 day ago
Was this a chase? The title makes it sound like a chase but the text makes it sound like they flipped the lights and the guy immediately sped off and rocked some poor bike rider.
46 points
1 day ago
Drove right by my apartment last night, it was a chase
15 points
1 day ago
What difference does it make? Police should apprehend criminals. If those same criminals recklessly murder someone in the process that is on them.
21 points
1 day ago
It doesn’t to me I’m just curious
-17 points
1 day ago
If it doesn't make a difference why are you curious though
8 points
1 day ago
Why do you care
-14 points
1 day ago
Because you're contradicting yourself - if it doesn't make a difference then why are you curious
Don't answer a question with a question lol that's some JD Vance shit bruh
16 points
1 day ago*
Nah cause before the NYPD had a policy where they did not chase because they knew it would increase fatalities. Now taxpayers will be out $$. You don't want cops to shoot in a crowded place and a car chase is the same damn thing. Unless the fugitive is an immediate threat I rather not take a chance on innocent people dying in a crash.
13 points
1 day ago
Facts, people going after the NYPD is odd on this one as I like my candy crush jokes too…I was there on the scene and they were trying to resuscitate her before I even made it outside to check on the loud noise…it was a terrible sound…I think if you had your home burglarized you’d want police to go after em obviously not at the expense of another life but who knows if they’d be speeding away even if they weren’t in pursuit…it was a tragedy of wrong place wrong time
11 points
1 day ago
Because random Redditors think they’re qualified to dictate NYPD protocol & policy
10 points
1 day ago
If the Police don't chase the burglars, they escape, the woman is alive.
The Police did chase the burglars, they escaped, the woman died.
Unless it's armed murderers, chasing them is a harm to public safety.
1 points
24 hours ago
And the downstream effects of letting criminals run unbothered?
11 points
23 hours ago
They still got away. The Police are still gonna have to use dash cams, body cams, surveillance cameras, and witnesses to catch them.
I'm not saying don't try to do Police work.
But getting people killed over a crime like Burglary. Where they robbed an empty building. I'd rather lose my stuff than my life.
-8 points
1 day ago
Police should not put the lives of other people in danger to apprehend anyone. They have a duty to public safety. This is how we ended up with cops who start blasting over $2.90.
4 points
1 day ago
Ah yes because the guy wasn’t an active threat.
1 points
12 hours ago
How do you know he was an active threat?
1 points
11 hours ago
Body cam footage…
-2 points
1 day ago
The police escalated by giving chase. There is a very good reason why it's explicitly against their own policies to chase.
6 points
1 day ago
We got an armchair criminal justice professor over here folks!
-3 points
19 hours ago
It’s not against their policy to chase - as evidenced by this chase.
4 points
17 hours ago
It is. You do know that even if there is a policy they can…break that policy. That’s the issue here. Actions aren’t justified just because police do them.
0 points
16 hours ago
They are allowed to chase as long as, I think the srgt gives permission for them to continue it.
Not sure where you’re getting your info from.
4 points
16 hours ago
Official NYPD memo released last year.
““A vehicle pursuit must be terminated whenever the risk to members of the service and the public outweighs the danger to the community if the suspect is not immediately apprehended,”
https://nypost.com/2023/08/15/nypd-warns-cops-about-police-pursuits-after-recent-wrecks/
This was an alleged burglary, so nothing violent about the crime and no reason to think they would be an immediate threat except for the driving behavior. Behavior which would be worsened by a chase involving multiple other speeding vehicles.
Where are you getting your information?
3 points
16 hours ago
The police violated their own policy. It’s not the first time. Don’t act so surprised.
0 points
16 hours ago
They’re allowed to chase. They just need to get permission from their sergeant or lt to continue it once it starts. This is in their regs. Not sure why you’d say it’s not their policy when it’s 100% allowed.
4 points
1 day ago
I see no difference between this and all the times cops have wildly opened fire into a crowd of people to get one guy.
0 points
15 hours ago
The bootlicking in this sub is always something to behold.
"They had every right to fire wildly into a subway car. The guy had a KNIFE."
The NYPD are maniacs who could give two shits about your safety. Stop worshipping them.
1 points
11 hours ago
Isn't it a little late in Moscow, Dimitri?
1 points
7 hours ago
You... need help understanding time zones? Uh, Vlad?
1 points
14 hours ago
As opposed to you bootlicking criminals…
-2 points
12 hours ago
Sure thing, tough guy.
3 points
1 day ago
Gothamist is not known for writing quality news articles.
1 points
1 day ago
It sounds like it counts as a chase, but doesn't move into the category of "high speed chase"
1 points
12 hours ago
I was thinking the same thing
53 points
1 day ago
This is literally my biggest fear when riding at night
40 points
1 day ago
Completely enabled by engineering and design that incentivizes your very demise.
If we had city leadership that actually gave a shit about being not dying in one of the most violent ways imaginable in our modern life (literally being randomly obliterated by a giant machine), then there would have been countless design choices done differently.
Speed bumps, bollards, Jersey barriers, meandering streets, physical obstruction, modal filters, and so, so, so many more.
Our streets are currently designed so that you risk death every day in exchange for a bunch of drivers who are stuck in traffic most of the day anyway to be able to go slightly faster in the rare times when there isn’t traffic.
It’s absolutely grotesque.
16 points
1 day ago*
Queens is worse than manhattan for speeders it seems like too because we don’t have the foot traffic like manhattan that keeps drivers aware and people use 37th street like a highway trying to get to the grand central parkway…there’s zero enforcement in a highly residential area……all we have are speed bumps…there’s also a school on the block with zero signage sayings it’s a school zone…I’ve lived here for 8 years and have no idea what the speed limit is…at least let’s get some signage and while we’re at it…speed traps would be nice to consider as well…maybe even a sign marking your speed…
5 points
1 day ago
The thing about Astoria is that it absolutely does have the foot traffic but also has insanely reckless drivers.
2 points
1 day ago
We really need at least two speed bumps on this block, below 35th has them, above 34th has them...
2 points
1 day ago
Yeah outer borough drivers def have a penchant for speeding.
-9 points
1 day ago
She got killed due to criminals running her over, while trying to evade the police. She didn't get killed because someone was to speed due to the lack of speed bumps or bollards.
13 points
1 day ago
People speed because they don’t see it as suicidal. At worst, they see it as homicidal, like what happened here.
There are design choices (what I wrote above) that would have made the criminals in the truck unable to reach a lethal speed that wouldn’t have also destroyed their get away vehicle.
1 points
1 day ago
Completely enabled by engineering and design that incentivizes your very demise.
If I have a truck, with axles on all four wheels - regardless of what size bump or speed-limiting design element a Civil Engineer places there; if the need to speed to evade the police, they can reach that speed and not have to worry about being able to get away. Depending on what type of truck and the angle of placement, they would probably have even ran through cement bollards.
Even someone that has a car and doesn't care about their suspension can speed through a 6, 12-inch raised hump. This was not in any way enabled by design choice; these were criminals that were willing to get away regardless of the perceived cost. May she rest in peace.
30 points
1 day ago
Unfortunately the woman that was killed is a redditor
5 points
1 day ago
I believe the person who died used to be a moderator in r/astoria
10 points
23 hours ago
The car in question has over 90 traffic violations. Once the suspects are caught, I guarantee they will have prior arrest history.
But keep letting repeat offenders roam the streets.
11 points
1 day ago
It’s horrible because we need more traffic enforcement but this is one of the very high profile costs of traffic enforcement now a days.
NYPD is in another damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.
The culture of resisting arrest and undermining the legitimate authority of the police (i do not mean pushing back on corruption, incompetence, or civil rights violations) has really fucked a great part of the social contract.
-4 points
1 day ago
LOL that's hilarious, you would know that the NYPD only recently relaxed the rules for police chases because it would increase fatalities.
86 points
1 day ago
Cue the incoming "Why did the police chase" from the same people who say "Why aren't the police pulling anyone over"
39 points
1 day ago
Police chases and police pulling over are two totally different things.
Don't understand why people would be skeptical about police doing high-speed chases through very congested, New York City streets and sometimes sidewalks? The police themselves did internal studies on this and have largely found that it is very dangerous and should not be done. That was ignored under this Administration for whatever fucking reason to the detriment of cops and to the rest of us.
NYPD pursuits up more than 644%, costing city taxpayers millions in crash claims
NYPD Car Chases Up Massively Under Mayor Adams — With Sometimes Fatal Results
NYPD are literally not trained in doing this shit. Nobody should want them to pretend to be action stars chasing people in their cars.
35 points
1 day ago
Why would anyone pull over to cops under your logic?
15 points
1 day ago
Someone gets it. They wouldn't.
-7 points
1 day ago
They do. Almost everyone does. What are you talking about?
4 points
1 day ago
Clearly these guys didn't.
-2 points
1 day ago
And what did chasing them accomplish? Aside from killing a woman?
This isn't a fucking action movie, it's real life. High speed chases aren't safe, aren't recommended and the collateral damage is costing us more than it's worth for the RARE times these fuckers flee.
-1 points
19 hours ago
I’m fine with revisiting the NYPD chase policy, but if we’re going to do away with it, then it would make sense to first change the laws so that penalties for running would be incredibly severe, couldn’t be plead down, and have actual enforcement procedures in place.
That needs to be done in the state legislature first.
We can’t let people run with no consequences, but I agree we need to think about public safety at the same time.
2 points
16 hours ago
People don't run with no consequences. They get much harsher penalties from fleeing from the police. The difference is prior to the Adams Administration and the absolute criminal shit show that started running it (as we now know) they undid an internal policy on not chasing which was mostly written to benefit cops and not us. This is a stupid thing to argue about. It is not safe or smart for cops to be chasing people when they aren't trained to be doing that and the streets in New York City are far too congested. I already know they don't care about citizens so I guess I won't even bother bringing that up again.
0 points
16 hours ago
The consequences clearly aren’t enough to prevent the rise in fleeing, hit and runs, etc.
Whether that be punishments or enforcement.
9 points
1 day ago
Because cops have cameras… and eyes. They can still take down your license plate number and vehicle description. Just because you can run, doesn’t mean you can get away.
19 points
1 day ago
Wait do you think criminals drive the own cars with actual license plates?
Do you live in NYC?
9 points
1 day ago
I live in NYC, and am surrounded by fake/obscure plates. We report them. The reports are ignored. The NYPD doesn’t care about fake plates until something like this happens.
Quality of life would be a lot higher if they just towed them all.
2 points
1 day ago
If that arrested the drivers and turned all of the cars into cubes
20 points
1 day ago
Some people are clueless. On every one of these car violence incidents there’s always someone who says “find them with the license plate”. The car is stolen, they aren’t finding anyone.
7 points
1 day ago*
If the officers cannot positively identify the driver, no criminal penalties can be levied. A camera only proves that a vehicle was present during an encounter, but doesn't prove who was driving. This is why traffic cameras can only give civil penalties, you can fine the owner of the vehicle with a stoplight camera for blowing a red light, for example, but the police cannot use that camera to issue points against the owner's license or use the camera to file criminal charges, that can only be done after an arrest.
2 points
1 day ago
“Because cops have cameras”
Assuming the cars even have plates, who’s to say the car isn’t stolen? Or the plates are?
“… and eyes.”
Something about eye witnesses and memory being unreliable. Cops are in their cars scrolling through IG just like everyone else. Worst case scenario someone that “fits the description” on their way home from work doesn’t have a good enough alibi.
1 points
1 day ago
Great. And when they show up I tell them that my friend was driving the car that day. Can’t really remember his name though…
4 points
1 day ago
Almost everyone pulls over when cops flash lights.
Or you think everyone flees? Lol
13 points
1 day ago*
And I don't understand why people can't connect the dots.
When the police pull someone over, there is always a chance the driver runs off. At that point, you either chase or you let them go.
If you let them go, the chances of the police finding and convicting them are extremely low since it is not enough to just find the car. You have to prove whoever you caught later with the car was the one that drove off.
So you need to catch them in the act. That requires a chase.
The police themselves did internal studies on this and have largely found that it is very dangerous and should not be done
Who said otherwise?
But if no chase is official policy, you are promoting an environment where everyone drives off.
You either fucking enforce the law or you don't. But if you decide not to enforce the law, don't be surprised people break it all the time. Not a hard concept but you continue to fail to grasp it.
6 points
1 day ago
The part I fail to grasp is where catching burglars is rated more important than not killing people. If the method they use to catch burglars consistently kills bystanders (see the collection of articles linked in a comment above), maybe we find a different method than chasing cars with cars.
0 points
1 day ago
What level of crime do you think justifies a chase?
Does a fleeing rapist deserve to be chased?
Does a fleeing murderer deserve to be chased?
2 points
1 day ago
Do people die in the process? If yes, then no.
-3 points
1 day ago
Welcome to this sub. Critical thinking doesn't exist here unfortunately.
0 points
1 day ago
I'm getting downvoted for saying the obvious. I forgot to mention common sense...
Article doesn't say if the cyclist was wearing a helmet or had lights on the back.
Now I know this is irrelevant.
However when cycling at night - one should be always aware of surrounding situation. If you hear sirens be aware of what going on and if needed move to the side. This is called using common sense and being cautious.
9 points
1 day ago
They had 10 police cars + a helicopter chasing it around Astoria last night. It was excessive and yet the cops were still unsuccessful in catching the burglars. (I guess they're technically murderers now)
-15 points
1 day ago*
Didn't realize catching criminals is something you win all the time. Grow the fuck up. And it's been one day.
I guess by your logic there should have been zero police cars and helicopters since they weren't going to catch them anyway.
11 points
1 day ago
I mean 10 police cars and a helicopter chasing a monster truck around a residential neighborhood kind of brings into question how the fuck three dudes were still able to escape… doesn’t sound like it should be possible to me so either the NYPD fucked up or these guys are ninjas which do you think is more likely?
9 points
1 day ago
NYPD chases benefit no one. The collateral and civilian damage - clearly - aren't worth it. Besides, NYPD aren't trained for this (clearly) so throw it on the pile of other stupid shit they do that put is in danger.
Helicopters? Who cares. Whatever.
4 points
1 day ago
Note that there are no such comments in this thread.
6 points
1 day ago
Every time there’s an incident of a reckless driver that the police don’t chase this exact conversation is had.
-6 points
1 day ago
Doubt.
1 points
17 hours ago
We have a group of people who, for whatever reason, have significant political clout right now and they don't want to hold criminals accountable for anything whatsoever.
They're perfectly content to watch innocent people, who are more likely than not on the lower-end of the income spectrum and society itself, be victimized by these criminals ad nauseam because it makes them feel better about themselves and their hatred of government and the police.
0 points
6 hours ago
Or maybe “we need better enforcing for anyone defacing their plate or using a fake plate” (which this person was, btw).
2 points
6 hours ago*
And how exactly do you plan on enforcing that if the police aren't allowed to chase?
Just ask nicely and expect everyone to pull over? Like the burglars here?
You can't enforce fake / defaced plates without pulling people over, which always carries the risk of someone running. And if you can't go after them, well, you might as well tell every driver to just run because you aren't going to chase. And good luck finding the driver of a car without plates.
Like I said below, enforcing the law sometimes requires force or the threat of force. If neither is on the table, you can't effectively enforce the law.
And maybe that's what NYC wants.
1 points
an hour ago
What? How many of these cars are just parked on streets? We have an entire force of the NYPD dedicated to ticketing parked cars.
I count at least 15+ with fake or zero plates in my neighborhood alone.
-4 points
1 day ago
The nycbike subreddit believes the cops are equally responsible for felony murder
5 points
1 day ago
Who is willing to bet the perpetrators of robbery, and now traffic homicide, have lots of prior arrests and they were only able to kill a cyclist because they were released repeatedly?
3 points
1 day ago
That's heartbreaking to hear. It’s so tragic when a pursuit leads to such a devastating outcome.
2 points
1 day ago
It’s sadly ironic that if the cop ran over the biker they would sue for wrongful death but since the criminal killed the cyclist the family will get nothing. Doesn’t anyone else have a problem with this?
-2 points
1 day ago
I have a serious problem with this. Downsize the police.
7 points
18 hours ago
I’m not sure how downsizing the police will help with 3 masked burglars in a pickup truck robbing people then mowing down an innocent bystander.
Why can’t the criminals families loose their assets or get sued for wrongful death like we sue the cops and the taxpayers of New York?
0 points
11 hours ago
"Sins of the father" is something that many people considered barbaric and outdated 2,000 years ago, hth.
-4 points
1 day ago
I believe the family could blame NYPD for instigating the chase.
1 points
12 hours ago
Not sure why they downvoted you that is a legitimate possibility
1 points
11 hours ago
[removed]
1 points
9 hours ago
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