Eastern Parkway’s toll: a boy, an elder, and the corners that don’t forgive

Aug 12 - The driver of an unlicensed e-bike turned right on Bedford Ave at Lincoln Rd and hit a cyclist going straight. The 34-year-old rider was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations. Police cited failure to yield.

The driver of an unlicensed e-bike made a right turn on Bedford Avenue at Lincoln Road and hit a cyclist who was traveling straight. The 34-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations; he remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report records the point of impact as the e-bike’s center front end against the bicycle’s left front. The e-bike operator is listed as unlicensed. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 4 - A northbound driver going straight hit a man in the Crown Street and Rogers Avenue intersection. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic control disregarded by the driver. The man suffered crush injuries to his face and stayed conscious.

A 43-year-old man was hurt while crossing at Crown Street and Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a northbound driver going straight hit him in the intersection. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Traffic Control Disregarded by the driver as contributing factors. The man suffered crush injuries to his face and remained conscious at the scene. No details were provided about the vehicle type, registration, or the driver. The report places the man in the intersection at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 22 - A 10-year-old boy lay unconscious after an SUV hit him on Eastern Parkway. The crash left him with head and crush injuries. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A 10-year-old pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries after being struck by a station wagon/SUV on Eastern Parkway at Albany Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing outside a signal or crosswalk when the westbound SUV hit him with its left front bumper. The boy was found unconscious at the scene. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No injuries were reported for the driver or vehicle occupants. The report does not specify any driver errors or violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 10 - The driver of an SUV hit a bicyclist at Bergen Street and New York Avenue. The 31-year-old man was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding and arm injuries. Three SUV occupants were unhurt.

The driver of an SUV, traveling west on Bergen Street, struck a bicyclist riding north at New York Avenue. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding to his elbow/lower arm/hand. Three occupants in the SUV were not injured. “According to the police report,” contributing factors were recorded as "Unspecified." The report does not list any driver errors. Police logged the SUV point of impact as center front end and the bicycle point of impact as the right front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 6 - SUV slammed center front on Brooklyn Ave. Driver lost consciousness. Passenger suffered head injury, severe bleeding. Police cite illness as cause. Streets remain unforgiving.

A station wagon SUV struck hard at the center front on Brooklyn Avenue in Brooklyn. One passenger, age 65, suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, the driver lost consciousness due to illness, leading to the crash. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' and 'Illnes' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The streets showed no mercy to those inside the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 29 - An SUV hit and killed an eight-year-old boy as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood washed from the street. The boy died at the hospital. The crash left a family and a community shattered.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), an eight-year-old boy was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street in Crown Heights. The article states, "A black Honda Pilot slammed into eight-year-old Mordechai Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway at Albany Street at 5:33 p.m." The 69-year-old driver remained at the scene and was not arrested. The crash is under investigation. The incident highlights the ongoing danger for pedestrians in Brooklyn, especially at busy intersections. No charges have been filed, and officials cleaned the scene in accordance with religious customs.

• SUV Strikes Boy Crossing Eastern Parkway, New York Post, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 28 - An SUV hit an eight-year-old boy at the intersection of Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway. The child died. Police cite obstructed view as a factor. The driver was going straight. The street claimed another life.

An eight-year-old boy was killed when a station wagon/SUV struck him at the intersection of Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was heading south and hit the child with the right front bumper. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. The child suffered fatal head injuries. The driver, a 69-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the danger when visibility is compromised and large vehicles move through city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823788 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 25 - Albany stalled. Lawmakers dragged their feet. No new laws for safer streets. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. The car stays king. The status quo kills. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

""Sometimes we can’t account for whether or not the trucks actually got down the block, or whether or not cars are obstructing them," Cunningham told Streetsblog. "That destroys our catch basins because they don’t get clean."" -- Brian Cunningham

The 2025 Albany legislative session ended June 25, with lawmakers failing to pass key street safety bills. The Streetsblog NYC report reads: "Our elected officials in Albany have failed the livable streets movement again." Despite support for measures like speed camera reauthorization, most bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists died in committee or never reached the floor. Assembly Member Amy Sohn and others criticized the lack of action. The only major win was extending the city’s speed camera program. A safety analyst notes: 'Failure to advance livable streets policies likely maintains the status quo, which typically prioritizes car-centric infrastructure and neglects the safety and needs of pedestrians and cyclists.' The session’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No progress. No protection.

• D-Minus! The Albany Report Card for 2025, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 8 - SUV turned left. Struck a 101-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She bled from the head. Driver unlicensed. Streetlights blinked. Pain stayed.

A 101-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing Brooklyn Ave at Montgomery St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV turned left and hit her as she crossed with the signal. She suffered a head injury but remained conscious. The driver was unlicensed and unhurt. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804451 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 29 - A box truck edged to the curb on East New York Avenue. Its front bumper struck a man in the street. His arm was crushed. He stood, conscious, pain etched on his face. The truck’s engine idled beside him.

According to the police report, a box truck was 'entering parked position' near 728 East New York Avenue when its front bumper struck a 38-year-old man standing in the street. The impact crushed the man’s arm, causing significant injury. The report states the pedestrian remained upright and conscious, suffering from pain and crush injuries. Contributing factors listed in the report include 'Other Vehicular' and 'View Obstructed/Limited,' highlighting the truck driver’s failure to maintain clear awareness and control while maneuvering toward the curb. The pedestrian’s actions are described only as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with no indication from the police report that these contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the truck’s movement and the systemic dangers posed by large vehicles operating in close proximity to people outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802462 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 10 - A Jeep tore into a parked Infiniti on Albany Avenue. The driver, a 52-year-old man, sat silent and bleeding from the head. Metal and glass marked the street. The city’s silence pressed in. Emergency lights flickered on Clarkson.

According to the police report, a Jeep traveling south on Albany Avenue near Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked Infiniti. The impact was severe enough that a Toyota sedan followed, colliding as well. The report states that a 52-year-old male driver, belted and behind the wheel, suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was in shock. The narrative describes the scene as tense and silent, with the injured man remaining motionless. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The Jeep sustained center front-end damage, while the Infiniti was struck in the center back end. No errors or dangerous behaviors are attributed to the victim in the report. The focus remains on the violent impact and the resulting injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 4 - Southbound Infiniti struck a 31-year-old cyclist on Albany Avenue. Metal tore flesh. Shoulder crushed. Darkness swallowed the scene. Traffic control disregarded. The cyclist stayed conscious, pain radiating in the quiet Brooklyn night.

A 31-year-old man riding a bike was struck by the right front bumper of a southbound Infiniti sedan on Albany Avenue near Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:19 a.m. and involved a clear violation: 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The report states, 'A man on a bike, 31, struck by the right front bumper of a southbound Infiniti. Shoulder crushed. He stayed conscious. Traffic control ignored.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his upper arm and shoulder but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists no contributing factors for the cyclist, placing the cause squarely on the driver’s failure to obey traffic control. The impact left the street quiet, the danger unaddressed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784013 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Nov 23 - A Dodge sedan turned left at Winthrop and New York. Its bumper cracked the head of a 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the street. The car rolled on, unscathed. She did not.

At the intersection of Winthrop Street and New York Avenue in Brooklyn, a Dodge sedan making a left turn struck a 75-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the collision occurred when the sedan's left front bumper hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, explicitly citing the driver's error in not yielding to a pedestrian lawfully crossing. 'View Obstructed/Limited' is also listed as a contributing factor. The police narrative states, 'A Dodge sedan turned left. A 75-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The bumper struck her head. She bled on the street. The car was fine. She was not.' The pedestrian was conscious but suffered a head injury. The vehicle sustained no damage, underscoring the disparity in harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775697 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 5 - A man on a moped sped down Albany Avenue. He lost control, was thrown, and struck his head. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The streetlights blinked. He lay unconscious, alone, while traffic moved past in the Brooklyn night.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old man was traveling south on Albany Avenue near Prospect Place on a moped when he lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. The report states the driver was 'helmetless,' and suffered a severe head injury, bleeding on the roadway and rendered unconscious. The police cite 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report notes the driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the incident. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'He was thrown, struck his head, and bled on the asphalt. Unconscious. Alone. The streetlights blinked. The traffic kept moving.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 25 - A pick-up truck turned left and hit two men crossing Troy Avenue in a marked crosswalk. Blood pooled on the street. Both men stood, conscious but wounded, heads bleeding. The truck’s front end bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck making a left turn at Troy Avenue and Rutland Road in Brooklyn struck two male pedestrians, ages 38 and 77, as they crossed in a marked crosswalk. Both men suffered head injuries and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, highlighting critical driver errors. The truck’s center front end was damaged from the collision, underscoring the force of the impact. The police narrative describes blood running from the victims’ heads as they stood, injured. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor in the report. The crash occurred at 19:05, further emphasizing the danger faced by pedestrians in crosswalks when drivers disregard traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 12 - A 41-year-old man riding east on an e-bike tore open his hip near East 40th Street. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright as streetlights flickered. The night continued. The crash left him injured and unlicensed, the danger undiminished.

A 41-year-old man was injured while riding an e-bike eastbound on Clarkson Avenue near East 40th Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the rider was unlicensed and suffered severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. 'His hip split open. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright. The streetlights flickered. The night did not stop,' the narrative reads. No other vehicles or persons were listed as involved. The police report does not cite any driver errors or contributing factors beyond the rider's unlicensed status. There is no mention of helmet use or other victim behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 4 - An 85-year-old man crossing Albany Avenue fell beneath a Ford pickup’s right front. Blood pooled as dusk settled. The truck’s force left him semiconscious, his head crushed, the street marked by violence and steel.

An 85-year-old pedestrian was struck by a northbound Ford pickup truck on Albany Avenue near Hawthorne Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the man was crossing without a signal when the vehicle’s right front quarter panel struck his head, causing crush injuries and leaving him semiconscious and bleeding on the pavement. The police narrative describes the scene: 'The truck’s right front crushed his head. He lay semiconscious on the pavement, bleeding into the dusk.' The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further details on driver behavior. The only mention of the pedestrian’s actions is that he was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' which is included after the account of the vehicle’s impact. The focus remains on the devastating outcome of the collision and the lethal force of the truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18