Children Bleed, Politicians Stall: How Many More Must Die on Brooklyn’s Streets?

Sep 19 - Driver in a sedan collided with teen riders on a motorized device at E 17 St and Avenue N in Brooklyn. Both girls were ejected. One bled from the hip and leg. The other reported head pain.

A crash at E 17 St and Avenue N in Brooklyn involved a sedan and an other-motorized device. Two 15-year-old girls on the device were ejected. The teen driver suffered severe bleeding to the hip and upper leg. The teen passenger reported head pain. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Driver Inexperience." The crash record also lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" at the crash level. A New Jersey–registered 2008 Honda sedan was involved. Both units were recorded as going straight east before the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4843709 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Sep 15 - Two westbound drivers collided on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Rear impact. A 38-year-old driver suffered neck crush injuries and stayed conscious. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction. Another occupant’s status was unspecified.

Two sedans, both westbound on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, collided. A driver hit the back of another car, leaving center back-end damage on the lead sedan. A 38-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and reported crush injuries; he was conscious. Another 38-year-old occupant was listed with unspecified injury status. According to the police report, the crash happened at 5:35 p.m. and involved a Toyota and a Nissan. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction. One vehicle’s damage was logged at the center back end; the other showed no damage in the database entry. The report lists no pedestrians or cyclists and does not assign further causes beyond distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jul 24 - A distracted driver struck on 86th Street. A young woman suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The crash left her unconscious. Police cite driver inattention as the main cause.

A 24-year-old woman operating a motorized vehicle on 86th Street at West 7th Street in Brooklyn was severely injured. According to the police report, she suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other injuries were specified for the vehicle occupants. The data does not mention helmet use or signals as factors. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830338 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jul 9 - A masked moped rider struck Zhou Xie, 90, in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The rider fled. Xie died from head trauma. Police search for the driver. The street stayed silent. The city counts another loss.

NY Daily News (2025-07-09) reports Zhou Xie, 90, was killed by a hit-and-run moped rider while crossing E. 14th St. at Avenue U. Xie was in the crosswalk when a blue moped, driven by a masked man, hit him and fled. A witness said, "He hit the guy and he left." Police are searching for surveillance footage to identify the rider. The article notes 56 people have died in city traffic so far in 2025. The crash highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the challenge of enforcing safe streets.

• Moped Rider Kills Elderly Pedestrian In Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - A moped hit a 90-year-old man at Avenue U and E 14 St. The impact left him unconscious, bleeding from the head. Brooklyn pavement ran red. No driver errors listed. The city failed to protect him.

A 90-year-old pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding after a moped struck him at Avenue U and E 14 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the man was found unconscious at the intersection. The moped’s center front end took the impact. No specific driver errors were listed in the report; contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' The crash highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians at city intersections, especially the elderly. No helmet or signal use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826233 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jun 23 - A sedan struck a moped on Avenue N. A 17-year-old moped driver died. His 14-year-old passenger was ejected and injured. Police cite improper lane usage. Streets remain unforgiving.

A sedan collided with a moped at Avenue N and East 8th Street in Brooklyn. The crash killed a 17-year-old moped driver and left his 14-year-old passenger ejected and injured. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The sedan was making a left turn. The moped driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but the police report lists improper lane usage as the driver error. The crash shows the lethal risk faced by young riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jun 23 - Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.

• Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-23

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

Jun 15 - Metal tore metal on Coney Island Avenue. Three vehicles smashed. Passengers ejected, faces cut, bodies broken. Alcohol played its part. Sirens cut the night. Blood on the street. The city kept moving. The wounded waited for help.

A violent crash erupted at Coney Island Avenue and Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan, a pick-up truck, and several SUVs collided. Alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor. Fourteen people were involved. At least seven were injured, including passengers who suffered severe lacerations, fractures, and one who was ejected and left unconscious. Drivers and passengers reported pain, bleeding, and broken bones. The report states, 'Alcohol Involvement' as a cause. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The impact left bodies battered and the street scarred. The crash shows again how alcohol and speed turn steel into shrapnel, and people into casualties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820416 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jun 15 - Steel slammed steel in Brooklyn before dawn. A Chevy hit a Volvo, then a police car. Four people hurt. Two were NYPD. The driver of the Chevy was arrested. Sirens silent. Lights flashing. Streets left scarred.

ABC7 reported on June 15, 2025, that a three-car crash at Avenue U and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn injured four people, including two NYPD officers. The article states, “Police say a 25-year-old man was traveling north on Coney Island Avenue in a Chevrolet Suburban when he collided with the driver of a Volvo traveling west on Avenue U.” The impact pushed the Chevy into a marked police car, which had its lights on but no sirens. The 25-year-old Chevy driver was arrested at the scene. Both his passengers and two officers were hospitalized in stable condition. No injuries were reported in the Volvo. The incident highlights the dangers at busy intersections and the risks faced by all road users, including police. Authorities continue to investigate the cause.

• Brooklyn Three-Car Crash Injures Four, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 12 - A motorcycle and sedan crashed on Avenue P. The motorcyclist was ejected and killed. Police cite traffic control disregarded. The sedan driver survived. The street saw violence and loss. Metal twisted. One life ended. The city moves on.

A deadly crash unfolded on Avenue P at East 2nd Street in Brooklyn. A motorcycle, making a left turn, collided with a sedan going straight. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The 42-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and killed, suffering head and crush injuries. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was uninjured. The motorcycle operator was unlicensed. No helmet use or signaling was cited as a factor. The report does not specify which driver disregarded traffic control. The crash left one dead and others shaken. The street bears the mark of another violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jun 4 - SUV struck parked sedan in Brooklyn. Driver suffered severe head lacerations. Police cite alcohol involvement. Streets remain hostile for all.

An SUV crashed into a parked sedan at 290 West End Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver, a 42-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations and was incoherent at the scene. According to the police report, alcohol involvement contributed to the crash. The sedan was unoccupied. No other injuries were reported. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817800 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jun 3 - An 87-year-old man stood near a Brooklyn corner. An MTA bus turned left. The bus struck him. He was pinned beneath its weight. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The street stayed quiet. The driver waited for police.

Gothamist reported on June 3, 2025, that an MTA bus struck an 87-year-old man at East 12th Street and Avenue Z in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Police said the man was 'standing near the corner when the driver made a left onto the avenue and hit him.' The man was pinned under the bus and taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition. The 34-year-old driver remained at the scene and was later taken to Coney Island Medical Center. The bus was not in service and had no passengers. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the risks at intersections and the consequences of left turns by large vehicles in city streets.

• MTA Bus Pins Elderly Man In Brooklyn, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-03

May 16 - Two sedans crashed at Avenue X. One driver suffered neck and crush injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal twisted. Streets failed to forgive.

Two sedans collided near 319 Avenue X in Brooklyn. A 32-year-old woman driving a Jeep sedan was injured, suffering neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The impact left one driver hurt while others escaped serious injury. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

May 14 - Victims and advocates marched to Albany. They demanded action for safer streets. Lawmakers split on bills: some backed speed controls, others balked. The Senate killed an anti-congestion bill. The fight for vulnerable lives pressed on, urgent and raw.

On May 14, 2025, victims of road violence and Families for Safe Streets lobbied at the State Capitol for the SAFE Streets Package. This package includes the 'Idaho stop' bill and the 'Stop Super-Speeders' bill. The event saw support from several Assembly members and a senator for speed controls, while Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assembly Member Michael Novakhov opposed the super speeder bill, citing government overreach. Sen. Leroy Comrie opposed the Idaho stop bill, citing concerns for seniors. Separately, Senate bill S533, which aimed to block congestion pricing, was defeated in the Senate Transportation Committee. Chair Jeremy Cooney stressed, 'You have to have a plan. If you don’t have a plan, what are [you] doing to get the $15 billion revenue?' The day highlighted the rift between safety demands and political resistance, with victims' voices at the center.

• Pain Points: Victims of Road Violence Make Annual Pilgrimage to Demand Safe Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

Apr 16 - A new map exposes the city’s worst drivers. Ten repeat offenders rack up hundreds of speed-camera tickets. Fines do nothing. Advocates demand action. The Stop Super Speeders Bill would force speed limiters on these drivers. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay deadly.

The Stop Super Speeders Bill (S7621) is under debate. It would require speed limiter technology for drivers with six or more automated enforcement tickets in a year. The bill is supported by Amber Adler of Families for Safe Streets and Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives, who call out the deadly pattern of repeat offenders. Furnas says, 'These results point to a small population with a shocking pattern of recidivism, resistance to traditional deterrents, and disregard for human life.' Adler points to a recent fatal crash by a repeat offender as proof of legislative failure. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov opposes the bill, claiming six tickets is not excessive. The NYPD withholds license plate data, blocking public scrutiny. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program has expired, leaving no replacement. Advocates say the bill is urgent to stop the next tragedy.

• Map Quest: Meet The City’s Most Dangerous Drivers (And Where They’re Preying On You), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 4 - Ocean Parkway cuts through Brooklyn like a wound. Six lanes, fast cars, old design. State and city spent millions. Speed cameras blink. Still, people die. Politicians block real change. Residents demand more. Enforcement alone fails. The danger remains. Blood stains the asphalt.

"Assembly Member Michael Novakhov recently told Streetsblog he thinks the speed limit is too slow on Ocean Parkway." -- Misha Novakhov

On April 4, 2025, public debate erupted over Ocean Parkway’s safety. The matter, described as 'Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Vision Zero Era State Ocean Parkway Fixes,' highlights the failure of current efforts. Despite millions spent on speed cameras and signals, the six-lane highway remains deadly. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov called for higher speed limits. State Senator Simcha Felder pushed for a 30 mph limit, above the citywide standard. Advocates like Jon Orcutt demand deeper redesigns—lane reductions, pedestrian islands. Residents and experts say enforcement alone cannot save lives. Local opposition and political power block bold changes. The city DOT promises more work, but the danger persists. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Vision? Zero: Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Efforts to Make Ocean Parkway Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 1 - A driver struck a family on Ocean Parkway. A mother and two young daughters died. Their son fights for life. The accused, Miriam Yarimi, faces manslaughter charges. She remains in custody at Bellevue Hospital, awaiting arraignment by video.

According to the New York Post (April 1, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 35, is charged with manslaughter after a crash on Ocean Parkway killed Natasha Saada, 32, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Debra, 5. Their 4-year-old son, Philip, was critically injured. The article reports Yarimi 'allegedly told first responders at the scene that she was "possessed."' Yarimi is being held at Bellevue Hospital and will be arraigned by video. The crash highlights the lethal risk to pedestrians and children on city streets. No details are given about traffic conditions or vehicle speed. The case raises questions about driver fitness and systemic safeguards, as Yarimi had prior police encounters and was under psychiatric evaluation months before the crash.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-04-01

Apr 1 - After a crash killed a mother and two daughters in Gravesend, advocates and Council Member Shahana Hanif rallied for the Stop Super Speeders bill. The law would force repeat reckless drivers to use speed-limiting tech. Survivors demand action. Lawmakers promise change.

On April 1, 2025, Council Member Shahana Hanif joined a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall demanding passage of the Stop Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored in Albany by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would require drivers with repeated violations to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These devices cap speed at 5 mph over the limit for those with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six camera tickets in a year. The rally followed a fatal Gravesend crash that killed a mother and her two daughters. Hanif and other lawmakers called current enforcement—ticketing, suspensions, fines, jail—ineffective. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, 'The speed limiter technology is available to us. Let’s use it. It will save lives.' The bill is modeled on EU and Virginia laws. Some opposition remains, but supporters say the measure is urgent and practical.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Street safety advocates demand passage of ‘Stop Super Speeders’ bill after tragic Gravesend crash, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-04-01