Blood on New Utrecht: Chang Blocks Safety, Neighbors Pay the Price

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

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 The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions.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

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 2025-06-12

SUV slammed into cyclist on 20th Ave. Police cite alcohol and ignored traffic control. Cyclist suffered face injuries. Streets stayed silent. Metal met flesh. System failed.

A 29-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV on 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver disregarded traffic control and alcohol was involved. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the face and was in shock. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. No helmet use was cited as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and operate vehicles under the influence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A pickup tore through parked cars on 67th Street. Alcohol played a role. One driver suffered back and crush injuries. The street bore the brunt. Metal twisted. Lives shaken.

A pickup truck crashed into several parked vehicles on 67th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. One 23-year-old male driver was injured, suffering back and crush injuries. Seven other occupants, including a child, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report states, “Alcohol Involvement” as the primary cause. Multiple parked cars, including SUVs and a motorcycle, were struck. The force of the crash left metal bent and people hurt. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man riding an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street. His face hit the pavement. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious, broken and bleeding, as dusk settled over Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV collided with a 47-year-old man operating an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The report states, 'A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man on an e-bike. His face hit first. Blood pooled on the pavement.' The victim suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Both vehicles were reported as 'going straight ahead' before the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the right front bumper, while the e-bike was struck on its left side. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no detail on the exact driver error, but the narrative centers the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the e-bike rider. Helmet use is noted only to state 'No helmet.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when a heavy vehicle meets a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 21-year-old on a moped crashed headfirst into a parked SUV on 20th Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The young man, helmetless, stayed conscious but gasped through pain. Unsafe speed drove the impact. The city’s pavement bore witness.

A violent collision unfolded on 20th Avenue near 66th Street in Brooklyn at 22:17, according to the police report. A 21-year-old moped driver, not wearing a helmet, struck the rear of a parked SUV. The police report states the moped 'slammed into the back of a parked SUV,' with the rider’s head taking the brunt of the impact and 'blood spilled on the pavement.' The rider suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The official contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed,' underscoring that excessive speed led directly to the crash. The report also notes the absence of safety equipment on the rider, but only after citing speed as the primary cause. The SUV was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 28-year-old man crashed his motorcycle into a car’s left side near 65th Street and 15th Avenue. Blood pooled from his hip and leg. He remained conscious as the engine cooled. The street fell silent, holding the weight of impact.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old man was riding his motorcycle eastbound near 65th Street and 15th Avenue in Brooklyn when he collided with the left side doors of a car. The report states the motorcyclist suffered severe bleeding from his hip and leg but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes, 'Blood poured from his hip and leg. He stayed awake. The engine cooled. The street held its breath.' The point of impact and vehicle damage were both recorded as the car’s left side doors. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and does not cite any specific driver errors. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but no victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the violence of impact and the vulnerability of those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A man crossed 19th Avenue with the light. A Honda hit him. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious, pain sharp and bright. The car showed no mark. The street bore the wound.

According to the police report, a man was crossing 19th Avenue at the intersection, moving with the signal, when a Honda struck him. The impact tore open his leg, causing severe bleeding. The report states the pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes, 'A Honda hit him. His leg tore open. Blood spread on the street. He stayed awake. The car bore no mark.' The vehicle, a Honda car or SUV, showed no visible damage. The report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but it explicitly states the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal.' The collision left the pedestrian with significant injuries to his lower leg and foot. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736270 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A woman riding rear on a bike was thrown to the pavement when an e-bike struck. Her head hit the street. She lay unconscious, lifeless under the city’s lights. Sirens came too late. Driver inattention shadowed the crash.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 7th Avenue and 68th Street when an e-bike hit a bike, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:06. A 48-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries after striking the pavement. The police report states she was 'unconscious' and 'lifeless beneath the streetlights.' The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a failure by the e-bike operator to remain alert. No helmet was worn by the victim, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The report makes clear that the crash’s deadly outcome stemmed from the e-bike driver’s lack of attention, not the actions of the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Manhattan Community Board 6 endorsed DOT’s plan for a protected bike lane in the First Avenue tunnel. Cyclists face danger on this stretch. The committee called current conditions scary. DOT aims to finish the project before the UN General Assembly in September.

On May 7, 2024, Manhattan Community Board 6’s Transportation Committee unanimously supported the Department of Transportation’s plan to build a protected bike lane in the First Avenue tunnel between E. 40th and E. 49th streets. The DOT revealed its intent to finish the project before September’s UN General Assembly. The committee praised the plan as 'an innovative concept' and 'a great idea for cyclists.' Vice Chair Barak Friedman and member Larry Scheyer both highlighted the danger cyclists face, with Scheyer calling current conditions 'very scary.' The committee urged DOT to improve street-level approaches and ensure community review of final designs. The vote signals strong support for safer, protected infrastructure for vulnerable road users.

• DOT Aims to Build First Ave. Tunnel Bike Lane Before September’s UN General Assembly, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-07

A Jeep slammed into a Honda’s rear on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The 81-year-old Honda driver died at the wheel, neck broken. No skid marks. The crash came sudden, hard, final. Following too closely left no room for mercy.

According to the police report, a 2024 Jeep struck the rear of a 2000 Honda traveling westbound on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway at 12:05 a.m. The Honda’s 81-year-old driver, belted in, died at the scene with a broken neck. The report notes, 'No skid marks. No second chances.' The primary contributing factor cited is 'Following Too Closely,' indicating the Jeep driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The data does not list any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior. The impact was to the Honda’s right rear bumper, with the Jeep’s right front bumper taking the hit. The report’s language and evidence focus on the Jeep driver’s failure to keep distance, a systemic danger on high-speed expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709835 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 67-year-old man rode north on his e-bike along 6th Avenue. No car struck him. No metal bent. He was thrown from his seat. His body broke. He died there, alone on the Brooklyn pavement.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old man riding a 2022 MINAL e-bike northbound on 6th Avenue at 53rd Street in Brooklyn was killed. The report states, 'No crash marks. No bent metal. He was thrown from the seat. His body broke. He died there, alone on the pavement.' The vehicle sustained no damage, and there were no other vehicles or persons involved. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no evidence of driver error by another party, nor are any victim behaviors cited as contributing factors. The report documents a solitary fatality, underscoring the vulnerability of e-bike riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A Dodge truck turned left on Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 52-year-old woman head-on. She died beneath the streetlight. The crash left blood on the asphalt and silence in the street.

According to the police report, a Dodge truck making a left turn on Bay Ridge Avenue near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 52-year-old woman standing in the roadway. The impact was direct, hitting her with the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver, licensed in New York, was operating a 2019 Dodge truck and was the sole occupant. The police narrative states, 'The driver was distracted.' No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions are cited in the report. The fatal collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

An SUV reversed on 76th Street. Its bumper struck an 83-year-old woman standing in the road. She fell. She died there. The driver did not see her. The street was empty. No crosswalk nearby. Silence followed.

An 83-year-old woman was killed near 1326 76th Street in Brooklyn when a 2007 Honda SUV backed west and struck her legs. According to the police report, 'The bumper struck her legs. She collapsed, silent. The driver did not see.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered fatal injuries to her lower body and died at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The SUV sustained no damage. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver inattention, especially when reversing in areas without marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A BMW SUV struck a 19-year-old riding an Arrow e-bike on 73rd Street near 13th Avenue. The teen was thrown, crushed, and left unconscious. The SUV’s front end bore the mark. The street fell silent around broken bones and twisted metal.

A 19-year-old riding an Arrow e-bike was hit by a BMW SUV on 73rd Street near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the teen was thrown from his bike, crushed, and found unconscious with injuries across his entire body. The SUV’s center front end showed damage from the impact. The report lists the bicyclist as helmetless and ejected. No specific driver errors are named in the data. The crash left the street marked by silence and injury, with the vulnerable road user bearing the full force of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668780 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A man on an e-scooter struck a sedan’s open door on 18th Avenue. He flew shoulder-first into steel. Flesh crushed. He lay conscious on the pavement. The woman in the car was unhurt. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter was injured after colliding with the open door of a parked sedan near 6820 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man on an e-scooter hit a sedan’s open door. No helmet. He flew, shoulder first, into steel. Flesh crushed. He lay conscious on the pavement. The woman in the car was unhurt.' The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The e-scooter rider suffered crush injuries to his upper arm and shoulder and was ejected from his vehicle. No helmet was noted, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The sedan driver was not injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640453 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Families for Safe Streets rallied outside Speaker Heastie’s office. They demanded action on Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. Lawmakers dodged a vote. Grief and anger filled the air. The Assembly stayed silent.

On June 5, 2023, supporters of Sammy’s Law gathered outside Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s Bronx office. The bill, which would grant New York City local control over its speed limits, remains stalled in the Assembly. The rally, led by Families for Safe Streets, called out lawmakers for refusing to bring the measure to a vote. Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, a leading advocate, criticized the lack of transparency: 'We are demanding that the Speaker bring this to a vote.' Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz voiced strong support, but others, like Chantel Jackson, hesitated, citing constituent feedback. The bill’s matter summary states it would not mandate lower limits but allow the city to decide. The legislative process left families of crash victims frustrated and angry. The Assembly’s inaction keeps city streets dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Supporters of Sammy’s Law Rally Heastie and Share Frustrations About Assembly’s Inaction on Speed Limit Reduction, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-05

A fire in Sunset Park forced out two families. E-bike batteries sparked it. Council Member Gutiérrez called for a city taskforce and safe charging stations. Lawmakers want stricter rules. Lithium-ion fires have killed, maimed, and displaced hundreds. The danger grows.

On April 26, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee held a hearing on lithium-ion battery regulation and e-bike safety. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, District 34, proposed a taskforce to study citywide e-bike charging stations, saying, 'E-bikes are here to stay.' She urged the city to 'keep New Yorkers safe' with exclusive charging points for delivery riders. The matter, titled 'Fire at Sunset Park e-bike store displaces 2 families as pols fight to regulate lithium-ion batteries,' highlights a deadly pattern: over 400 fires, 300 injuries, and 12 deaths from e-bike batteries in four years. The bill has no set vote date. Federal lawmakers also introduced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act to regulate battery safety. The push aims to curb fires, protect homes, and shield vulnerable New Yorkers from battery explosions.

• Fire at Sunset Park e-bike store displaces 2 families as pols fight to regulate lithium-ion batteries, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-04-26

A southbound SUV turned right on 16th Avenue. Its bumper hit a 46-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She fell. Blood pooled. Her leg was torn open. She stood, dazed, under the cold streetlight.

A 46-year-old woman was struck by a southbound SUV making a right turn on 16th Avenue. According to the police report, 'Its bumper struck a 46-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She fell. Blood pooled. Her leg torn open. She stood, dazed, in the cold streetlight.' The woman suffered severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg. She was crossing at the intersection with the signal when the crash occurred. The driver was operating a 2007 SUV and was making a right turn at the time of impact. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31