Nine Dead, Silence from Albany: Demand Action on Deadly Streets
AD 49: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll in Blood and Silence
A woman, 52, struck head-on at Bay Ridge Avenue and 13th. Dead. An 83-year-old, hit by an SUV while walking near 76th Street. Dead. A 67-year-old man, thrown from his e-bike on 53rd and 6th. Dead. An 81-year-old, crushed in his SUV on the BQE. Dead. In three and a half years, nine people killed on the streets of Assembly District 49. Thirteen left with injuries so severe they may never walk the same. More than 1,300 hurt.
Children are not spared. In the last year, 52 kids were injured in crashes here. One child struck by a moped on 61st Street. Another, hit by an SUV on Bay Ridge Avenue. The numbers do not fade. They pile up.
Who Pays, Who Acts
SUVs and cars do most of the killing. Trucks, bikes, mopeds, each take their share. The old, the young, the ones just crossing the street. The cost is paid by families who never see their loved ones come home.
Leadership is missing. Assembly Member Lester Chang voted no on a bill to expand school speed cameras in Schenectady—cameras proven to catch drivers who speed where children walk. He stood against it. When the city fought for the right to lower speed limits, Chang’s name was not among the champions. He was silent.
The Disaster Is Not Inevitable
Every crash is preventable. Lower speeds. More cameras. Safer crossings. These are not dreams. They are tools other cities use. Here, they gather dust while the body count grows.
What Next: Demand More
Call Lester Chang. Demand action. Tell him to support speed cameras, lower speed limits, and real street redesigns. Do not wait for another name to be added to the list. The dead cannot speak. The living must.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687579, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07
- Supporters of Sammy’s Law Rally Heastie and Share Frustrations About Assembly’s Inaction on Speed Limit Reduction, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-05
- Fire at Sunset Park e-bike store displaces 2 families as pols fight to regulate lithium-ion batteries, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-04-26
- NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’ — coming on heels of NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s National Guard safety plan: lawmakers, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-15
▸ Other Geographies
AD 49 Assembly District 49 sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 68, District 43.
It contains Dyker Heights.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Assembly District 49
Pickup Turns Left, Hits Pedestrian Head-On▸A Ford pickup turned left at 19th Avenue and 79th Street. The driver struck a 64-year-old man crossing with the signal. Blood ran from his head. He stayed conscious. The truck’s front end hit him. He was badly hurt.
A Ford pickup truck, driven by a 55-year-old woman, made a left turn at the corner of 19th Avenue and 79th Street in Brooklyn. The truck struck a 64-year-old man who was crossing the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the truck’s center front end. The pedestrian was following the signal at the time of the crash. No helmet or signaling issues are noted for the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538226,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
E-Bike Runs Light, Strikes Pedestrians in Brooklyn▸An unlicensed e-bike rider ran the light at 19th Avenue and 76th Street. He struck two people crossing with the signal. One woman died from a head injury. Another man was hurt. The street fell silent. The driver did not stop.
A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 19th Avenue and 76th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, an unlicensed man on an e-bike ran a red light and struck two pedestrians who were crossing with the signal. The e-bike hit a 43-year-old woman in the head, killing her. A 45-year-old man suffered injuries to his arm. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The report does not mention any errors by the pedestrians. The impact left one dead and another injured, underscoring the danger when drivers ignore signals.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507537,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Convertible Hits E-Bike Rider at 19th Avenue Corner▸A Ford convertible struck a 60-year-old man on an e-bike at 19th Avenue and 71st Street. His head bled onto the street. The car’s bumper cracked. The bike’s side tore open. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and traffic control ignored.
A Ford convertible hit a 60-year-old man riding an e-bike at the corner of 19th Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash left the cyclist bleeding from the head, though he remained conscious. The e-bike’s right side was torn open and the car’s bumper was cracked. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other serious injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The street bore the mark of the crash.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506210,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Young Man Struck Crossing 65th Street▸A car hit a young man on 65th Street. He stepped from behind a parked car. His head split. Blood pooled. He drifted in and out. The street kept moving. The driver kept going straight. The man lay broken on the cold pavement.
A 20-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle on 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man stepped from behind a parked car. A westbound vehicle struck him. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head split. He drifted in and out.' The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, bleeding heavily. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and emerged from behind a parked vehicle. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503107,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A Ford pickup turned left at 19th Avenue and 79th Street. The driver struck a 64-year-old man crossing with the signal. Blood ran from his head. He stayed conscious. The truck’s front end hit him. He was badly hurt.
A Ford pickup truck, driven by a 55-year-old woman, made a left turn at the corner of 19th Avenue and 79th Street in Brooklyn. The truck struck a 64-year-old man who was crossing the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the truck’s center front end. The pedestrian was following the signal at the time of the crash. No helmet or signaling issues are noted for the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538226, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
E-Bike Runs Light, Strikes Pedestrians in Brooklyn▸An unlicensed e-bike rider ran the light at 19th Avenue and 76th Street. He struck two people crossing with the signal. One woman died from a head injury. Another man was hurt. The street fell silent. The driver did not stop.
A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 19th Avenue and 76th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, an unlicensed man on an e-bike ran a red light and struck two pedestrians who were crossing with the signal. The e-bike hit a 43-year-old woman in the head, killing her. A 45-year-old man suffered injuries to his arm. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The report does not mention any errors by the pedestrians. The impact left one dead and another injured, underscoring the danger when drivers ignore signals.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507537,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Convertible Hits E-Bike Rider at 19th Avenue Corner▸A Ford convertible struck a 60-year-old man on an e-bike at 19th Avenue and 71st Street. His head bled onto the street. The car’s bumper cracked. The bike’s side tore open. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and traffic control ignored.
A Ford convertible hit a 60-year-old man riding an e-bike at the corner of 19th Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash left the cyclist bleeding from the head, though he remained conscious. The e-bike’s right side was torn open and the car’s bumper was cracked. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other serious injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The street bore the mark of the crash.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506210,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Young Man Struck Crossing 65th Street▸A car hit a young man on 65th Street. He stepped from behind a parked car. His head split. Blood pooled. He drifted in and out. The street kept moving. The driver kept going straight. The man lay broken on the cold pavement.
A 20-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle on 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man stepped from behind a parked car. A westbound vehicle struck him. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head split. He drifted in and out.' The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, bleeding heavily. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and emerged from behind a parked vehicle. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503107,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
An unlicensed e-bike rider ran the light at 19th Avenue and 76th Street. He struck two people crossing with the signal. One woman died from a head injury. Another man was hurt. The street fell silent. The driver did not stop.
A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 19th Avenue and 76th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, an unlicensed man on an e-bike ran a red light and struck two pedestrians who were crossing with the signal. The e-bike hit a 43-year-old woman in the head, killing her. A 45-year-old man suffered injuries to his arm. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The report does not mention any errors by the pedestrians. The impact left one dead and another injured, underscoring the danger when drivers ignore signals.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507537, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
Convertible Hits E-Bike Rider at 19th Avenue Corner▸A Ford convertible struck a 60-year-old man on an e-bike at 19th Avenue and 71st Street. His head bled onto the street. The car’s bumper cracked. The bike’s side tore open. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and traffic control ignored.
A Ford convertible hit a 60-year-old man riding an e-bike at the corner of 19th Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash left the cyclist bleeding from the head, though he remained conscious. The e-bike’s right side was torn open and the car’s bumper was cracked. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other serious injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The street bore the mark of the crash.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506210,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Young Man Struck Crossing 65th Street▸A car hit a young man on 65th Street. He stepped from behind a parked car. His head split. Blood pooled. He drifted in and out. The street kept moving. The driver kept going straight. The man lay broken on the cold pavement.
A 20-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle on 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man stepped from behind a parked car. A westbound vehicle struck him. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head split. He drifted in and out.' The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, bleeding heavily. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and emerged from behind a parked vehicle. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503107,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A Ford convertible struck a 60-year-old man on an e-bike at 19th Avenue and 71st Street. His head bled onto the street. The car’s bumper cracked. The bike’s side tore open. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and traffic control ignored.
A Ford convertible hit a 60-year-old man riding an e-bike at the corner of 19th Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash left the cyclist bleeding from the head, though he remained conscious. The e-bike’s right side was torn open and the car’s bumper was cracked. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other serious injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The street bore the mark of the crash.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506210, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
Young Man Struck Crossing 65th Street▸A car hit a young man on 65th Street. He stepped from behind a parked car. His head split. Blood pooled. He drifted in and out. The street kept moving. The driver kept going straight. The man lay broken on the cold pavement.
A 20-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle on 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man stepped from behind a parked car. A westbound vehicle struck him. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head split. He drifted in and out.' The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, bleeding heavily. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and emerged from behind a parked vehicle. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503107,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A car hit a young man on 65th Street. He stepped from behind a parked car. His head split. Blood pooled. He drifted in and out. The street kept moving. The driver kept going straight. The man lay broken on the cold pavement.
A 20-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle on 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man stepped from behind a parked car. A westbound vehicle struck him. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head split. He drifted in and out.' The pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, bleeding heavily. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and emerged from behind a parked vehicle. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503107, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14