Mar 6 - Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to cut speed limits in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to 20 mph. Residents and officials demand action after deadly crashes. DOT has yet to respond. The fight pits safety against drivers. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 6, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to request a 20 mph speed limit for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The measure, supported by 40 groups and nearly all local elected officials, marks the first neighborhood-wide slow zone request since the passage of Sammy's Law. The board's action follows letters from Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. They cited CB1's high fatality rate—3.27 deaths per 10,000 residents, above the city average. The board's vote was contentious, with pro-driving members opposing the change. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno acknowledged the support and promised more information on slow zones for outer boroughs. Council Member Lincoln Restler later joined the call for lower speeds. The measure now awaits DOT action.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg Beg DOT for 20MPH Slow Zone, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-06

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian In Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

Feb 11 - A man flew from his TEYIN on Manhattan Avenue. Metal buckled. Blood spilled. His knee shattered. He swerved for a car that never struck him. The street stayed hard and indifferent. He remained conscious, pain flooding the winter dusk.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man driving a TEYIN southbound near 783 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected from his vehicle after swerving in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. The narrative states, 'He swerved for a ghost — a car that never touched him.' The crash left the left front of the vehicle crumpled and resulted in the driver suffering a shattered knee and severe bleeding. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. No other vehicles made contact, and no other injuries were reported. The incident underscores the danger posed by sudden evasive maneuvers and the unpredictable hazards drivers introduce to city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 2 - A taxi loses grip on the slick Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal buckles. Two rear passengers bleed, faces cut and bruised. The cab’s front end is crushed. Rain turns routine travel into chaos.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway skidded on slippery pavement. The report states, 'A taxi skids on wet blacktop. Metal folds. A man, 56, sits in the back. Blood spills from his head. He is awake. The cab's front end is crushed.' Two rear passengers were injured: a 54-year-old woman suffered a facial contusion, and a 56-year-old man sustained severe head lacerations. Both remained conscious. The only contributing factor listed is 'Pavement Slippery.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are cited. The crash highlights the danger wet roads pose to passengers, with the impact crushing the cab’s front end and leaving blood on the seats.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 1 - A box truck rolled down Lorimer Street. The driver, alone, lost consciousness at the wheel. The truck did not swerve. The right front bumper struck. The driver died in the cab. The street stayed quiet, darkness holding the scene.

According to the police report, a box truck was traveling south on Lorimer Street near 517 Lorimer St in Brooklyn at 3:08 a.m. when the 51-year-old male driver lost consciousness. The report states, 'The driver, 51, lost consciousness. The right front bumper struck. He died alone in the cab.' The vehicle continued straight ahead, with no swerving reported. The official contributing factor listed is 'Lost Consciousness.' The point of impact and vehicle damage were both at the right front bumper. No other persons or vehicles were involved, and no victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The fatal outcome underscores the systemic dangers present when a driver loses control of a large vehicle on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 28 - Night on Kent Avenue. A moped barrels into a stopped sedan. The rider, helmeted, is hurled and bleeds hard onto the cold blacktop. The sedan sits untouched. The man does not. Steel and flesh meet. Only one is spared.

A 34-year-old moped rider was severely injured after crashing into a stopped sedan near 157 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the moped 'slams a stopped sedan,' with the rider 'thrown, helmeted, bleeding hard from the arm.' The police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped's front end struck the right side doors of the sedan, which was stopped in traffic and sustained no damage. The moped rider was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding to the lower arm. According to the police, the sedan remained stationary and was not physically impacted, while the moped absorbed the full force. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 8 - A young man on a motorcycle slammed into the back of a Jeep on Freeman Street. His leg shattered, helmet still on, pain raw and immediate. The street bore witness as distraction and close following left him broken, breathing, and awake.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed motorcycle rider struck the rear of a Jeep SUV on Freeman Street in Brooklyn. The report states the rider was 'partially ejected' and suffered 'crush injuries' to his leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors in the crash. The motorcycle's point of impact was the left front bumper, colliding with the Jeep's center back end. The rider was wearing a helmet, as documented in the report. No contributing factors are attributed to the Jeep driver. The collision underscores the dangers when driver attention lapses and following distances vanish, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 14 - Steel shrieked on Meeker Avenue as a westbound sedan plowed into a parked Dodge. A 29-year-old man gripped his bleeding arm, seatbelt biting. The signal was ignored. The wound lingered, echoing the violence of midnight metal.

A westbound Honda sedan struck a parked Dodge on Meeker Avenue near Union Avenue just before midnight, injuring the 29-year-old male driver of the Honda. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as the primary contributing factor. The narrative states, 'The signal was ignored,' underscoring the failure to obey traffic controls. The impact left the driver with severe lacerations to his arm, as he remained restrained by his lap belt. The parked Dodge was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No evidence in the police report attributes any contributing factors to the parked vehicle or its occupants. The collision highlights the consequences when drivers disregard traffic signals, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774773 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 1 - A car’s right front struck a 48-year-old cyclist on Union Avenue. The man wore a helmet. His arm was torn open. Blood pooled on the street. He was thrown, conscious, with deep cuts and broken flesh. Failure to yield shattered the morning.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Union Avenue near Broadway in Brooklyn was struck by a car’s right front. The collision left the cyclist with severe lacerations to his arm, described as 'deep cuts and broken flesh,' and he was partially ejected from his bike but remained conscious. The report states the driver’s 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The narrative details blood on the street and the cyclist’s helmet use, but helmet use is not listed as a contributing factor. The crash occurred at 8:36 a.m. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield, which directly led to the cyclist’s injuries, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 1 - A Jeep turned right on McGuinness. A moped slammed into its side. The rider, thirty-three, chest crushed, partly thrown, breathing but battered. Steel and flesh collided. The street fell silent, danger written in bent metal.

A collision unfolded on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Jeep made a right turn and a northbound moped struck its side. The moped rider, a 33-year-old man, suffered chest crush injuries and was partially ejected from his vehicle. He remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors in the crash. The Jeep’s right side doors bore the brunt of the impact. The moped’s front end was destroyed. The moped rider was unlicensed, but the report centers driver error—failure to yield—as a primary cause. The violence of the crash left the street quiet, the aftermath marked by twisted metal and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770347 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 2 - City will cut McGuinness Boulevard from four lanes to two. DOT reversed course after backlash. Advocates and Assembly Member Gallagher cheered the move. Fewer lanes mean slower cars, fewer crashes. The fight for safety on the rest of the boulevard continues.

On October 2, 2024, the Adams administration reversed its earlier decision and restored the road diet for McGuinness Boulevard between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will reduce the street from four lanes to two. The DOT cited community and elected officials' feedback as the reason for the change. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, "I'm just really grateful to the better angels of the Adams administration for coming back with this." The advocacy group Make McGuinness Safe called it a win for safety and vowed to keep pushing for improvements. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi praised the city's willingness to listen. Local business Broadway Stages, which had opposed the plan, said it respects the process. Removing car lanes will slow traffic and protect all users, according to advocates.

• FLIP-FLOP: City Brings Back Road Diet For McGuinness Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-02

Sep 1 - A 46-year-old man pedaled north on Union Avenue. An unlicensed SUV driver struck him head-on. His helmet split. Blood spread across the pavement. He was thrown from his bike. He never moved again.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man was riding his bicycle north on Union Avenue near Lynch Street in Brooklyn when an unlicensed driver operating a 2024 Volkswagen SUV struck him head-on. The report states the crash occurred at 11:26 a.m. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The narrative describes the immediate aftermath: 'His helmet split. Blood spread across the pavement. He was thrown from the bike. He never moved again.' The report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s actions and improper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 26 - Mayor Adams caved to business pressure, gutting a proven safety redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. The city scrapped lane reductions and protected bike lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. Elected officials condemned the move. The mayor put politics before lives.

On August 26, 2024, Mayor Adams reversed a key street safety redesign for McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn. The Department of Transportation's original plan, announced after a fatal crash in 2021, would have reduced travel lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. DOT data showed this 'would reduce deaths and serious injuries by 30 percent.' Under pressure from business interests, especially Broadway Stages, Adams first weakened the plan in July 2023, then scaled it back further in August 2024. Council Member Lincoln Restler said, 'Mayor Adams says he cares about safety, except when it comes to McGuinness Boulevard.' Assembly Member Emily Gallagher called the compromise 'a plan that does nothing to address the central safety concerns of our community.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged the city to follow the evidence and protect lives. The mayor’s decision leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Anatomy of a Debacle: How Adams Put Safety Last on McGuinness Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-26

Aug 24 - A Toyota sedan reversed on Hope Street. The driver looked away. The bumper smashed into a 26-year-old woman’s head as she stood off the road. Blood spilled. She stood silent, stunned, bleeding. Driver inattention and unsafe backing, police say.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan was backing west on Hope Street in Brooklyn when the driver 'looked away.' The vehicle's bumper struck the head of a 26-year-old woman who was standing off the roadway. The report notes she suffered severe bleeding and shock, with the point of impact listed as the center back end of the sedan. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The woman was not in the roadway and was not crossing at an intersection at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of any pedestrian error or behavior contributing to the collision. The driver’s actions—specifically inattention and unsafe backing—are the only factors cited in the police account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 1 - A 26-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a parked sedan on Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn. Thrown from the bike, his leg torn open, blood marked the street. The car never moved. Driver inattention and distraction led to carnage.

A 26-year-old e-bike rider was severely injured after colliding with a parked sedan on Metropolitan Avenue near Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-bike rider was 'thrown from the bike' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to his leg, with blood left on the asphalt. The report states the sedan 'never moved' and was parked at the time of impact. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the police narrative, but this detail follows the explicit mention of driver inattention as the central cause. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of distraction and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - A Ford sedan’s front left caught a 19-year-old cyclist on Broadway. The rider flew, head split on the street, blood pooling. Doors bent. He lay conscious, bleeding, ejected from his bike. Driver inattention and unsafe lane change listed as causes.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan traveling east on Broadway near 371 struck a 19-year-old bicyclist who was also heading east and passing. The report states, 'A Ford sedan struck a 19-year-old bicyclist passing east. No helmet. He flew, head split on the street. Blood pooled. The car’s front left caught him. Doors bent. He lay conscious, bleeding.' The bicyclist suffered severe head injuries and was ejected from his bike, remaining conscious but bleeding heavily. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors in the crash. These driver errors are central to the incident. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s actions, which are explicitly listed as causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743121 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 20 - A westbound sedan hit a 66-year-old man on an e-bike along Meeker Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. Both operators were distracted. The man stayed conscious despite a head wound. Machines untouched, but the body paid the price.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Meeker Avenue struck a 66-year-old man riding an e-bike. The report states that both the sedan driver and the e-bike operator were 'distracted' at the time of the crash. The impact left the e-bike rider bleeding from the head, though he remained conscious at the scene. The report notes 'severe bleeding' as the primary injury, with no damage to either vehicle. The police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both parties. The sedan made contact with its right front bumper. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by distracted driving, as documented in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 29 - Steel met steel on Greenpoint Avenue. A sedan and SUV collided head-on, metal folding, glass shattering. Speed ruled the moment. A 62-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries across his body. The parked box truck stood untouched, silent witness.

A violent head-on crash unfolded on Greenpoint Avenue at Kingsland Avenue, involving a sedan and an SUV. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they collided, crushing the front ends of both cars. The report states that a 62-year-old man, driving one of the vehicles and wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained severe crush injuries to his entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors to the crash. A box truck was parked nearby and was not involved in the collision. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver speed and aggression, leaving a driver injured and vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 28 - Pro-safety candidates swept North Brooklyn primaries. Voters backed the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Opponents, funded by Broadway Stages, lost every race. Assemblymember Gallagher called for Mayor Adams to finish the job. The city’s delay keeps the boulevard deadly for walkers and riders.

On June 28, 2024, North Brooklyn’s primary elections became a referendum on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a vocal supporter of the lane-reduction plan, defeated challenger Anathea Simpkins, who was backed by anti-redesign group Keep McGuinness Moving. Gallagher secured over 75 percent of the vote, declaring, “North Brooklyn demands Mayor Adams finish the job and make McGuinness safe.” Down-ballot, street safety advocates Luke Ohlson and Jenna Bimbi also won, both endorsed by Make McGuinness Safe. Opponents, including Broadway Stages executives, lost every race. Despite a partial redesign last year, the city has stalled on completing safety improvements. The election results send a clear mandate: voters want action to protect pedestrians and cyclists on McGuinness Boulevard.

• Safety for McGuinness Blvd. Was a Winning Issue for Greenpoint Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-28