No More Warnings—Fix Third Avenue Before It Kills Again

Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"We’ve seen how data-driven street redesign saves lives. It’s time to bring those investments to Brooklyn, not in a few years, not eventually, but now. Safer streets are not a privilege, they are a right." -- Marcela Mitaynes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

A sedan struck two men crossing with the signal on 3rd Ave and 52nd St. Both died. Police cite traffic control disregarded and unsafe speed. The car’s right front bumper hit. System failed the walkers.

Two male pedestrians, ages 80 and 59, were killed when a sedan struck them as they crossed 3rd Avenue at 52nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both men were crossing with the signal at the intersection when the vehicle hit them with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for vehicle occupants. The data shows clear driver error: the driver failed to obey traffic controls and drove too fast. The pedestrians followed the signal. The system left them exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

A moped slammed into a sedan on 3rd Avenue. One rider died. Another was thrown and fractured his arm. Both drivers were unlicensed and inexperienced. Brooklyn streets claimed another life.

A deadly crash unfolded at 3rd Avenue and 67th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a moped and a sedan collided. The 22-year-old moped driver was killed. His 21-year-old passenger was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old woman, reported neck pain. Both drivers were unlicensed. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821960 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

A cyclist hit a stopped SUV on 54th Street. He flew from his bike, struck his head, and bled on the pavement. Police cite driver distraction. Three others in cars were not hurt.

A cyclist was injured after colliding with the back of a stopped SUV near 54th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered head wounds and severe lacerations. Three vehicle occupants were unhurt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Helmet use was listed as 'Unknown' and is noted only after the driver error. The crash highlights the danger posed by driver distraction, as documented in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806587 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A RAM van struck a 60-year-old woman crossing 3rd Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The driver, distracted, kept his license. The van showed no damage. The woman suffered severe leg bleeding.

A 60-year-old woman was hit by a RAM van while crossing 3rd Avenue at 42nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and struck the woman as he turned. The woman suffered severe bleeding to her leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The van showed no damage. The driver kept his license. No injuries were reported for the van's occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806114 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A young cyclist, riding south on 37th Street near 3rd Avenue, was struck hard. His left leg ripped open, blood pooling on the asphalt. The bike’s front crushed. Unsafe lane changing tore through flesh and steel. He stayed conscious.

A 20-year-old male cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his left leg after a violent collision on 37th Street near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report details that the cyclist, heading south, was struck with enough force to crush the bike’s front and leave blood pooling on the street. The police report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not list helmet use as a contributing factor. The victim remained conscious at the scene. The focus remains on the danger created by unsafe lane changes, as highlighted by the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

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

A 70-year-old woman crossed 7th Avenue with the signal. A northbound Toyota turned left, its bumper striking her head. She fell, motionless, and died in the cold midday sun. The driver failed to yield. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old woman was crossing 7th Avenue at 44th Street in Brooklyn with the pedestrian signal when a northbound Toyota sedan made a left turn. The vehicle's left front bumper struck her head, causing her to fall and suffer fatal injuries. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, listing 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was described as 'unconscious' at the scene and died there. The police report explicitly notes the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal,' making clear she had the legal right to be in the crosswalk. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Steel and illness met on the expressway. A 73-year-old man lost control, his Ford SUV veering left, crushing into a Lexus. He died belted in his seat, chest shattered. The road did not forgive. The system did not protect.

A 73-year-old man died after losing consciousness behind the wheel of his Ford SUV on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, according to the police report. The vehicle veered left and collided with a Lexus, with the impact crushing the front of both vehicles. The police report lists 'Illness' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. The man, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, suffered fatal chest injuries and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report states, 'A 73-year-old man lost consciousness at the wheel. His Ford SUV veered left, crushing into a Lexus.' No driver errors such as distraction or speeding are cited beyond the medical emergency. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when a driver becomes incapacitated at speed. The system offered no safeguard for the driver or others on the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785728 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A box truck rolled south on Columbia. A 65-year-old man lay in its path. Bone cracked. The shoulder gave. No screech, no crash, only silence. The man died in the street, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old man was killed on Columbia Street near Sigourney Street in Brooklyn when a southbound box truck struck him. The incident occurred at 9:49 a.m. The narrative states, 'A 65-year-old man lay still in the road. A southbound box truck passed. No screech, no crash, no damage. Just the crack of bone. The shoulder gave. Then silence.' The police report lists the pedestrian's location as 'not at intersection' and his action as 'other actions in roadway.' Both contributing factors for the pedestrian are marked as 'Unspecified.' The box truck, registered in Illinois and operated by a licensed driver from Pennsylvania, was reportedly 'avoiding object in roadway' before the crash. Despite the lack of visible vehicle damage, the impact proved fatal. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or victim behaviors as contributing factors, but the outcome underscores the lethal risk faced by pedestrians outside intersections in the presence of large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A box truck rolled west on 60th Street. A 30-year-old man lay broken in its wake, head shattered, life ended. No skid marks. No damage to the truck. Only silence and the weight of steel on flesh.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling westbound on 60th Street near 4th Avenue in Brooklyn struck and killed a 30-year-old man. The pedestrian was found in the roadway with fatal head trauma and crush injuries. The report notes, 'No skid marks. No damage to the truck.' The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Only silence where a life had been.' The vehicle, a 2020 INTL-TRUCK/BUS registered in Indiana, showed no visible damage. The driver was licensed in Pennsylvania. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The police report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing to the crash. The absence of skid marks and damage underscores the brutal efficiency of the impact. The systemic danger remains: a human body, no match for a truck rolling through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 2014 Infiniti, westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, slammed steel. Aggressive driving carved the driver’s face. Blood on glass. Calm lost to rage. One man, 23, left conscious but torn, the highway marked by violence.

According to the police report, a 2014 Infiniti sedan traveling westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway crashed its right front into a steel barrier. The sole occupant, a 23-year-old male driver, suffered severe facial lacerations and was found conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative details that 'road rage left its mark where calm should have been,' and describes blood on glass after the impact. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor to the crash itself. No other vehicles or people were involved. The collision’s violence and injury stemmed directly from the driver’s aggressive actions behind the wheel, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768844 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A Jeep’s bumper met a young man’s head at 3rd Avenue and 36th Street. Blood pooled on Brooklyn pavement. The SUV rolled on. The driver vanished. The city’s morning did not pause.

A 23-year-old man was struck in the head by a Jeep SUV at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 36th Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The collision left the pedestrian bleeding severely at the intersection. The police report notes that the SUV’s right front bumper made contact with the victim, yet the vehicle sustained no visible damage. The driver did not stop after the crash and left the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no details on the driver’s actions beyond the hit-and-run. The pedestrian was conscious but suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to remain at the scene and the systemic risk posed by vehicles in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765817 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Two SUVs clash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal tears, glass shatters. A young driver, bloodied and alone, stays conscious behind the wheel. The crash leaves the eastbound lanes scarred, the morning unbroken, the system unchanged.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided eastbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The crash occurred after a 'sudden swerve,' with one vehicle changing lanes and the other going straight ahead. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, both indicating driver error. The 21-year-old male driver of a 2007 Toyota SUV suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The point of impact was the center front end of the Toyota and the right rear bumper of the 2019 Ford SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The collision underscores the dangers of sudden maneuvers and close following distances on high-speed expressways, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A westbound Kia sedan struck hard on Columbia and Creamer. Five inside. One young man gashed, arm torn open, blood on the seat. The others untouched. Metal, flesh, and silence. The city moves on, but the wound remains.

A 2005 Kia sedan traveling westbound on Columbia Street at Creamer Street in Brooklyn struck with force, according to the police report. Inside the vehicle were five passengers. The report states that a 23-year-old male passenger suffered 'severe lacerations' to his arm, described as 'flesh torn' and 'blood spilled.' The other four occupants were uninjured. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' providing no further details on the cause of the crash or any specific driver errors. No evidence is cited regarding the behavior of the injured passenger or the use of safety equipment. The impact left one person wounded while the rest continued unscathed, underscoring the unpredictable violence inside a moving car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31