Brownsville’s crosswalks, Brooklyn’s dead: seven lives in 20 months

Nov 28 - A 76-year-old man fell hard on Broadway, his head split open by an eastbound e-bike. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider kept moving. Confusion ruled the intersection. The old man stayed down, silent in the chaos.

A 76-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by an eastbound e-bike at Broadway and Mac Dougal Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'Head split, blood on the asphalt. He stayed down. The rider did not.' The collision left the man with severe lacerations to his head, and he remained conscious but injured at the intersection. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion at the intersection. The e-bike was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. No additional driver errors or victim behaviors are cited in the report. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776052 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 20 - A motorcycle tore into a turning sedan on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. The rider, helmeted, flew and bled on the asphalt. The car’s side caved. One man conscious, broken, lay in the street. The night went silent.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Eastern Parkway near Herkimer Street collided with the right side of a sedan that was making a left turn. The report states the motorcycle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as the primary contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan’s right doors and sent the motorcycle’s front end into ruin. The motorcycle rider, a 39-year-old man, was ejected from his bike, suffering severe lacerations across his entire body. He was found conscious on the roadway, helmeted and bleeding. The sedan driver’s actions are not listed as contributing factors in the report. The crash unfolded at 8:00 p.m., leaving the street still and marked by violence. Systemic danger persists where speed and turning vehicles meet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 30 - A man rode north at dawn on Rochester Avenue. His bike struck something. His face hit the street. Blood pooled. He stayed upright, wounded but alive. The city’s silence swallowed the crash.

A 35-year-old man riding a bike northbound on Rochester Avenue near Saint Johns Place was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states, 'A man rode north at dawn. No helmet. His bike struck something. His face met the street. Blood pooled.' The cyclist suffered severe bleeding to his face but survived the impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of other vehicles or driver errors, and no evidence of victim behavior contributing to the crash beyond the note that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is mentioned only after the sequence of events. The incident underscores the vulnerability of cyclists navigating city streets, especially when the cause of the crash remains unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 26 - A Buick SUV slammed into a 37-year-old man crossing Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The front end struck his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver, holding only a learner’s permit, continued west. The man lay conscious, wounded, under city lights.

According to the police report, a Buick SUV traveling west near 2440 Fulton Street in Brooklyn struck a 37-year-old man who was crossing the roadway outside a crosswalk just after midnight. The report states the vehicle's center front end hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe lacerations and leaving him bleeding but conscious on the pavement. The driver of the SUV held only a learner’s permit at the time of the crash, as documented in the police report. The report does not specify any additional driver errors or contributing factors beyond the driver’s license status. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the police report does not list these as contributing factors—only as the location and action. The collision underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially when drivers lack full licensure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 26 - A 2023 Honda sedan turned right on East New York Avenue and struck a 29-year-old man head-on. His head absorbed the impact. He lay unconscious, the street silent, his injuries severe and the night unyielding.

According to the police report, a 2023 Honda sedan was making a right turn on East New York Avenue when it struck a 29-year-old pedestrian head-on. The report states the point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, with damage to the right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to the head and was found unconscious at the scene. The incident occurred at 3:29 a.m. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the report, but the narrative confirms the driver turned and hit the pedestrian directly. The victim was not at an intersection at the time of the crash. No driver errors are explicitly named beyond the act of turning and striking a pedestrian head-on. The report does not attribute any contributing behaviors to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 6 - A moped struck a stopped sedan on Eastern Parkway. The 24-year-old rider, helmeted, sat upright, bleeding from the head. Night air thick with shock, his silence echoed off Pacific Street. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another body, crushed and still.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south on Eastern Parkway near Pacific Street collided with the right side doors of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The 24-year-old moped rider, who was wearing a helmet, suffered head injuries described as 'crush injuries' and was found in shock, upright and bleeding. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, while the moped’s center front end was crushed. The police narrative notes the rider did not fall from the moped but remained silent and injured at the scene. The systemic danger of inattentive driving and inexperience is underscored by the severe injury to the vulnerable moped operator.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 31 - A moped turned left through a red at Sutter and Strauss. The rider struck a woman crossing with the signal. Her shoulder was crushed beneath the front end. She stayed conscious. The street bore witness to the violence.

According to the police report, a moped making a left turn at the corner of Sutter Avenue and Strauss Street disregarded traffic control and ran a red light. The vehicle struck a 28-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states her shoulder and upper arm were crushed beneath the moped’s center front end, causing significant injury. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. The woman’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failures. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls in Brooklyn’s crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 17 - A Ford struck a parked Nissan on Sheffield Avenue. The driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered crushing injuries. She remained conscious, battered and broken, in the dark. No contributing factors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, a 2007 Ford traveling northeast on Sheffield Avenue near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a parked 2014 Nissan. The report states, 'A 2007 Ford slammed into a parked Nissan. The woman driving wore no belt. Her body broke against the wheel. She stayed awake, crushed and hurting, held together only by the dark.' The driver, a 31-year-old woman, was the sole occupant and sustained injuries to her entire body, described as 'crush injuries.' She remained conscious after the crash. The police report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors beyond the impact itself. The parked Nissan was unoccupied at the time. The focus remains on the violent collision and the severe harm suffered by the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 3 - A 26-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a parked sedan on Saratoga Avenue. He flew from his bike, hip shattered, blood pooling on the street. Shock set in. Sirens wailed late. The crash left him broken and bleeding in Brooklyn.

A 26-year-old man riding an e-bike suffered severe injuries after colliding with a parked sedan near 69 Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 10:15 a.m. The report states, 'A 26-year-old man on an e-bike slammed into a parked sedan. No helmet. No belt. He flew, hit hard, and bled into the street. His hip shattered. Shock set in. Sirens came late.' The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The rider was ejected from the e-bike, suffered a shattered hip, and experienced severe bleeding and shock. The sedan was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the collision. The focus remains on the dangers of inattention and distraction, as documented in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 20 - A motorcycle ran a red on Somers Street. The rider struck a 56-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the wheels. She stayed conscious on the pavement. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed quiet.

A crash on Somers Street near Fulton in Brooklyn left a 56-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a motorcycle 'ran the light' and struck the woman as she crossed with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the motorcycle’s wheels. She remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the rider ignored a traffic signal. The motorcycle showed no damage. The woman was crossing legally at the intersection when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 11 - A Honda sedan hit a 54-year-old cyclist head-on at dawn on Livonia Avenue. The man’s skull met the bumper. Blood marked the street. He stayed conscious. The car kept straight. The cyclist did not.

A 54-year-old man riding a bike east on Livonia Avenue near Legion Street was struck head-on by a Honda sedan. According to the police report, 'A Honda met him head-on. His skull took the blow. Blood slicked the street. He stayed conscious.' The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. Both the car and the bike were traveling straight. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 19 - A 15-year-old girl on an e-scooter turned left on Dumont Avenue and struck a parked Jeep. Her head split open. She was partially thrown. Blood pooled on the street. Shock froze her eyes. The city watched, silent.

A 15-year-old girl riding an e-scooter was severely injured on Dumont Avenue near Chester Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she turned left and struck a parked Jeep. The impact split her head open and partially ejected her from the scooter. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The girl was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The Jeep was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 24 - A van backed up. A sedan lunged forward. A man, 33, was struck on Pennsylvania Avenue. Blood spilled from his leg. The street froze. Aggressive driving shattered the calm. Metal bent. Silence followed.

A crash at Pennsylvania Avenue and Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn left a 33-year-old man injured. According to the police report, a van was backing up while a sedan surged ahead. The pedestrian, not at a crosswalk, was hit by the sedan’s front end and suffered severe bleeding to his leg. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s front crumpled from the impact. No other injuries were reported for vehicle occupants. The data highlights aggressive driving as the key driver error in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 19 - A new study exposes how people shrug off the deadly risks of driving. Most accept crashes and pollution as normal. The same harms spark outrage elsewhere. This double standard leaves pedestrians and cyclists in the crosshairs. The culture shields drivers, not victims.

On January 19, 2023, researchers published a report in the Journal of Environment and Health, dissecting public attitudes toward driving dangers. The study, led by environmental psychologist Ian Walker, surveyed over 2,000 British adults. It found that 61 percent of respondents accepted driving risks as natural, while far fewer tolerated similar hazards at work or from smoking. The article, titled 'The Dangers of Driving Are Way More Normalized Than We Think,' highlights what Walker calls 'motonormativity'—a cultural blind spot that excuses harm from cars. Walker urges policy changes: 'Build a street where people can't speed... you won't have speeding.' The research shows that society’s deep-rooted car bias endangers vulnerable road users and blocks reforms that could save lives.

• The Dangers of Driving Are Way More Normalized Than We Think, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-19

Nov 9 - A Jeep hits a 79-year-old man crossing Stone Avenue. The right front bumper slams him down. Blood pools on the street. He is conscious, head wounded. The street goes quiet. The driver failed to yield. The man lies injured, the city holds its breath.

A 79-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Jeep sedan on Stone Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the Jeep's right front bumper hit the man as he crossed the street, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver. No other driver errors or factors are noted. The crash left the elderly man injured, underscoring the danger faced by those on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 31 - An e-scooter hit a parked sedan on Howard Avenue. The rider, 41, flew forward. His face split open. Blood pooled. He lay still, incoherent. The car never moved. The street swallowed the sound.

An e-scooter rider, age 41, crashed into a parked sedan near 699 Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-scooter 'slammed a parked sedan.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations, lying incoherent at the scene. The sedan was unoccupied and did not move. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553327 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 10 - An SUV tore down Grafton Street. It veered left, slammed into parked cars. Metal screamed. A 64-year-old man behind the wheel was left semiconscious, legs shattered. Sirens came. The street went still. The crash left pain and silence.

On Grafton Street in Brooklyn, an SUV traveling at unsafe speed veered left and crashed into several parked cars. According to the police report, 'an SUV, too fast, veered left and slammed parked cars. Metal screamed. A 64-year-old man lay crushed behind the wheel, semiconscious, legs shattered.' The crash left the 64-year-old male driver with severe crush injuries to his legs. Other occupants in the vehicles suffered unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No evidence in the data suggests any error or fault by the injured. The impact was sudden and violent, leaving the street in shock.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 3 - A sedan struck an e-scooter at Rockaway Avenue. The impact threw a 19-year-old woman. Her leg was crushed. She lay conscious on the street. Police cited traffic control disregarded.

A sedan hit an e-scooter near 38 Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan and scooter both went straight. The crash threw the scooter’s 19-year-old female passenger onto the street, crushing her leg. She remained conscious. The e-scooter driver, a 33-year-old man, was unlicensed. Police listed 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report notes the passenger wore no helmet, but this is mentioned only after driver errors. The crash left metal, flesh, and asphalt tangled in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 12 - A 2019 Nissan sat parked on Powell Street. Its left front crushed. Inside, a 39-year-old man lay dead. No movement. No sound. Morning light caught broken glass. One life ended in silence.

A deadly crash took place near 211 Powell Street in Brooklyn. A 2019 Nissan sedan, parked at the curb, was found with its left front crushed. According to the police report, a 39-year-old man was inside the vehicle, unresponsive and not ejected. He showed no signs of life. No other injuries were reported. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The cause of the crash remains unspecified in the data. No mention of helmet use or signals appears in the report. The incident ended with one fatality, the driver of the parked car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 2 - A woman crossed Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn before sunrise. A westbound car hit her head-on. Blood pooled on the street. She lay semiconscious, head wounded. The car’s right bumper bore the mark. No driver error listed. System failed her.

A 38-year-old woman was struck while crossing Atlantic Avenue near Gunther Place in Brooklyn before dawn. According to the police report, she was hit head-on by a westbound car. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, lying semiconscious in the street. The car’s right front bumper was damaged. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the data. The woman was not at an intersection or crosswalk when struck. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the ongoing dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18