Bed-Stuy’s deadly loop: a woman dragged, a child lost, and nights that don’t end

Sep 3 - A left-turn driver in a sedan hit a motorcyclist going east on Gates at Ralph in Brooklyn. The rider was ejected and suffered severe lacerations. The car driver reported arm pain. Police recorded unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a driver in a 2012 Honda sedan was making a left turn at Gates Ave and Ralph Ave in Brooklyn when he collided with a 44-year-old man riding a 2024 Ducati motorcycle eastbound. The crash occurred at 7:48 p.m. The sedan traveled west on Gates before the turn; the rider was going straight east. The rider was ejected and suffered severe lacerations. The 25-year-old sedan driver reported arm pain. Police recorded unsafe speed. Both vehicles showed center front-end impact and damage. The report lists no other contributing factors tied to either driver, and both drivers were licensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 2 - A driver hit a 47-year-old man crossing Broadway at Suydam in Brooklyn. The impact crushed his body. He died there. Police listed no driver errors. Vehicle type and driver details were not recorded.

A driver hit and killed a 47-year-old man crossing Broadway at Suydam Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was killed. Police listed no contributing factors or driver errors in the dataset. The vehicle type, travel direction, and driver details were not recorded. The crash location is within the 81st Precinct area. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned in the report. The record identifies the victim as a pedestrian at an intersection. Beyond that, the data give no cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832241 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 1 - The driver of an unlicensed SUV hit a 21-year-old bicyclist on Patchen Ave near Macon St. The rider was ejected, suffered severe head lacerations and shock. Police recorded Passing or Lane Usage Improper and Pedestrian/Bicyclist Error.

The driver of an SUV hit a 21-year-old woman riding a bicycle southbound on Patchen Ave near Macon St and the rider was ejected and injured. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations and shock. Police recorded “Passing or Lane Usage Improper” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion” as contributing factors. The SUV sustained right front bumper damage at the point of impact; the bicycle showed center back end damage. The report notes the SUV driver was unlicensed. The crash left the bicyclist injured and in shock.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 21 - A sedan driver made a U-turn on Fulton Street and hit a motorcycle. The 46-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a head wound with severe bleeding. Police recorded turning improperly and unsafe speed.

On Fulton Street a sedan driver made a U-turn and collided with a motorcycle riding east. The motorcyclist, a 46-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The sedan carried two occupants; police reported they were uninjured. According to the police report, the crash involved "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Speed." The motorcycle's pre-crash movement was listed as going straight ahead; the sedan's pre-crash action was making a U-turn. Police recorded point of impact on the sedan's left rear quarter panel and damage to the motorcycle's center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830083 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 11 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Stuyvesant Ave. The rider, 47, suffered crush injuries to his arm. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The cyclist wore a helmet.

A sedan struck a 47-year-old bicyclist on Stuyvesant Avenue at Mac Donough Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his upper arm and was partially ejected but remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet. The sedan showed no damage, while the bike was damaged at the front. The report lists no other injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 18 - A stolen Chevy struck Tiffany Cifuni’s car in Brooklyn. She stepped out to confront the driver. The driver ran her down and fled. Cifuni, twelve weeks pregnant, died on the street. Police arrested the suspect weeks later.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Chaquasia Pigford was arrested for killing Tiffany Cifuni in a Brooklyn hit-and-run. Pigford, driving a stolen Chevy Trax, rear-ended Cifuni’s Toyota late at night on May 24. When Cifuni, pregnant and 32, exited her vehicle to exchange information, Pigford sped off. Cifuni followed for two blocks, confronted Pigford, and was then run over. Prosecutors described the incident in court, noting Pigford refused to engage before fleeing. The article quotes Cifuni’s family and Assistant District Attorney Tara Kelly: 'Pigford was driving a stolen 2016 Chevy Trax... when she rear-ended Cifuni’s 2021 Toyota 4Runner.' The case highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed After Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 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 2025-06-17

May 26 - A pregnant woman stepped from her car after a crash. The other driver floored it, struck her, dragged her, then fled. She died at the hospital. The driver vanished into the night. Police search. Grief lingers on Van Buren Street.

According to the New York Post (published May 26, 2025), Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a minor collision at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her Toyota 4Runner to check for damage. The driver of a Chevy Trax then accelerated, struck her from behind, dragged her, and sped away against traffic on a one-way street. The article states, "the driver of the Trax gunned it and struck Cifuni from behind, dragging her before speeding away." The suspect crashed into two more vehicles before fleeing on foot, leaving behind a car with temporary plates. The driver remains at large. The incident highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by unchecked reckless driving on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-And-Run, New York Post, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A pregnant woman stood in the street after a fender bender. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off. She died at the scene. The driver fled on foot. Family waits for answers. The street holds the silence.

ABC7 reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old pregnant woman was killed in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, after a traffic incident at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard. The article states, "Authorities say a female driver slammed into the victim as she stood in the roadway after a traffic incident." The victim, Tiffany Cifuni, had exited her SUV following a minor collision and approached the other vehicle. The driver then accelerated, dragging Cifuni and driving the wrong way before striking parked cars and fleeing on foot. The crash highlights the dangers of post-collision interactions and reckless driving. Police continue to search for the suspect.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-25

May 24 - A woman walking outside the intersection was struck and killed by an SUV late at night on Marcus Garvey Boulevard. The crash left her with fatal crush injuries. No driver errors were specified in the police report. The street stayed deadly and silent.

A 32-year-old woman was killed while walking on Marcus Garvey Boulevard near Van Buren Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was not at an intersection when an SUV struck her, causing fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The crash involved a 2024 Jeep SUV traveling east and two parked vehicles. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian's death is recorded as 'Apparent Death' with 'Crush Injuries.' No mention of helmet or signaling is included in the report. The data shows the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets, even late at night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 4 - SUV slammed into sedans on Tompkins Ave. Three men hurt. Blood on the street. Police cite driver distraction. System failed to protect riders. Metal and flesh, broken again.

A crash on Tompkins Ave in Brooklyn left three men injured. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV struck two sedans. One rear passenger suffered severe head bleeding. Two others, a driver and a front passenger, sustained whiplash. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause. No helmet or signal issues were cited. The SUV driver was licensed; one sedan driver was unlicensed. The crash again shows how distraction behind the wheel harms those inside. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 21 - A box truck rolled south on Broadway. A 59-year-old man stood in the road. The truck’s right front struck his head. He fell, unconscious, blood pooling. The truck did not stop. Driver inattention marked the scene.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south near 1040 Broadway in Brooklyn struck a 59-year-old man who was standing in the roadway. The report states, 'A box truck moved south. A 59-year-old man stood in the road. The truck struck his head. He fell, unconscious. Blood spread on the street. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and lost consciousness at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The truck’s right front quarter panel made contact, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s inattention, which led to the severe injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 19 - A Nissan sedan slammed into parked cars on Throop Avenue. Metal shrieked. A 22-year-old man was crushed, his body broken, eyes wide in shock. The street froze, silence settling over twisted steel and shattered bone.

According to the police report, a Nissan sedan traveling north on Throop Avenue near Park Avenue veered into parked vehicles, including a Ford SUV and a Honda sedan. The collision resulted in a 22-year-old pedestrian suffering crush injuries to his entire body. The report describes the victim as 'crushed,' with 'eyes wide with shock.' The crash occurred at 17:28 in Brooklyn. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The Ford SUV sustained damage to its right rear bumper, while the Nissan sedan's left front bumper was impacted. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a cause, keeping the focus on the driver's failure to maintain control and the lethal consequences for those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 14 - A bus lunged from its parking spot on Fulton. Metal struck flesh. A 47-year-old woman on an e-scooter flew, body torn, blood pooling beneath the streetlamp. Shock and lacerations marked the aftermath. Driver inattention shaped the night’s violence.

According to the police report, a bus moved from its parked position near 1922 Fulton Street in Brooklyn at 22:10. An e-scooter, operated by a 47-year-old woman, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The report states, 'A bus lunged from its parking spot. The e-scooter turned left. Metal struck flesh.' The woman was ejected from her scooter, sustaining severe lacerations and shock, with injuries to her entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The bus's center front end struck the left side doors of the e-scooter. The victim was unlicensed and unshielded, but the report does not cite these as contributing factors. The impact left her torn and shaking beneath a streetlamp, underscoring the consequences of driver inattention in a city street environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 9 - A distracted driver turned onto Tompkins Avenue, striking a young woman crossing with the light. Blood pooled on Lafayette’s corner. She stood in shock, scalp split. The car bore no mark. She did. Driver inattention left its mark on flesh.

A 24-year-old woman was injured at the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn when a vehicle making a right turn struck her head-on, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' at the time of the crash, and suffered severe lacerations to her head, standing in shock as blood ran onto the street. The driver’s action is described as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' in both the narrative and contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian wounded. The police report makes clear the driver’s distraction was the primary cause of the collision. The pedestrian’s behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted only to clarify she had the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 12 - A moped slammed into a stopped SUV on Broadway. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, flew headfirst onto cold pavement. Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, skull broken, night air biting. The street bore witness to another brutal impact.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on Broadway struck the rear of a stopped SUV. The rider, a 29-year-old man, was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. The report states he was 'ejected' and found 'incoherent' with severe head bleeding, his skull broken on the pavement. The crash occurred at 1:30 a.m. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the moped rider. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The police narrative describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, the night cold against his broken skull.' The data highlights driver inattention and unsafe following distance as key factors in this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762921 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 19 - A man on an e-scooter crashed into a stopped bus on Broadway. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on the street. The bus stood still. The scooter shattered. Night pressed in around the wreckage.

A 22-year-old man riding an e-scooter collided with a stopped bus near 954 Broadway in Brooklyn at 10 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the bus was 'stopped in traffic' and did not move at the time of impact. The e-scooter, traveling straight ahead, struck the bus's left front quarter panel. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his leg, with blood pooling on the street. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor in the crash. The narrative notes the e-scooter rider was helmetless, but only after documenting the driver error. The bus sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the scooter crumpled on impact. No injuries to bus occupants were reported. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of inattention and distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 30 - A Chevy SUV tore through Myrtle Avenue, its right front bumper crushing a 63-year-old man in the crosswalk. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver never stopped. The man died in the intersection, another life ended by driver inattention.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV traveling east on Myrtle Avenue near Broadway struck a 63-year-old man at the intersection. The impact came from the vehicle’s right front bumper, crushing the man’s arm and causing fatal injuries. The report states the driver did not stop after the collision. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, as noted in the report, but the primary error listed is the driver’s failure to pay attention. The man died at the scene, his blood left on the pavement. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the systemic dangers faced by people crossing New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751938 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18