Blood on the Boulevard: Lives Lost, Leaders Silent

A parked sedan lunged from the curb on Myrtle Avenue. Its front quarter caught a 32-year-old cyclist. Flesh tore. Blood spilled. The man flew, conscious, his arm mangled. The bike stood untouched. The street fell silent. Metal met bone.

A 32-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a parked sedan pulling out near 449 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn at 2:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred when the sedan’s left front quarter panel hit the cyclist, resulting in a severe arm injury described as an amputation. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors, both attributed to the sedan driver’s actions. The bike itself was left undamaged. No contributing factors were attributed to the cyclist. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by vehicles reentering traffic without regard for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773340 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 64-year-old man on a bike was struck and crushed by an SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue. The driver fell asleep. The cyclist’s head hit hard. He lay unconscious, his bicycle shattered in the gutter. The street fell silent, danger unmasked.

A 64-year-old male bicyclist suffered severe head injuries and was rendered unconscious after being struck by a Station Wagon/SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue near Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'One driver asleep. His head struck. He lay unconscious. The bicycle lay broken in the gutter.' The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver lost control due to fatigue. The crash involved two SUVs, with the Honda SUV moving straight ahead when it struck the cyclist. The police report details the cyclist was ejected and suffered crush injuries. No evidence in the report points to any cyclist error; the only cited cause is the driver’s failure to remain alert. The narrative underscores the systemic danger posed by inattentive or impaired drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768220 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel and rubber rolled over a man working in the street. Four trucks passed. The street fell silent. A worker’s life ended beneath the weight of traffic, the city’s machinery grinding on, indifferent to flesh and bone.

A 37-year-old man was killed while working in the roadway on Myrtle Avenue near Walworth Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the victim was not at an intersection but performing work in the street when he was struck and crushed. The report details that a box truck, a pickup truck, a flatbed, and an SUV were involved, with vehicles traveling both east and west. The narrative states the man was 'crushed and killed beneath steel and rubber,' and that 'a box truck, a pickup, and two others passed through.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified' for the drivers involved. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report, but the involvement of multiple large vehicles and the presence of a worker in the roadway underscore the systemic dangers faced by those laboring in active traffic lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man, 49, crossed Bedford at Lafayette before dawn. A northbound car hit him head-on. His head struck hard. He died there, beneath cold streetlights. No name, no reason. Just silence and broken glass in the dark.

A 49-year-old man was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 3:07 a.m., when a northbound car struck the pedestrian head-on as he crossed the intersection. The report states the victim suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The narrative describes, 'A man, 49, crossing alone before dawn. A northbound car crushed him head-on. His head struck. He died there, beneath cold streetlights.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further detail on the cause. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the vehicle and the unresolved danger at this Brooklyn intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man on a ZHILONG e-scooter was hurled mid-turn at Lafayette and Carlton. His face split open, blood pooled on the street. Disoriented, he spoke in fragments. The city’s traffic pressed on, indifferent to the violence.

A 24-year-old man suffered severe facial injuries after being thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter while making a left turn at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 13:14. The report describes the rider as 'incoherent,' with 'severe bleeding' and no helmet. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative states the man was 'thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter mid-turn,' resulting in his 'face split open' and 'blood on the pavement.' No other vehicles were involved. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the key error leading to the crash. The absence of safety equipment is noted only after the driver’s inattention. The street remained active as the injured rider struggled to speak, underscoring the relentless pace of city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

E-bike and e-scooter slammed together on Flushing Avenue, metal tangled, debris scattered. A 28-year-old man bled onto the street, flesh torn below the knee. The machines lay crumpled. Silence pressed down, broken only by pain.

According to the police report, an e-bike and an e-scooter collided near 429 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:30 p.m. The crash occurred amid scattered debris, which the report lists as 'Obstruction/Debris' under contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling straight—one southbound, one westbound—when they struck each other. The impact left a 28-year-old man, identified as an e-bike driver, with severe lacerations to his lower leg and knee. The narrative describes blood pooling from his wounds as he lay conscious on the street, machines crumpled around him. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, but notes the absence of a helmet after driver errors and environmental hazards. The collision underscores the danger posed by roadway obstructions and debris, which directly contributed to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756953 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Chi Ossé joined activists at Nostrand Avenue station. They blasted Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing. The delay halts elevator upgrades, trapping seniors, parents, and disabled riders. The street outside roars with traffic. The subway stays out of reach.

On July 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) stood with Riders Alliance and other advocates outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station. They protested Governor Kathy Hochul’s June 5 decision to suspend congestion pricing, a move that froze $16.5 billion in MTA upgrades, including elevators for Bed-Stuy’s busy station. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the urgent need for accessibility: 'We want our elevators, we want our service, and we want it now,' said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the delay a denial of basic rights. Ossé called Hochul’s move 'an attack on our most vulnerable constituents.' Only a quarter of city stations are wheelchair-accessible. The hold traps thousands—seniors, parents, disabled riders—forcing them to risk dangerous streets or skip transit altogether.

• Activists rail against Hochul’s congestion pricing delay, call for accessibility upgrades to Bed-Stuy subway station, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-11

A 39-year-old man died beneath the streetlights of Atlantic Avenue. First struck by a box truck, then an SUV, his head shattered, bones crushed. Alone, far from the crosswalk, he became another casualty of unchecked steel and speed.

A deadly crash unfolded midblock on Atlantic Avenue when a 39-year-old man stepped into the roadway and was struck by two vehicles, according to the police report. The report states, 'The box truck hit him first. The SUV followed. Head shattered. Bones crushed. He died there, beneath the streetlights, far from the crosswalk, alone on the asphalt.' Both vehicles—a box truck and a sport utility vehicle—were traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, offering no further detail on specific driver errors. The pedestrian was crossing the street at a location not marked by a signal or crosswalk, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact of large vehicles moving unchecked through city streets, leaving a man dead and unanswered questions in their wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV’s door on Fulton Street. He flew forward, blood pooling, arm torn. The SUV stood still. The street did not. The cyclist wore no helmet. Metal and flesh collided. The city kept moving.

A 57-year-old man riding a bicycle was severely injured on Fulton Street near Rockwell Place in Brooklyn after striking the door of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist 'hit a parked SUV’s door,' was 'ejected,' and landed hard, sustaining 'severe lacerations' to his arm. Blood pooled at the scene. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash, with the point of impact listed as the 'left side doors.' The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor, offering no further detail on driver actions or dooring. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is mentioned only after the account of the crash. The SUV sustained no damage. The incident underscores the persistent danger for cyclists navigating streets lined with parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724820 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Evening light on York Street. A head-on crash between an SUV and a motorcycle. The rider’s lower leg crushed, helmet intact. SUV’s front left mangled. Both vehicles eastbound. Steel and flesh meet, the city absorbs the pain.

A head-on collision between a motorcycle and an SUV unfolded near 181 York Street in Brooklyn at 6:55 p.m., according to the police report. The report states both vehicles were traveling east when they collided. The motorcycle rider, a 40-year-old man, remained conscious but suffered a crushed lower leg. His helmet stayed on. The SUV’s front left quarter panel was severely damaged. Police cite 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor, highlighting a systemic hazard where sudden, unpredictable roadway events can trigger violent impacts. No driver errors beyond this are listed in the report. The focus remains on the chain reaction that left a vulnerable rider injured, underscoring the persistent danger for those outside steel cages on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A FLY WING, driven by an unlicensed man, crashed face-first into a slowing SUV on South Portland Avenue. Blood streaked the pavement. Speed and distraction ruled. No passengers. Only the sound of metal and skin in Brooklyn’s daylight.

According to the police report, a FLY WING vehicle operated by an unlicensed 31-year-old man crashed into the rear of a slowing SUV near 160 South Portland Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:57. The report states the driver struck the SUV 'face-first,' suffering severe facial bleeding. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the driver is explicitly noted. The SUV was slowing or stopping when it was hit, and the impact was to the center back end of the SUV. No passengers were involved. The narrative describes 'blood trailing down his chin,' underscoring the violence of the collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s unsafe speed and inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716120 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ram truck plowed into a man crossing Atlantic Avenue. The front end smashed his face. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, pain sharp in the night. Driver distraction left flesh torn and the street marked.

A 38-year-old man was struck by a Ram truck while crossing Atlantic Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:32 near Council District 35. The report states the truck’s front end crushed the pedestrian’s face, leaving him with severe lacerations, though he remained conscious. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The vehicle, registered in North Carolina, was traveling east and struck the pedestrian outside a crosswalk. The police report makes no mention of pedestrian error as a contributing factor, focusing entirely on the driver’s distraction. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by inattentive drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709459 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes sat parked on Fulton Street. It rolled forward, silent and slow, into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her. The truck bore no mark. Death came quiet, unannounced.

According to the police report, a parked Mercedes sedan rolled forward near 777 Fulton Street in Brooklyn at 9:04 a.m. The car struck a box truck, which sustained no visible damage. The sole occupant of the Mercedes, a 56-year-old woman, was found dead inside, still restrained by her lap belt. The report states, 'A parked Mercedes rolled forward into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her still. The truck bore no mark. The street stayed quiet. Death came without a sound.' No contributing factors were specified for either vehicle or driver. The data lists the cause as 'Unspecified.' The box truck was parked and undamaged. The focus remains on the unexplained movement of the parked vehicle and the fatal outcome for its driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man rode north on Rogers Avenue. The pavement broke beneath him. He flew from his e-bike. His head struck the street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He died there, alone, in the morning light.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike north on Rogers Avenue was killed after hitting defective pavement. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his bike, struck his head, and died from severe bleeding. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The crash caused fatal head injuries. The police note the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the systemic hazard of broken pavement. No other vehicles or people were involved. The street failed him. The city failed him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left on Franklin Avenue. An e-bike rider kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 48, flew and landed hard. His leg crushed. He lay conscious, broken, in the sun. The car showed no damage.

An e-bike and a sedan collided on Franklin Avenue. The sedan turned left while the e-bike continued straight. According to the police report, 'Metal met flesh. The rider, 48, flew. His leg crushed beneath him. No helmet. No damage to the car. He lay conscious, broken, on the sunlit street.' The e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his leg and was ejected from his bike. Police listed 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The sedan sustained no damage. The crash left the cyclist injured and conscious on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658510 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A van turned right on Rogers Avenue. A 72-year-old woman crossed with the signal. Metal hit flesh. She fell hard. Blood spread on the street. The driver kept going. She lay broken, bleeding, in shock.

A van struck a 72-year-old woman as she crossed Rogers Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, the van was making a right turn when it hit the pedestrian, causing severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body. The report states, 'A van turned right. A 72-year-old woman crossed with the signal. Metal struck her body. She fell. Blood pooled on the pavement. The man drove on.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver did not stop. The woman suffered serious injuries and was left in shock. No mention of helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

Night on Bedford Avenue. SUV plows into cyclist. Man flies, arm torn, blood on asphalt. Hand shattered, pain sharp. Driver distracted. Metal hits flesh. The street holds the wound.

A 28-year-old cyclist was struck by a northbound SUV on Bedford Avenue at 10:30 p.m. The impact threw him from his bike. He suffered severe bleeding and a shattered hand and arm but stayed conscious. According to the police report, 'the driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The SUV’s left front bumper hit the cyclist, who was ejected. No other contributing factors are noted in the data. The crash left the cyclist injured and bleeding on the pavement, while the SUV showed damage to its left front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644102 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 17-year-old rode north on Bedford Avenue. He struck a parked SUV. His neck was crushed. He wore no helmet. The street was quiet. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A 17-year-old male riding a motorcycle north on Bedford Avenue collided with a parked SUV. According to the police report, 'A 17-year-old on a motorcycle struck a parked SUV. No helmet. His neck crushed. He stayed awake. The street was quiet. The boy bled alone.' The teen suffered crush injuries to his neck but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the absence of a helmet, but only after driver inattention. No other people were injured. The SUV was parked and unoccupied. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4629777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW sped east on Eastern Parkway. The driver lost focus. Metal smashed. The driver’s leg crushed. Two passengers hurt. Rain slicked the road. Three injured. The night echoed with the sound of steel.

A BMW sedan crashed on Eastern Parkway near Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old driver became distracted and lost control. The car struck an object, crushing the driver’s leg. Two passengers were also injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The BMW’s left side doors took the brunt of the impact. All three occupants were hurt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left three people injured inside the car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4625853 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04