Sixteen Dead in Three Years. Still, the Streets Stay the Same.
AD 59: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 8, 2025
The Bodies in the Road
In Assembly District 59, the numbers do not lie. Sixteen people killed. Thirty-two left with serious injuries. In three years, 3,977 crashes tore through these Brooklyn streets. The dead include children, elders, riders, walkers. A baby struck in a crosswalk. An old man crushed at the curb. A motorcyclist’s helmet left behind at Flatbush and Avenue U. The city records the names, then moves on. The street stays the same.
The toll grows. Injuries climb—2,740 bodies broken. The young are not spared: 263 children hurt, one killed. Three elders over 75, dead. The numbers rise, the blood dries. The street does not change.
The Leaders and Their Record
Assembly Member Jaime Williams has signed on to bills that promise safer streets. Twice, she co-sponsored measures to require complete street design—sidewalks, bike lanes, crossings for all users. The bills sit in Albany, waiting for a vote. The language is clear: “every user deserves safe passage.” File A 1077 But the streets do not change. The blood dries. The next crash comes.
When it came time to vote on a bill for school speed cameras—the kind proven to catch drivers who speed past children—Williams voted no. The bill passed anyway. The summary is blunt: “Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.” File A 7652
Williams has also stood with those who rallied against congestion pricing, but has not offered a plan to protect the children and elders who walk and bike in her district.
The Call for Action
This is not fate. This is policy. Every crash is a choice made by those in power. The city has the tools—lower speed limits, speed cameras, street redesigns. The Assembly can pass laws that force the city to act. But action does not come without pressure.
“We didn’t pursue the vehicle, we strategically radioed ahead to shut down traffic…” said NYPD Chief John Chell.
“The FDNY says the ‘incident is under investigation.’” reported ABC7.
Call your Assembly Member. Call your Council Member. Demand lower speed limits, more cameras, and streets built for people, not just cars. The dead cannot speak. The living must.
For the latest ways to force action, see Take Action: Slow the Speed, Stop the Carnage.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motorcyclist Dies in Collision With Fire Truck, ABC7, Published 2025-05-26
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768224, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-08
- File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08
- File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07
- Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-14
- Police Roadblock Ends In Fatal Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-02
- Motorcyclist Dies in Collision With Fire Truck, ABC7, Published 2025-05-26
- File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13
District 59
5318 N Ave. 1st Floor Store, Brooklyn, NY 11234
Room 641, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
▸ Other Geographies
It contains Marine Park-Mill Basin-Bergen Beach, Marine Park-Plumb Island, Mcguire Fields, Canarsie Park & Pier, Barren Island-Floyd Bennett Field, Jamaica Bay (West), Brooklyn CB56, Brooklyn CB18.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Assembly District 59
Improper Lane Change Shatters Leg on Belt Parkway▸A motorcycle veered and overturned on Belt Parkway. Metal screamed. Parked cars shook. Blood streaked the lane. A 29-year-old man clutched his crushed leg. Two others hurt. The road fell silent. Aggressive driving left bodies broken.
On Belt Parkway, a motorcycle veered, overturned, and struck parked cars. According to the police report, the crash left a 29-year-old man with severe crush injuries to his leg. Two others, including an 18-year-old passenger and a 22-year-old driver, suffered injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver wore a helmet, as noted in the data, but the crash’s violence overwhelmed any protection. The scene was marked by wrecked vehicles and blood on the asphalt. No pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore lane discipline and act aggressively.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538333,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two Left Turns Collide, Elderly Driver Injured▸Two cars turned left on Fillmore Avenue. Metal smashed metal. An 87-year-old man, strapped in, was cut by glass. His body throbbed. Both drivers looked away. The street bore witness. Distraction ruled. Pain followed.
Two vehicles, a sedan and a taxi, collided while both were making left turns at Fillmore Avenue and East 49th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Both drivers looked away.' An 87-year-old male driver suffered severe lacerations and pain throughout his body. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No other injuries were specified for the other occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as noted in the official account. Both drivers were licensed and wearing seat belts. The impact left one elderly man hurt and a street marked by shattered glass.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537675,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
SUVs Collide at Speed, Driver Crushed in Brooklyn▸Two SUVs slammed together on East 52nd Street near Avenue U. Metal screamed. One driver, 25, was pinned and crushed but stayed conscious. Unsafe speed tore through the calm. The street bore witness to broken bodies and twisted steel.
Two sport utility vehicles crashed hard on East 52nd Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles struck near a parked Porsche. One driver, age 25, suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pinned inside his SUV, but remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. Other occupants, including a 51-year-old male driver and several registrants, were involved but did not sustain reported injuries. The impact left metal twisted and the street scarred. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when speed overtakes control.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506771,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Pedestrian on Utica Avenue▸A Ford SUV struck a man crossing Utica Avenue near Avenue N. The left bumper hit his head. He died in the street. The driver had no license. The night was silent after the crash.
A 31-year-old man was killed when a southbound Ford SUV hit him on Utica Avenue near Avenue N in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man stepped into the dark. A southbound Ford SUV struck his head with its left bumper. He died on the street. The driver held no license.' The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, and he died at the scene. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk unlicensed drivers pose to people on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504756,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A motorcycle veered and overturned on Belt Parkway. Metal screamed. Parked cars shook. Blood streaked the lane. A 29-year-old man clutched his crushed leg. Two others hurt. The road fell silent. Aggressive driving left bodies broken.
On Belt Parkway, a motorcycle veered, overturned, and struck parked cars. According to the police report, the crash left a 29-year-old man with severe crush injuries to his leg. Two others, including an 18-year-old passenger and a 22-year-old driver, suffered injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver wore a helmet, as noted in the data, but the crash’s violence overwhelmed any protection. The scene was marked by wrecked vehicles and blood on the asphalt. No pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore lane discipline and act aggressively.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538333, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Two Left Turns Collide, Elderly Driver Injured▸Two cars turned left on Fillmore Avenue. Metal smashed metal. An 87-year-old man, strapped in, was cut by glass. His body throbbed. Both drivers looked away. The street bore witness. Distraction ruled. Pain followed.
Two vehicles, a sedan and a taxi, collided while both were making left turns at Fillmore Avenue and East 49th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Both drivers looked away.' An 87-year-old male driver suffered severe lacerations and pain throughout his body. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No other injuries were specified for the other occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as noted in the official account. Both drivers were licensed and wearing seat belts. The impact left one elderly man hurt and a street marked by shattered glass.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537675,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
SUVs Collide at Speed, Driver Crushed in Brooklyn▸Two SUVs slammed together on East 52nd Street near Avenue U. Metal screamed. One driver, 25, was pinned and crushed but stayed conscious. Unsafe speed tore through the calm. The street bore witness to broken bodies and twisted steel.
Two sport utility vehicles crashed hard on East 52nd Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles struck near a parked Porsche. One driver, age 25, suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pinned inside his SUV, but remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. Other occupants, including a 51-year-old male driver and several registrants, were involved but did not sustain reported injuries. The impact left metal twisted and the street scarred. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when speed overtakes control.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506771,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Pedestrian on Utica Avenue▸A Ford SUV struck a man crossing Utica Avenue near Avenue N. The left bumper hit his head. He died in the street. The driver had no license. The night was silent after the crash.
A 31-year-old man was killed when a southbound Ford SUV hit him on Utica Avenue near Avenue N in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man stepped into the dark. A southbound Ford SUV struck his head with its left bumper. He died on the street. The driver held no license.' The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, and he died at the scene. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk unlicensed drivers pose to people on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504756,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two cars turned left on Fillmore Avenue. Metal smashed metal. An 87-year-old man, strapped in, was cut by glass. His body throbbed. Both drivers looked away. The street bore witness. Distraction ruled. Pain followed.
Two vehicles, a sedan and a taxi, collided while both were making left turns at Fillmore Avenue and East 49th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Both drivers looked away.' An 87-year-old male driver suffered severe lacerations and pain throughout his body. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No other injuries were specified for the other occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as noted in the official account. Both drivers were licensed and wearing seat belts. The impact left one elderly man hurt and a street marked by shattered glass.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537675, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
SUVs Collide at Speed, Driver Crushed in Brooklyn▸Two SUVs slammed together on East 52nd Street near Avenue U. Metal screamed. One driver, 25, was pinned and crushed but stayed conscious. Unsafe speed tore through the calm. The street bore witness to broken bodies and twisted steel.
Two sport utility vehicles crashed hard on East 52nd Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles struck near a parked Porsche. One driver, age 25, suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pinned inside his SUV, but remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. Other occupants, including a 51-year-old male driver and several registrants, were involved but did not sustain reported injuries. The impact left metal twisted and the street scarred. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when speed overtakes control.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506771,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Pedestrian on Utica Avenue▸A Ford SUV struck a man crossing Utica Avenue near Avenue N. The left bumper hit his head. He died in the street. The driver had no license. The night was silent after the crash.
A 31-year-old man was killed when a southbound Ford SUV hit him on Utica Avenue near Avenue N in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man stepped into the dark. A southbound Ford SUV struck his head with its left bumper. He died on the street. The driver held no license.' The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, and he died at the scene. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk unlicensed drivers pose to people on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504756,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two SUVs slammed together on East 52nd Street near Avenue U. Metal screamed. One driver, 25, was pinned and crushed but stayed conscious. Unsafe speed tore through the calm. The street bore witness to broken bodies and twisted steel.
Two sport utility vehicles crashed hard on East 52nd Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles struck near a parked Porsche. One driver, age 25, suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pinned inside his SUV, but remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. Other occupants, including a 51-year-old male driver and several registrants, were involved but did not sustain reported injuries. The impact left metal twisted and the street scarred. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when speed overtakes control.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506771, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Pedestrian on Utica Avenue▸A Ford SUV struck a man crossing Utica Avenue near Avenue N. The left bumper hit his head. He died in the street. The driver had no license. The night was silent after the crash.
A 31-year-old man was killed when a southbound Ford SUV hit him on Utica Avenue near Avenue N in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man stepped into the dark. A southbound Ford SUV struck his head with its left bumper. He died on the street. The driver held no license.' The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, and he died at the scene. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk unlicensed drivers pose to people on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504756,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A Ford SUV struck a man crossing Utica Avenue near Avenue N. The left bumper hit his head. He died in the street. The driver had no license. The night was silent after the crash.
A 31-year-old man was killed when a southbound Ford SUV hit him on Utica Avenue near Avenue N in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A man stepped into the dark. A southbound Ford SUV struck his head with its left bumper. He died on the street. The driver held no license.' The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, and he died at the scene. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk unlicensed drivers pose to people on city streets.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504756, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15