Brooklyn Bleeds, Politicians Stall—How Many More Must Die?

A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

Two cars tore down Belt Parkway. Speed and rage ruled. One man bled from his arm. Police found unlicensed driving and reckless force. The road bore the mark.

A collision on Belt Parkway involved a sedan and an SUV. One man, age 56, suffered severe bleeding to his arm. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when they crashed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. One driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one injured and others shaken. The force of speed and aggression shaped the outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan hit a 21-year-old woman off Gateway Drive. She died from crush injuries. Police cite driver distraction and unsafe speed. The car’s front end took the impact. No other injuries reported.

A 21-year-old woman walking near 395 Gateway Drive in Brooklyn was struck and killed by a sedan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not in the roadway when the car hit her, causing fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The sedan’s center front end was damaged. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No other serious injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver error in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV hit a moped on Avenue D. One moped rider suffered crush injuries to his leg. Police cite driver inexperience. Both vehicles showed no damage. The street stayed quiet after the crash.

A collision between a Jeep SUV and a JIAJU moped occurred on Avenue D at Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV struck the moped, injuring the 30-year-old male moped driver, who suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. No damage was reported to either vehicle. No other injuries were documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Sedan and pickup clashed on Linden. Two people hurt. Police cite improper lane use. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

A sedan and a pickup truck collided at Linden Blvd and Van Sinderen Ave in Brooklyn. Two occupants, a 58-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman, suffered neck and back injuries. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' Both vehicles were making right turns when the impact occurred. Police list no other contributing factors. The injured were not ejected and wore lap belts. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823753 - 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

A 12-year-old boy lost part of his leg at Wortman Avenue. A large vehicle struck him at the intersection. The child was conscious but badly hurt. Police list the cause as unspecified. The driver was not injured.

A 12-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by an enclosed-body vehicle at the intersection of 155 Wortman Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child suffered an amputation to the knee, lower leg, or foot and was conscious at the scene. The vehicle, registered in New York, impacted the child with its left front bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The driver, a 40-year-old man, was not injured. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the report. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820217 - 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 2025-06-12

A motorcycle struck hard on Pennsylvania Avenue. The rider, a 45-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations. The crash left the entire body injured. No other vehicles listed. No driver errors noted.

A motorcycle crashed on Pennsylvania Avenue at Schroeders Avenue in Brooklyn. The 45-year-old male driver was injured, suffering severe lacerations to his entire body. According to the police report, the motorcycle was traveling north and struck at the center front end. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both the injury and the cause remain unspecified in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811817 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV and sedan collided on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered head injuries and crush wounds, partially ejected. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass scattered. No pedestrians involved.

A collision on Belt Parkway involved a sedan and an SUV, both traveling west. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was listed as a contributing factor. One driver, a 57-year-old woman, was partially ejected and sustained head injuries and crush wounds. Another driver, a 53-year-old man, was not ejected and reported no injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal and glass across the roadway. The police report notes the use of lap belts but lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30

A speeding SUV and pickup collided on Pennsylvania Avenue. One driver died. Passengers hurt. Police cite distraction and unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

A deadly crash on Pennsylvania Avenue at Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn involved a pickup truck and an SUV. According to the police report, the SUV driver, a 28-year-old man, was killed. Several passengers in both vehicles suffered unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the SUV's front end and the pickup's right side mangled. No helmet or signal use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

A BMW SUV hurtled east on Belt Parkway, speed unchecked. The driver, unbelted, lost control on slick pavement. Metal twisted, glass burst. Thrown from the wreck, his head struck hard. Alone, he died on the frozen asphalt.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway crashed while moving at unsafe speed on slippery pavement. The sole occupant, a 41-year-old male driver, was ejected from the vehicle and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The SUV was described as 'demolished' at the point of impact. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but the police report attributes the crash primarily to excessive speed and hazardous road conditions. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The narrative underscores the violence of the crash and the systemic danger posed by high speeds, especially under adverse conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793436 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A concrete mixer reversed on Watkins Street. A woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The truck struck her, crushing her hip and leg. She lay conscious, broken on the pavement. The truck kept moving. The street did not forgive.

According to the police report, a concrete mixer backed west on Watkins Street near Linden Boulevard without warning. A 40-year-old woman was crossing in the marked crosswalk when the truck struck her, crushing her hip and leg. The report states she was left conscious on the pavement, suffering from severe injuries. The vehicle's pre-crash action is listed as 'Backing,' and the point of impact was the 'Center Back End.' No contributing factors are cited for the pedestrian; the driver’s maneuver—reversing a large truck into a crosswalk—created the danger. The police report does not list any contributing pedestrian behaviors. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed when heavy vehicles back through pedestrian space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 57-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk on Blake Avenue. The SUV turned. The bumper caught her. She fell, struck, and died on the asphalt. The driver failed to yield. The signal kept blinking. Brooklyn lost another pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old woman was crossing Blake Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn, using the crosswalk and moving with the signal when a Nissan SUV made a left turn and struck her. The report states the vehicle's right front bumper hit the woman, causing her to fall and suffer fatal injuries to her entire body. The pedestrian died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The victim was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

At Linden Blvd and Drew St, a Chevy SUV turned left into the path of a BMW sedan driving straight. Steel tore open steel. A 28-year-old woman in the back seat suffered a deep facial laceration but remained conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM at Linden Boulevard and Drew Street in Brooklyn. The Chevy SUV was making a left turn when it collided with a BMW sedan traveling straight eastbound. The report states: 'A Chevy turned left. A BMW came straight. Steel tore open steel.' The impact caused severe facial lacerations to a 28-year-old female rear-seat occupant, who remained conscious at the scene. The Chevy driver, a 50-year-old male, suffered internal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report does not explicitly cite driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision dynamics highlight the inherent danger when turning vehicles cross paths with oncoming traffic. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A Jeep turned wrong on New Lots Ave and crashed into a parked Tesla. The driver’s back broke. Night pressed in. Metal shrieked. The street stayed quiet. Pain did not. One man left conscious, seatbelt tight, body broken.

A violent collision unfolded on New Lots Ave near Bradford St in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Jeep SUV 'turned wrong in the dark and slammed into a parked Tesla.' The crash occurred at 21:31, leaving the 40-year-old Jeep driver with severe back injuries and 'crush injuries,' though he remained conscious and was held by his seatbelt. The police report explicitly lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The Tesla was unoccupied and parked at the time of impact, according to the data. No evidence in the police report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The scene was described as quiet, but the consequences for the driver were grave. The report underscores the danger posed by improper vehicle maneuvers, especially at night on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Two Audis slam together on Belt Parkway. Metal crumples, glass bursts. A 21-year-old driver, unbelted, is hurled onto the asphalt, head bleeding, silent and still. Unsafe speed and distraction leave wreckage and blood in their wake.

On Belt Parkway, two eastbound Audis collided at high speed. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2023 Audi and a 2005 Audi, both traveling straight. The report states that 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' were the primary contributing factors. The impact demolished the front of one Audi and crushed the rear of the other. A 21-year-old male driver, listed as unbelted and ejected from his vehicle, suffered severe head bleeding and was found unconscious on the roadway. The police report describes the aftermath as 'silence' following the violent collision. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor; the focus remains on driver error and the lethal consequences of excessive speed and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778930 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A Toyota SUV hit a 58-year-old woman in the road near 570 Pennsylvania Ave. Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street. The SUV rolled on, untouched. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of her last breath.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV traveling north near 570 Pennsylvania Ave in Brooklyn struck a 58-year-old woman who was in the roadway. The report states, 'Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head and crush injuries. The SUV sustained no damage and continued on. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the SUV and the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31