Brooklyn Bleeds While City Hall Sleeps

A child steps from a bus. A cyclist strikes. Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane will vanish. City listens to complaints, not data. Streets stay dangerous. Cyclists and children caught in the crossfire. Policy shifts, safety left behind.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove three blocks of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn after several crashes, including one involving a child exiting a school bus. The mayor cited 'community concerns' and stated, 'After several incidents—including some involving children...we decided to adjust the current design.' City Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the move, calling it 'pure politics' and warning, 'He is going to make this area less safe for pedestrians, for cyclists.' The article highlights tension between local complaints and street safety policy. No driver error is cited; the crash involved a cyclist and a child. The decision raises questions about how New York responds to vulnerable road users and whether removing infrastructure addresses underlying dangers.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removed After Crashes, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-14

A woman died behind the wheel of an SUV on Ditmas Avenue. Another occupant was hurt. Police cite driver inattention. The SUV’s front left bumper took the hit. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by impact.

A crash on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn involved a 2021 Mercedes SUV registered in Florida. According to the police report, the SUV was parked and then struck, with the point of impact at the left front bumper. The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was killed. Another 38-year-old female occupant suffered unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other vehicles are clearly identified in the report. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any actions by the injured occupant. The facts show a deadly collision, with inattention behind the wheel called out by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816179, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A boy slipped between moving subway cars in Brooklyn. His leg caught. Firefighters and police freed him. Blood on steel. He left for the hospital, stable. The train rolled on. The gap remains.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-26), a 12-year-old boy was hospitalized after slipping while crossing between cars on a moving M train near Myrtle Ave.-Broadway station. The article states, "His right leg got stuck and he needed to be freed by FDNY personnel and members of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit." The boy suffered a leg injury and was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. No driver error is involved, but the incident highlights ongoing risks in subway design and enforcement. Crossing between cars remains a hazardous gap in transit safety, especially for young passengers.

• Boy Injured Crossing Between Subway Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

A motorcycle slammed into a fire truck on Flatbush Avenue near Avenue U. The rider was ejected and killed. Five others in the fire truck escaped serious harm. Unsafe speed played a role. The street stayed quiet, but the damage was done.

A deadly crash unfolded late at night on Flatbush Avenue at Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a motorcycle and a fire apparatus collided. The 30-year-old motorcycle driver was ejected and killed, suffering crush injuries to his entire body. Five occupants in the fire truck, including its driver, were not seriously hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. The report notes the use of a helmet by the motorcyclist, but only after citing unsafe speed as a factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The toll: one life lost, a city street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815725, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman, 55, died on Fulton Street. An SUV hit her as she crossed outside the crosswalk. The impact crushed her body. She died at the scene. The crash happened late at night in Brooklyn. The driver’s actions remain unclear.

A 55-year-old woman was killed when a Ford SUV struck her on Fulton Street at Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing the street, not at an intersection or marked crosswalk, when the vehicle’s right front bumper hit her. She suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813415, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

Night crash on Bedford Ave. Two sedans collide. Alcohol involved. One driver dies. A passenger suffers head injury. Metal and glass scatter. Sirens wail. Streets stained. System failed to protect the vulnerable inside.

A deadly crash unfolded on Bedford Avenue at North 11th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, two sedans collided. Alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor. One male driver, age 50, was killed. A 29-year-old female passenger suffered a head injury. The report states: “Alcohol Involvement.” No other specific driver errors were listed. The crash left metal twisted and lives shattered. The system allowed danger to fester on city streets. No mention of helmet or signal use was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813513, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan struck a woman in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. The car hit her chest. She died at the scene. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The system failed to protect her.

A 68-year-old woman was killed while crossing Rutland Road at East 95th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal, when a westbound sedan making a left turn struck her with its center front end. The report states, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to her chest. The driver, a 64-year-old woman, and two other occupants in the sedan were not seriously hurt. The police report lists no contributing factors for the pedestrian. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of driver inattention in New York City crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812813, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle slammed into a sedan’s rear on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The rider died. Four others survived. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely. Metal twisted. One life ended. The road stayed open. The danger remains.

A deadly crash unfolded on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway when a motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan. According to the police report, the motorcyclist, a 27-year-old man, was killed from internal chest injuries. Four other occupants, including the sedan’s driver and passenger, suffered unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling west. The motorcycle was demolished. The sedan’s rear was crushed. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan’s driver was unlicensed. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The report does not blame the victim. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus and crowd the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

A 101-year-old woman crossing Brooklyn Ave with the signal was struck and killed by an unlicensed SUV driver making a left turn. The streetlights blinked. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver walked away unharmed. The pain stayed.

A 101-year-old woman was killed at Brooklyn Ave and Montgomery St in Brooklyn when an SUV making a left turn struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was unlicensed and operating a 2023 GMC SUV. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection with the signal when the collision occurred. She suffered fatal head injuries and was described as conscious but bleeding from the head before succumbing to her injuries. The driver was unharmed. The police report makes clear that the driver failed to yield and was distracted, while the pedestrian was lawfully crossing with the signal. Systemic danger persists when unlicensed, inattentive drivers operate large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804451, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 61-year-old man enters Bay Parkway at 60th Street. The southbound SUV moves straight. Metal strikes flesh. The man falls, body hurt, silent and still. The driver waits, uninjured. Night air heavy, another life lost on Brooklyn streets.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old man was struck by a southbound SUV while crossing Bay Parkway at 60th Street in Brooklyn. The narrative states: 'A 61-year-old man steps into the road, crossing against the signal. The SUV moves south, straight ahead. Metal strikes flesh. He falls, whole body hurt, silent and still. The driver waits, uninjured.' The man suffered injuries to his entire body and was rendered unconscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for either party. No mention is made of helmet use or signal compliance. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803841, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan tore through the red at Ocean Parkway. A mother and her children crossed with the signal. Metal struck flesh. Three lives ended on the crosswalk. One child, four, left broken and silent. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of loss.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by an unlicensed woman ran a red light at Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road in Brooklyn. The report states that a mother and her three children were crossing in the crosswalk with the pedestrian signal when the vehicle struck them. The impact killed the 34-year-old woman and two of her children, ages five and eight. A four-year-old boy was left unconscious and severely injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the driver. The pedestrians were crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The sedan's center front end struck the victims, underscoring the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls. The driver’s unlicensed status and disregard for the signal are central to this tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801962, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

A 49-year-old man lay dying on Franklin Street after an unlicensed e-bike rider struck him head-on. Headlights flashed, steel met flesh, and blood pooled on the Brooklyn pavement. The night swallowed the noise. He did not rise.

A 49-year-old pedestrian was killed on Franklin Street at India Street in Brooklyn when an unlicensed e-bike rider traveling south struck him head-on, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike driver was 'unlicensed' and identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the center front end of the e-bike, causing severe head injuries and fatal bleeding to the pedestrian. The police report describes the victim as 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk' and 'not at intersection,' but the primary focus remains on the unlicensed status of the e-bike operator and the disregard for traffic control. The narrative details a quiet night interrupted by the crash, with the victim left motionless on the pavement. No other contributing factors from the pedestrian are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800420, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young man rode east in a Mercedes. The driver looked away. Metal struck. The passenger never left his seat. Death came fast, silent, final. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another life to inattention.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old man was riding as a rear passenger in a 2017 Mercedes sedan traveling east on Linden Street near Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The report states that the driver became inattentive or distracted, leading to a collision. The passenger, who remained in his seat and was wearing a lap belt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The contributing factor listed in both the vehicle and person data is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other contributing factors were cited. The report does not mention any actions by the victim that contributed to the crash. This fatal incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799398, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. He died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver left. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll mounts. The city remains dangerous.

Gothamist (published March 3, 2025) reports a fatal crash in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A man in his 20s, crouched in the street to pick up food, was struck and killed by a turning dump truck just before 4 a.m. at Withers Street and Woodpoint Road. The NYPD stated, “The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.” No arrests have been made. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this was one of several deadly crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-runs. At least 10 people have died in Brooklyn traffic crashes so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The crash underscores the lethal mix of heavy vehicles, vulnerable road users, and gaps in enforcement.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian in Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

Steel and weight met a baby boy at Woodpoint and Withers. A dump truck’s left turn ended his life as he crossed with the signal. The street held him, still and broken, beneath the right bumper’s crush.

At the corner of Woodpoint Road and Withers Street in Brooklyn, a dump truck making a left turn struck and killed a baby boy who was crossing the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, 'a dump truck turned left. Its right bumper struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. He died there, crushed beneath steel and weight.' The report states the point of impact was the right front bumper of the truck. The child, a pedestrian, suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. The police narrative explicitly notes the victim was 'crossing with the signal.' The driver’s actions—executing a left turn in a large vehicle—placed the most vulnerable road user in mortal danger. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the victim, but the sequence of events centers the dump truck’s left turn and the resulting impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796530, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14