No More Bodies in the Road: Drop the Speed, Save a Life

A 68-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a collision caused by unsafe lane changing. The impact struck the center front end of the bike near Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 854 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn at 12:10 PM. The bicyclist, a 68-year-old male, was traveling north going straight ahead when the collision happened. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist was struck on the center front end of his bike and sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3. He was conscious and not ejected from the bike. The other vehicle involved was a parked 2013 Kia, which sustained no damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior or safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unsafe lane changes in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738585, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 33-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a turning vehicle on Moore Street in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian bruised and injured in the elbow and lower arm. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:30 PM on Moore Street near Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. A 33-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was struck by a Honda car making a right turn traveling west. The point of impact was the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving in intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738689, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle changing lanes struck a sedan’s right rear quarter panel on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver, a 22-year-old man, suffered abrasions and arm injuries, trapped in the vehicle. Police cite unsafe lane changing as the cause.

According to the police report, at 16:56 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, a motorcycle traveling east attempted a lane change and collided with the right rear quarter panel of a sedan also traveling east. The sedan’s 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was trapped inside the vehicle but remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor to the crash. The motorcycle driver was licensed and operating a 2009 Honda motorcycle. The sedan, a 2011 model, had no occupants other than the injured driver. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision’s impact and resulting injuries highlight the dangers posed by improper lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737864, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A six-year-old girl was struck by a bike while crossing outside a crosswalk in Brooklyn. She suffered a head contusion and remained conscious. The bike showed no damage, and no driver errors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, a six-year-old female pedestrian was injured in Brooklyn at South 4 Street around 8:10 p.m. The child was crossing without a signal or crosswalk when a male cyclist traveling east struck her at the center front end of his bike. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The bike showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The report lists no contributing driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Contributing factors for the pedestrian were unspecified. The collision highlights the dangers pedestrians face when crossing outside designated areas, even without clear driver faults noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739485, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A forklift driver without a license crashed into the back of a stopped sedan on Manhattan Avenue. The sedan’s driver, a 54-year-old woman, suffered a back injury and shock. The collision exposed dangers from distracted, unlicensed vehicle operation in traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:40 AM on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. A forklift, driven by an unlicensed male operator traveling south, struck the center back end of a stopped sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 54-year-old woman, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting the forklift driver’s failure to maintain safe control. The forklift driver’s unlicensed status further underscores systemic risk. The sedan driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No contributing factors related to the sedan driver were noted. This collision reveals the hazards posed by unlicensed and inattentive operation of heavy equipment on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737046, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 51-year-old female bicyclist was ejected and suffered a head contusion on the Williamsburg Bridge. The crash occurred just after midnight. Driver inattention and defective pavement contributed to the impact, causing serious injury without vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old female bicyclist riding eastbound on the Williamsburg Bridge was injured and ejected from her bike at 12:04 a.m. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a primary contributing factor. Additionally, 'Pavement Defective' was listed, indicating hazardous road conditions played a role. The bicyclist sustained a head injury classified as a contusion or bruise, with an injury severity level of 3. She was conscious after the crash. The bike showed no damage, and the bicyclist was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. The report highlights driver distraction and poor pavement conditions as the systemic dangers leading to this serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737093, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel met steel on Greenpoint Avenue. A sedan and SUV collided head-on, metal folding, glass shattering. Speed ruled the moment. A 62-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries across his body. The parked box truck stood untouched, silent witness.

A violent head-on crash unfolded on Greenpoint Avenue at Kingsland Avenue, involving a sedan and an SUV. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they collided, crushing the front ends of both cars. The report states that a 62-year-old man, driving one of the vehicles and wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained severe crush injuries to his entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors to the crash. A box truck was parked nearby and was not involved in the collision. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver speed and aggression, leaving a driver injured and vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739637, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 11-year-old boy suffered abrasions and arm injuries after an SUV struck him while crossing a marked crosswalk on Wythe Avenue. The driver’s inattention and improper turning caused the collision, leaving the child injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Wythe Avenue in Brooklyn at 10:15 AM. An 11-year-old boy was crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2017 Mazda SUV, traveling south and making a right turn, struck him with the vehicle's right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors to the crash. The boy sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious and was not ejected from the scene. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors, specifically distraction and improper turning maneuvers, in intersections involving vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736285, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 88-year-old man driving an SUV suffered a hip and upper leg injury after a crash while making a left turn in Brooklyn. The police report cites driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:21 in Brooklyn near Wallabout Street. The driver, an 88-year-old male occupant of a 2020 Lexus SUV traveling north, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage. The driver was injured, suffering contusions and bruises to the hip and upper leg area, and was conscious at the time of the report. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735412, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck struck a 32-year-old female bicyclist on Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a hip and upper leg contusion. The crash occurred due to driver inattention and distraction, leaving the bicyclist injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south on Flushing Avenue collided with a westbound bicyclist at 11:20 AM. The bicyclist, a 32-year-old woman, sustained a contusion to her hip and upper leg and remained conscious after the impact. The point of impact was the truck's center front end and the bike's right front quarter panel. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The truck driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment, but no contributing factors related to the victim's behavior were cited. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's right front quarter panel, while the truck showed no damage. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734448, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped traveling north on Bushwick Avenue struck its passenger, causing a severe knee injury. The driver’s aggressive driving and road rage led to the crash. The passenger suffered a fractured and dislocated lower leg, remaining conscious but seriously hurt.

According to the police report, a moped with two occupants was traveling north on Bushwick Avenue around 10:40 PM. The driver, identified as male and 22 years old, exhibited aggressive driving and road rage, which the report lists as contributing factors. The moped’s right side doors were damaged, indicating impact on that side. The passenger, also male, was injured with a fractured, distorted, and dislocated knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The passenger was not ejected and remained conscious. The report notes no safety equipment used by the driver. Vehicle damage was limited to the moped’s right side doors, while another unspecified vehicle traveling north with no damage was involved, impacting the moped’s right front quarter panel. The crash highlights the dangers of aggressive driving behaviors on two-wheeled vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734445, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV swung wide on Grand Street. A 26-year-old cyclist struck its side, thrown hard to the asphalt. Blood pooled from his head. The SUV’s doors crumpled. The bike stood untouched. The cyclist lay conscious, pain etched on his face.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a U-turn near 850 Grand Street in Brooklyn when it turned improperly and collided with a 26-year-old male cyclist traveling straight ahead. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, struck the SUV’s right side doors and was ejected from his bike, suffering a severe head injury with significant bleeding. The narrative notes, 'A Ford SUV turned wide. A 26-year-old cyclist hit the side. No helmet. Ejected. Head bleeding on the asphalt.' The SUV’s doors were bent inward from the impact, while the bike remained upright and undamaged. The cyclist was found conscious but bleeding heavily. The police report does not cite any cyclist actions as contributing factors, keeping the focus on the SUV driver's errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734444, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 48-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and an elbow injury but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10 p.m. on Harrison Avenue near Bartlett Street in Brooklyn. A pedestrian, a 48-year-old man, was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was struck by a vehicle making a left turn traveling north. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the collision. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and an injury to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The report places responsibility on the driver’s failure to yield and distraction, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734442, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 23-year-old bicyclist suffered full-body contusions after an SUV collided with his bike’s left side doors on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. The crash involved driver failure to yield and disregard of traffic controls, leaving the cyclist injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:30 PM on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. A 23-year-old male bicyclist was traveling south when a 2015 Mercedes SUV, moving west, struck the bike on the left side doors. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report cites the SUV driver’s errors as 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way,' along with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The collision caused damage to the SUV’s center front end and the bike’s left side doors. The evidence points to driver error as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735742, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter struck a parked SUV on Harrison Avenue. The rider, 52, flew off, landing hard. Blood pooled as he lay conscious, torn open. The scooter’s front crumpled. The street held him in the evening heat.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old man riding a motorscooter southbound on Harrison Avenue near 83rd collided with the rear of a parked SUV. The report states, 'A motorscooter slammed into the back of a parked SUV. The rider, 52, flew off. He hit the ground hard. Conscious, torn open. Blood pooled.' The scooter’s front end was crushed, and the rider was ejected, suffering severe lacerations to his entire body. Both vehicles were traveling south, with the SUV entering a parked position at the time of impact. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles, drawing attention to the circumstances of vehicle positioning and movement. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash left the rider injured and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735660, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Brooklyn bicyclist suffered serious leg injuries after a sedan experienced steering failure and struck her on Union Avenue. The cyclist was partially ejected and sustained contusions, highlighting mechanical failure as a critical factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Union Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:19. A 29-year-old female bicyclist was injured when a 2022 sedan, traveling north and stopped in traffic, suffered a steering failure. The sedan's right rear quarter panel struck the bicyclist's left front bumper area. The bicyclist, also traveling north and slowing or stopping, was partially ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Steering Failure' as the primary contributing factor, indicating a mechanical fault in the sedan. No driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless behavior were noted. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The incident underscores the dangers posed by vehicle mechanical failures to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733257, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An ambulance struck an 18-year-old bicyclist from behind on Penn Street in Brooklyn. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries, sustaining bruises but remained conscious. Police cited the ambulance driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, at 13:35 on Penn Street in Brooklyn, an ambulance traveling south collided with a bicyclist also heading south. The bicyclist, an 18-year-old male wearing a helmet, was injured with contusions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the ambulance driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the bicyclist. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist’s helmet use is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The ambulance driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. This crash highlights the dangers posed by emergency vehicles when driver errors like tailgating occur, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739475, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck struck a flat bed truck from behind on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The front passenger of the box truck suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The crash involved defective accelerator issues, causing significant vehicle damage and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 10:35. A box truck traveling west went straight ahead and impacted the center front end of the flat bed truck ahead, which was also traveling west. The flat bed truck sustained damage to its center back end. The box truck had two occupants; the front passenger, a 21-year-old male, was injured with knee and lower leg trauma but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Accelerator Defective' as a contributing factor, indicating a mechanical failure in the box truck that likely caused the collision. Both drivers were licensed males traveling straight ahead. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731928, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A dump truck backing unsafely on North 9 Street was struck by a westbound SUV. The truck’s front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed the dangers of unsafe vehicle maneuvers in Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:48 AM on North 9 Street in Brooklyn. A dump truck was backing unsafely when it was struck by a westbound station wagon/SUV traveling straight ahead. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error by the truck operator. The SUV impacted the center back end of the truck, causing damage to the SUV’s center front end. The front passenger in the dump truck, a 33-year-old male, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. He was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report does not cite any contributing factors related to the passenger or other road users, focusing solely on the truck driver’s unsafe backing maneuver as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730082, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle driver suffered a fractured arm after a box truck changed lanes improperly and distractedly on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The impact struck the motorcycle’s right front, causing serious injury without ejection. The truck’s right rear quarter hit the bike.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:20 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 33-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured, sustaining a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites the box truck driver's errors as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' while changing lanes northbound. The motorcycle was traveling straight ahead when the truck's right rear quarter panel struck its right front bumper. The motorcycle driver was conscious and not ejected but suffered serious injuries. The box truck had no occupants and was damaged on its left rear quarter panel. The motorcycle was a 2018 Trium registered in New York. No contributing factors related to the motorcycle driver were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732009, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15