Morgan Avenue: Blood on the Asphalt, Silence from City Hall

Mar 31 - After a deadly Brooklyn crash, lawmakers push a bill to force speed limiters on cars of repeat reckless drivers. The devices would cap speed, targeting those with long records of violations. The aim: stop killers behind the wheel.

Bill to mandate speed limiters for repeat reckless drivers was introduced after a fatal Brooklyn crash. The measure, announced March 31, 2025, would require drivers with 11+ license points in two years or six camera tickets in a year to install speed-control devices for one year. The bill is sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. Gounardes said, 'My legislation would require repeat reckless drivers to install speed limiters, so they can no longer use their vehicles as a deadly weapon.' Gallagher added, 'We have the tools and the knowledge to prevent these tragedies from happening.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Families for Safe Streets support the bill, calling it a powerful tool to protect everyone from super speeders. The bill awaits committee action.

• After deadly Brooklyn crash, pols push for ‘speed limiters’ on vehicles owned by notoriously reckless drivers to force safe travel, amny.com, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 31 - After a deadly Brooklyn crash, lawmakers push a bill to force speed limiters on cars of repeat reckless drivers. The devices would cap speed, targeting those with long records of violations. The aim: stop killers behind the wheel.

Bill to mandate speed limiters for repeat reckless drivers was introduced after a fatal Brooklyn crash. The measure, announced March 31, 2025, would require drivers with 11+ license points in two years or six camera tickets in a year to install speed-control devices for one year. The bill is sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. Gounardes said, 'My legislation would require repeat reckless drivers to install speed limiters, so they can no longer use their vehicles as a deadly weapon.' Gallagher added, 'We have the tools and the knowledge to prevent these tragedies from happening.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Families for Safe Streets support the bill, calling it a powerful tool to protect everyone from super speeders. The bill awaits committee action.

• After deadly Brooklyn crash, pols push for ‘speed limiters’ on vehicles owned by notoriously reckless drivers to force safe travel, amny.com, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 30 - A driver sped down Ocean Parkway, slammed into a Camry, then struck a mother and her three children in the crosswalk. Three died. The youngest clings to life. The Audi’s driver had a suspended license. The street ran red with grief.

ABC7 reported on March 30, 2025, that a multi-vehicle crash on Ocean Parkway in Midwood killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, ages 5 and 8, and critically injured her 4-year-old son. The article states, "A driver has been charged after a multi-vehicle crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two young daughters and critically injured her son." Police say Miriam Yarimi, driving an Audi with a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in the crosswalk. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter, reckless driving, and failing to yield. The Camry was an Uber with children inside, who were also hurt. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it "a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by unlicensed, reckless drivers and the vulnerability of families crossing city streets.

• Mother And Daughters Killed On Ocean Parkway, ABC7, Published 2025-03-30

Mar 29 - On Johnson Avenue, a left-turning vehicle cut across an e-bike’s path. The rider, 28, slammed head-on, thrown and bleeding. Metal crumpled. The street marked by one man’s broken body, the cost of a single turn taken too soon.

According to the police report, the crash unfolded on Johnson Avenue near Varick Avenue in Brooklyn. An e-bike rider, age 28, was traveling straight when a vehicle executed an improper left turn, cutting directly into his path. The report states, 'A vehicle turned left, too soon. The bike hit head-on. The rider, 28, flew off. Head crushed.' The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered severe head injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The impact crushed both vehicles’ front ends. No contributing factors are attributed to the e-bike rider. The report centers the crash on the left-turning vehicle’s action, underscoring the systemic danger posed by improper turns at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802195 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 29 - A car struck a mother and her two daughters in a Brooklyn crosswalk. All three died. A young boy fights for life. The driver’s license was suspended. The Audi hit another car, then pedestrians. Ocean Parkway’s danger is no secret.

According to ABC7 (published March 29, 2025), a 34-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages six and eight, were killed when an Audi, driven by Mariam Yarimi on a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in a crosswalk on Ocean Parkway. A four-year-old boy remains in critical condition. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it 'a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' The Audi went airborne after the collision. Residents described chronic speeding and red-light running on Ocean Parkway. Authorities are investigating whether speed or a red light violation contributed. No arrests have been made. The crash highlights persistent systemic dangers for pedestrians on city streets.

• Mother And Children Killed On Ocean Parkway, ABC7, Published 2025-03-29

Mar 28 - A 41-year-old cyclist was pinned between two SUVs on Flushing Avenue. His arm split open. One driver stayed. The other fled. Blood pooled on the street. The twisted bike lay silent under the spring sun.

A collision on Flushing Avenue near 1093 in Brooklyn left a 41-year-old cyclist severely injured, according to the police report. The cyclist, who was helmetless, was crushed between two station wagons/SUVs. The report states, 'His arm split open. Blood pooled. One driver stayed. The other vanished.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his lower arm and hand and was partially ejected from his bike. According to the police report, driver errors played a central role: 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' are listed as contributing factors. One SUV was stopped in traffic, while the other was parked. The cyclist was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors that led to the crash. The focus remains on the systemic dangers and driver actions that resulted in the cyclist's injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802183 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - DOT refuses to promise safer streets on Atlantic Avenue. Council Members Hudson and Ossé demand a redesign before rezoning. Four dead, 473 hurt since 2021. DOT offers only studies and minor fixes. Advocates want protected lanes. The city delays. Danger remains.

On March 28, 2025, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a hearing on the future of Atlantic Avenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) declined to commit to a full redesign of a deadly 13-block stretch, despite pressure from Council Members Crystal Hudson and Chi Ossé. Both made redesign a condition for supporting a major rezoning. The official matter: 'The administration must commit to a fully-funded redesign of Atlantic Avenue from Flatbush Avenue in the west to Nostrand Avenue in the east.' DOT’s Brooklyn Borough Planner, Dash Henley, promised only an 18-month traffic study and minor intersection tweaks, projecting a seven-to-ten-year wait for real change. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso joined calls for traffic calming and lane reallocation. From 2021 to 2024, four people died and 473 were injured here. Advocates and council members want protected bike lanes and road diets. DOT has not committed.

• City Won’t Commit to Safer Walking and Biking on Atlantic Avenue Despite Upcoming Rezoning, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-28

Mar 25 - A motorcycle driver wearing a helmet suffered upper arm injuries when a flatbed truck made an improper turn and collided with the motorcycle’s left rear quarter panel on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. The truck’s front center end was damaged in the crash.

According to the police report, at 11:53 AM on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, a flatbed truck traveling west made an improper turn and struck a motorcycle traveling east. The motorcycle driver, a 25-year-old male wearing a helmet, was injured with contusions and bruises to his shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of the motorcycle and the center front end of the truck. The report identifies the truck driver’s error as "Turning Improperly," which caused the collision. The motorcycle driver’s helmet use was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The truck driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the improper turn led to this injury crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 25 - A 79-year-old woman suffered head injuries and semiconsciousness after an SUV made a left turn and hit her at an intersection in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian with minor bleeding and serious trauma.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2021 Ford SUV, traveling east on Sutton Street in Brooklyn, made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and sustained head injuries, resulting in semiconsciousness and minor bleeding. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, causing center front-end damage to the SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle without occupants. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801268 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 24 - A car making a left turn hit a 72-year-old man crossing at Union Ave and Scholes St. The impact crushed his chest. He died at the scene. The street stayed silent after.

A 72-year-old man walking at the intersection of Union Ave and Scholes St in Brooklyn was killed when a car making a left turn struck him. According to the police report, the vehicle was traveling east and hit the pedestrian in the chest, causing fatal internal injuries. The report lists the pedestrian as being at the intersection, engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' No driver errors or contributing factors are recorded in the data. The crash left one person dead. No further details on vehicle type or driver actions are provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 24 - A 73-year-old man was struck at a Brooklyn intersection while crossing against the signal. The cyclist, traveling northwest, collided head-on due to driver inattention. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and lost consciousness, bleeding from the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:45 on Lee Ave near Heyward St in Brooklyn. A cyclist traveling northwest went straight ahead and struck a 73-year-old male pedestrian crossing against the signal. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The pedestrian was injured, suffering a head injury with unconsciousness and minor bleeding. The cyclist's vehicle showed no damage, indicating a direct impact with the pedestrian. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' due to crossing against the signal, but the primary driver error was the cyclist's inattention. The victim was not blamed for the crash; the focus remains on the cyclist's failure to maintain attention, which led to this serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 23 - 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

Mar 21 - A 28-year-old female bicyclist suffered a head injury and partial ejection when an SUV making a left turn hit her bike head-on. The crash, marked by driver inattention, left the cyclist bruised but conscious in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:25 PM on Gardner Ave in Brooklyn. A 28-year-old female bicyclist traveling north was struck by a 2024 Jeep SUV making a left turn southbound. The point of impact was the SUV's left front bumper against the bike's center front end. The bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained a head contusion, classified as injury severity 3, but remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to adequately observe or yield to the bicyclist. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was not using any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's front end, while the SUV showed no damage. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers making turns in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801011 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 21 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - Dumbo’s speed limit drops to 20 mph. Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone targets crowded streets. Ten severe injuries and one death in five years haunt the area. Council Member Restler and DOT push for slower traffic. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 19, 2025, Council Member Lincoln Restler announced the lowering of Dumbo’s speed limit to 20 mph, making it Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone. The measure follows the passage of Sammy’s Law, which lets the city set its own speed limits. The Department of Transportation cited ten severe injuries and one death in Dumbo over five years. The new zone covers streets packed with pedestrians, from Furman to Navy and Hudson, and John to Sands and the BQE. Restler said, 'Data has shown that a one mile per hour increase in speed results in a nearly three percent increase in mortality.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added, 'Lowering vehicle speed limits by even a few miles per hour could be the difference between life or death in a traffic crash.' The change will take effect after a public comment period. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for more slow zones in high-crash neighborhoods. The city plans to expand 20 mph limits to over 250 locations by the end of 2025.

• Speed limit in Dumbo to be lowered to 20 mph as nabe becomes Brooklyn’s first ‘Regional Slow Zone’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-19

Mar 15 - Two SUVs collided head-to-tail on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe speed as causes. Both occupants were conscious and restrained, but injuries were serious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 18:40. A BMW SUV traveling west struck the rear of a Chevrolet SUV also traveling west. The point of impact was the center front end of the BMW and the center back end of the Chevrolet. The Chevrolet had two occupants: a male driver and a female front passenger, both aged 55. Both occupants were conscious but suffered neck injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at 3. Both were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision highlights driver errors leading to serious occupant injuries in a rear-end crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 12 - An SUV executing an improper U-turn struck a moped traveling east on Grand Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver was ejected and suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash highlights dangerous turning maneuvers and severe rider harm in NYC streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:41 on Grand Street near Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver was making an improper U-turn when the vehicle's left rear quarter panel collided with the center front end of a moped traveling straight ahead eastbound. The moped driver, a 25-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained back injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, pointing to the SUV driver's error. The moped driver was not noted for any contributing factors. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by improper turning maneuvers by motor vehicles, resulting in severe injuries to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 12 - Two sedans crashed at Jackson Street and Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Police cited unsafe speed and driver distraction as causes. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:22 p.m. on Jackson Street near Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. Two sedans collided: a 2008 Volvo making a left turn and a 2022 BMW traveling straight north. The point of impact was the center front end of the Volvo and the right front quarter panel of the BMW. The Volvo driver, a 56-year-old man, was injured with whiplash and bodily injuries to his entire body but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The Volvo driver’s distraction is specifically noted. Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 9 - Two SUVs collided at dawn on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Unsafe lane change and driver distraction led to impact. A front passenger suffered facial bruises. Metal twisted. The road stayed hard.

According to the police report, two SUVs crashed at 5:23 AM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One driver changed lanes unsafely while distracted, striking another SUV. The Hyundai was hit on its right rear bumper; the Mercedes took the blow on its left front. A 20-year-old male front passenger in the Mercedes was injured, suffering facial contusions. He was restrained by a lap belt and not ejected. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors caused the crash and the passenger's injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 8 - Blood streaked Broadway and Lorimer. Two drivers ran the light. The unlicensed moped rider, twenty-six, flew from his seat. His face split open, he stayed awake. Metal torn, traffic roaring, danger unchecked at the Brooklyn corner.

At the intersection of Broadway and Lorimer Street in Brooklyn, a violent collision left a 26-year-old unlicensed moped rider ejected and bleeding from severe facial lacerations. According to the police report, 'Both drivers ran the light.' The moped's rear was torn in the crash, and the rider was thrown from his seat, remaining conscious but badly injured. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles involved. The moped operator was unlicensed, but the data centers driver actions: both failed to obey traffic signals, creating lethal conditions for all road users. The police report describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Blood ran from deep cuts across his face.' No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the systemic danger when drivers ignore traffic controls at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19