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

Mar 8 - A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

Mar 6 - Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to cut speed limits in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to 20 mph. Residents and officials demand action after deadly crashes. DOT has yet to respond. The fight pits safety against drivers. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 6, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to request a 20 mph speed limit for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The measure, supported by 40 groups and nearly all local elected officials, marks the first neighborhood-wide slow zone request since the passage of Sammy's Law. The board's action follows letters from Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. They cited CB1's high fatality rate—3.27 deaths per 10,000 residents, above the city average. The board's vote was contentious, with pro-driving members opposing the change. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno acknowledged the support and promised more information on slow zones for outer boroughs. Council Member Lincoln Restler later joined the call for lower speeds. The measure now awaits DOT action.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg Beg DOT for 20MPH Slow Zone, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-06

Mar 6 - Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to cut speed limits in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to 20 mph. Residents and officials demand action after deadly crashes. DOT has yet to respond. The fight pits safety against drivers. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 6, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to request a 20 mph speed limit for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The measure, supported by 40 groups and nearly all local elected officials, marks the first neighborhood-wide slow zone request since the passage of Sammy's Law. The board's action follows letters from Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. They cited CB1's high fatality rate—3.27 deaths per 10,000 residents, above the city average. The board's vote was contentious, with pro-driving members opposing the change. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno acknowledged the support and promised more information on slow zones for outer boroughs. Council Member Lincoln Restler later joined the call for lower speeds. The measure now awaits DOT action.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg Beg DOT for 20MPH Slow Zone, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-06

Mar 4 - Two drivers collided on Meeker Avenue late at night. Both drivers suffered injuries and shock. The crash involved a sport utility vehicle and a box truck, each making improper turns. The impact caused bodily harm but no ejections.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:15 on Meeker Avenue involving a 2024 Chevrolet SUV traveling north making a right turn and a 2016 box truck traveling east making a left turn. Both drivers were cited for 'Turning Improperly,' which contributed to the collision. The SUV was struck on its left front quarter panel, sustaining damage to its left front bumper, while the box truck showed no damage. The SUV driver, a 38-year-old male, and a 39-year-old female front passenger were both injured, suffering knee, lower leg, foot, and full-body injuries respectively, and experienced shock. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report highlights driver errors in turning as the cause, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. 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 crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

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

Mar 2 - 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

Mar 1 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - A taxi making a left turn struck a northbound sedan on McGuinness Boulevard. Both drivers suffered head and internal injuries. According to the police report, driver distraction caused the crash, leaving both men conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, shortly after midnight on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, a taxi making a left turn westbound collided with a northbound BMW sedan. The taxi struck the sedan's center front end with its right front quarter panel. Both drivers, aged 44 and 49, were injured—one with a concussion, the other with internal head injuries. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts at the time. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor for both drivers. Neither driver was ejected from their vehicles. This crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Feb 28 - Two sedans collided on S 5 St in Brooklyn when one driver made an unsafe lane change. The front passenger of one vehicle suffered back injuries and shock. The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles’ side panels.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:40 on S 5 St in Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling eastbound collided when one driver committed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing,' causing the impact. The left front bumper of one sedan struck the right rear bumper of the other. The front passenger in the second vehicle, a 32-year-old female, was injured with back pain and shock, restrained by a harness. The report highlights driver errors as the primary contributing factors, specifically improper passing and unsafe lane changes. Vehicle damage was recorded on the left front quarter panel of one car and the right rear quarter panel of the other. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - A 28-year-old moped driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after disregarding traffic control and failing to yield right-of-way. The collision impacted the moped's front center, leaving the driver in shock and wearing a helmet.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Metropolitan Ave near Union Ave in Brooklyn at 10:15. The moped driver, a 28-year-old male, was injured with knee and lower leg trauma and experienced shock. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factors. The moped's front center end was the point of impact. The driver was helmeted but still sustained injuries. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report highlights the driver’s errors in ignoring traffic signals and failing to yield, which directly led to the collision and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 27 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Both drivers suffered full-body injuries and shock. The crash involved improper lane usage. The vehicles sustained front and rear bumper damage. Both drivers complained of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 16:12. Two sedans traveling eastbound collided. The first vehicle, a 2022 BMW sedan, was going straight ahead when it struck the rear of a 2014 Honda sedan that was merging. The point of impact was the BMW's center front end and the Honda's center back end, causing damage to the right front bumper of the BMW and the left rear bumper of the Honda. Both drivers, licensed men from New York, suffered injuries to their entire bodies and were in shock, each complaining of pain or nausea. The report cites "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to lane management. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795325 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - A cyclist hit a parked pick-up in Brooklyn. He flew from his bike. He bruised his leg, knee, and foot. Police blamed confusion. The truck stood still. The street stayed hard.

According to the police report, a bicyclist traveling north struck the right side doors of a parked pick-up truck near 966 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:49 AM. The cyclist, a 50-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as the contributing factor. The pick-up truck was stationary and undamaged. The bicyclist wore a helmet. No driver errors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - A bicyclist riding south on Graham Avenue was struck by a sedan making a U-turn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision. The cyclist suffered bruises and lower leg injuries but remained conscious and helmeted at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred shortly after midnight on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan was making a U-turn when it struck a southbound bicyclist. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The bicyclist, a 37-year-old man, was wearing a helmet and was not ejected from his bike. He sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The sedan’s left rear bumper was the point of impact, while the bike’s center front end was damaged. The driver’s failure to maintain attention during the U-turn directly led to the collision, highlighting systemic dangers posed by distracted driving in shared street spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795283 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - A bus struck a pedestrian crossing outside a signal and injured a passenger inside. Both suffered bruises and moderate injuries. The driver’s inattention caused the crash, highlighting dangers of distracted driving in Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a 2015 New Flyer bus traveling west on S 4 St in Brooklyn struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian crossing without a signal. The pedestrian was injured with contusions to his elbow and lower arm. Inside the bus, a 53-year-old female passenger seated in the right rear suffered a head contusion. Both victims were conscious and sustained moderate injuries. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The bus’s point of impact was the left front bumper, yet the vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted bus drivers in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795232 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - A 35-year-old e-bike rider was partially ejected and injured on Meadow Street in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn, causing a collision that left the cyclist with arm bruises and contusions.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:20 p.m. on Meadow Street near Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision involved a motorcycle making a right turn westbound and an e-bike traveling northbound. The e-bike rider, a 35-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, including contusions and bruises. The report cites the motorcycle driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was conscious and wearing a helmet, but no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The motorcycle showed no damage despite the impact to its center front end, while the e-bike was described as demolished. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding and attention in Brooklyn's streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 22 - SUV driver, distracted, struck a westbound cyclist on Greenpoint Ave. The impact threw the rider, leaving him bruised and hurt. Metal bent. Flesh bruised. Danger in a moment’s lapse.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2024 Mazda SUV, driven by a licensed woman, struck him with its right front quarter panel while entering a parked position on Greenpoint Avenue. The cyclist, heading west, was partially ejected and suffered contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged. No contributing factors were attributed to the bicyclist. The crash underscores the risk posed by driver distraction during parking maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794469 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - A distracted driver caused a violent crash on Bushwick Avenue, leaving a 25-year-old male passenger unconscious with severe head injuries. The impact fractured and dislocated bones, highlighting the dangers of driver inattention in Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:00 PM on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The sole injured party was a 25-year-old male occupant who was not ejected but suffered a severe head injury described as a fracture, distortion, and dislocation. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor to the collision. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, indicating a frontal collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The injured occupant was unconscious and not using any safety equipment at the time, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. This crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - Two SUVs collided on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of one SUV suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:29 AM on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn involving two SUVs traveling east and north. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the left front bumper of the other. The driver of the eastbound SUV, a 39-year-old female, was injured with neck pain and whiplash, remaining conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends, confirming the impact location. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19