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

An SUV struck a cyclist on Manhattan Ave in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 24-year-old man, suffered arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention. The SUV’s right side was hit. The cyclist’s bike showed no damage. Streets remain dangerous for those outside cars.

A crash on Manhattan Ave at Withers St in Brooklyn involved a Ford SUV and a cyclist. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling north and the cyclist was heading west when the collision occurred. The 24-year-old male cyclist was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his arm. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were noted in the report. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, but this was not listed as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The incident highlights the ongoing risk faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809053, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Morning light on Ainslie Street. A box truck and a sedan collide head-on. Metal crunches, glass scatters. A young woman in the sedan’s rear seat suffers a head abrasion. Sirens echo. The city keeps moving, but someone is hurt.

According to the police report, a sedan and a box truck, both traveling north, collided at 31 Ainslie Street in Brooklyn. The impact left a 25-year-old female passenger in the sedan with a head abrasion. She was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles, indicating actions by one or both drivers led to the crash. No further details on specific driver errors are provided. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807984, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Morning light on Metropolitan Avenue. A concrete mixer slams into the back of a sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 32-year-old woman, is left in shock, clutching her chest. Sirens echo as traffic halts, metal and glass scattered across the street.

According to the police report, a concrete mixer traveling east on Metropolitan Avenue struck the rear of a sedan, also headed east. The impact left the sedan’s driver, a 32-year-old woman, injured and in shock, with chest pain reported at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors to the crash. The concrete mixer’s front end collided with the sedan’s rear, causing visible damage to both vehicles. No mention of helmet or signal use was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808265, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pick-up truck’s door swung open on Broadway at Graham Avenue. A 22-year-old woman riding a bike hit the door, thrown hard onto the street. She clutched her shoulder, blood on her arm. Sirens echoed as she stayed conscious, shaken but alive.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Broadway at Graham Avenue involving a pick-up truck and a bicyclist. The 22-year-old female cyclist was ejected from her bike after striking the left side doors of a parked Ford pick-up truck, sustaining abrasions and an upper arm injury. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, along with 'Passing Too Closely.' No helmet use was noted, but helmet status was not cited as a contributing factor. The cyclist remained conscious at the scene. The incident highlights the persistent danger posed by inattentive actions around parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807836, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal screeched on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway as a taxi and van collided. Three people, all conscious, suffered bruises and whiplash. The crash left the vehicles scarred and passengers shaken in the early morning dark.

According to the police report, a taxi and a van traveling westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided, resulting in injuries to three occupants: the taxi driver, a front-seat passenger, and a rear passenger. All sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including contusions and whiplash. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor for all injured parties, indicating that at least one driver failed to maintain adequate distance. 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' is also cited as a factor in the crash. No mention is made of helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The impact damaged the left front bumper of both vehicles and the right rear bumper of the taxi.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807523, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Honda sedan struck two teens on a bike at Driggs Avenue and North 9th Street. Metal crashed. Blood spilled. The unlicensed driver looked away, ignoring traffic controls. The night echoed with shock and pain, leaving young bodies torn and trembling.

According to the police report, a Honda sedan traveling east on Driggs Avenue collided with a bike carrying a 16-year-old boy and girl at North 9th Street in Brooklyn. Both teens were partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to the head and chest, with shock noted in each case. The report states the sedan's driver was unlicensed and had 'looked away,' citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the center front end of the sedan and the right side doors of the bike. No safety equipment was used by the victims, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and ignoring traffic controls, especially when an unlicensed driver is behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807776, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal crumpled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway ramp. Three people, all conscious, clutched their necks after a sudden jolt. The air was thick with the sharp scent of rubber and the echo of impact. Emergency crews moved quickly.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway ramp struck the rear of two stopped SUVs. Three occupants—two passengers aged 77 and 75, and a 48-year-old driver—suffered neck injuries and reported whiplash. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the driver of the sedan. All injured individuals were wearing lap belts and harnesses. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash underscores the dangers of driver fatigue and distraction, which led directly to these injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806826, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 35-year-old man suffered back injuries and shock after a collision on Meeker Avenue near Vandervoort Avenue. The crash left the sedan’s right rear bumper damaged. Emergency responders found the driver complaining of whiplash, shaken but conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Meeker Avenue near Vandervoort Avenue was involved in a crash that resulted in injury to the 35-year-old male driver. The report states the driver sustained back injuries and was in shock, with whiplash as a primary complaint. The sedan suffered damage to its right rear bumper. Police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on the cause. No other vehicle information or injuries were documented. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807488, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal scraped and glass scattered on McGuinness Boulevard at Meserole Avenue. A 31-year-old driver suffered a leg abrasion. Engines idled as first responders arrived. The air was thick with the smell of oil and burnt rubber.

According to the police report, a crash involving a box truck, a sedan, and a pickup occurred on McGuinness Boulevard near Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver, age 31, sustained a knee and lower leg abrasion. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors led to the collision, which left visible damage to the vehicles’ front ends and quarter panels. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807008, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 26-year-old woman crossing McGuinness Boulevard at Calyer Street was hit by a sedan. She remained conscious, clutching her bruised hip and leg as traffic moved around her. The air was tense, horns blaring, as bystanders watched emergency crews arrive.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old pedestrian was injured while crossing McGuinness Boulevard at Calyer Street in Brooklyn. The incident occurred as a sedan, driven by a licensed driver from Texas, made a left turn and struck the pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to the hip and upper leg but remained conscious at the scene. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805407, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided late at night on White Street near Varet Street in Brooklyn. Metal scraped and bumpers crumpled under harsh streetlights. A 33-year-old driver was left in shock, injury details unclear. The air was tense, sirens echoing through the block.

According to the police report, two sedans were involved in a crash on White Street at Varet Street in Brooklyn. The collision occurred as one vehicle was starting from parking and the other was parked. A 33-year-old male driver was reported in shock, with unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to properly check surroundings or yield while reversing. No other driver errors or equipment issues were cited in the data. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807012, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 32-year-old man crossing Metropolitan Avenue at Morgan Avenue was hit by an SUV’s left front bumper. The crash left him conscious but bruised and bleeding from the head. Sirens echoed as bystanders watched the injured man sit stunned on the pavement.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/SUV traveling northeast on Metropolitan Avenue struck a 32-year-old male pedestrian as he crossed at the intersection with Morgan Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, hit him with its left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors on the part of the driver. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious at the scene. No mention of helmet use or signaling was included in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805533, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Afternoon sun strikes Metropolitan Avenue. A moped’s front end is smashed, plastic shards scattered. The driver’s leg and foot are bruised and twisted. Blood stains the asphalt. Two men and a child remain unnamed, their injuries unknown. The car is untouched.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on Metropolitan Avenue near Catherine Street in Brooklyn involving a moped and another vehicle. The moped driver, a 32-year-old man, suffered contusions and injuries to his leg and foot. The report notes that two men and a child were present, but their injuries are not specified. The moped sustained significant front-end damage, while the car involved showed no damage. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. These driver errors are listed as primary causes in the report. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805534, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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, 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 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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14