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

Nov 29 - A 26-year-old man was struck at an intersection on McGuinness Blvd in Brooklyn. The vehicle, traveling north, hit the pedestrian with its right front quarter panel. Unsafe speed by the driver contributed to the crash, causing knee and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at the intersection of McGuinness Blvd and Huron St in Brooklyn at 1:35 AM. The 26-year-old male pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle involved was traveling north, going straight ahead, and struck the pedestrian with its right front quarter panel. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. The driver’s failure to control speed created the conditions for the collision, resulting in significant injury to the pedestrian, who was located at the intersection at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775426 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 28 - A sedan struck the left rear quarter panel of a taxi on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver, impaired by alcohol and speeding, suffered an eye abrasion but was not ejected. Both vehicles traveled southbound at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway around 12:50 AM. A sedan traveling southbound collided with the left rear quarter panel of a taxi also heading south. The sedan driver, a 28-year-old male occupant, was injured with an eye abrasion and remained conscious. The report cites alcohol involvement and unsafe speed as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicles were going straight ahead prior to the collision, with the sedan sustaining damage to its right front bumper and the taxi to its left rear quarter panel. The driver’s impaired condition and speeding were key errors leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A sedan making a left turn struck an e-scooter rider traveling straight south on Leonard Street in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:22 on Leonard Street in Brooklyn. A sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a left turn when it collided with an e-scooter traveling straight south. The e-scooter driver, a 36-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the sedan's left front quarter panel and the e-scooter's center front end. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to properly observe the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was not cited for any error contributing to the crash. Vehicle damage and injury severity confirm the impact's force and the vulnerability of the e-scooter rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774778 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A sedan’s blocked view led to a side-door collision with a northbound cyclist on Manhattan Ave. The rider was thrown, suffering bruises to her abdomen and pelvis. Obstructed sightlines turned a parked car into a hazard.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old female bicyclist traveling north on Manhattan Avenue near Noble Street in Brooklyn struck the left side doors of a parked 2004 Acura sedan at 12:13. The impact partially ejected the cyclist, causing contusions and bruises to her abdomen and pelvis. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, showing that limited sightlines played a role in the crash. The sedan was stationary before the collision. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No other driver errors or victim actions were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 26 - A 67-year-old woman was struck by a taxi making a left turn on Engert Ave. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the distracted driver failed to yield. She suffered bruises and leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on Engert Ave was making a left turn when it struck a 67-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The incident highlights the driver's failure to maintain attention while executing a turn, resulting in serious injury to a lawful crossing pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 25 - Bay Ridge’s parks and promenade get $30 million for repairs and upgrades. Community Board 10 approves. New lighting, wider paths, and more green space promised. Council Member Justin Brannan funds and supports. Cyclists and pedestrians get safer, smoother routes. No timeline yet.

On November 25, 2024, City Council Member Justin Brannan and Community Board 10 announced approval and funding for major upgrades to the Bay Ridge Promenade and Leif Ericson Park. The Parks Committee and full board both voted unanimously for the $30 million overhaul, which includes $20.97 million for the Shore Road Promenade and $9.25 million for Leif Ericson Park. The project, described as 'Destination: Greenways!', will expand green space, separate bike and pedestrian lanes, add lighting, and install new amenities. Brannan, a key funder and supporter, said, 'Our local parks are the lungs of our city.' The overhaul aims to improve recreational cycling, repair pothole-ridden paths, and increase accessibility. Board members raised concerns about safety and sanitation, which the Parks Department pledged to address in final designs. No construction timeline has been set.

• Bay Ridge community board greenlights $30M facelift for Shore Road Promenade, Leif Ericson Park, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-25

Nov 24 - A 32-year-old female bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV struck her on Berry Street in Brooklyn. The police report cites driver inattention and distraction as key factors. The SUV showed no damage; the bike’s right side was damaged.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at noon on Berry Street in Brooklyn. A 32-year-old female bicyclist was injured with contusions and trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was the driver of the bike, traveling south, while the SUV was traveling east. The SUV struck the bicyclist on the right side doors, causing damage to the bike’s right side doors but no damage to the SUV. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the crash, specifically noting this twice. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited. The bicyclist was not ejected and was injured but not fatally. The report highlights systemic danger from distracted driving leading to serious injuries for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - Two sedans crashed on Graham Ave in Brooklyn. A 51-year-old front passenger took the brunt. Whiplash. Full-body pain. The crash came from failure to yield. Metal twisted. Sirens followed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 22:38 on Graham Ave in Brooklyn. The northbound sedan was struck on its right front quarter panel by a westbound sedan’s left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. A 51-year-old female front passenger in the northbound sedan suffered whiplash and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash shows the danger when drivers fail to yield and pay attention at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A drowsy driver crashed his sedan into a stopped car on North Henry Street. The impact injured the 71-year-old man. Police cite fatigue as the cause. No one else was hurt.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old male driver fell asleep while heading north on North Henry Street in Brooklyn. His 2003 Mercedes sedan struck the rear of a stopped 2008 Chevrolet sedan. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as the contributing factor. The driver who fell asleep was injured and incoherent but remained restrained by a lap belt. The striking vehicle suffered front-end damage. The stopped car had no damage, and no other injuries were reported. Driver fatigue is cited as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773661 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - Council weakened Adams’s zoning plan. Parking mandates stay in low-density zones. Central areas lose mandates. Housing projections drop. Some neighborhoods bear the burden. Car-centric rules persist. Vulnerable road users see little relief. The city’s streets remain dangerous.

""The consequences of today's decision to exempt R1, R2, and R3 contextual districts from City of Yes are severe," he said in a statement. "The housing pressure on every other neighborhood will go up, which means if Queens or Staten Island doesn't grow, Brooklyn is asked to do more than our fair share."" -- Antonio Reynoso

Bill: City of Yes zoning reform. Status: Amended and advanced by City Council on November 22, 2024. The Council’s action, described as 'watering down' the mayor’s plan, keeps mandatory parking in low-density neighborhoods while ending it in central areas. The matter summary states: 'ending mandatory parking in areas with the best transit while keeping the costly mandate in low-density neighborhoods where it most hinders development.' Council Member Crystal Hudson voted yes, urging all neighborhoods to share the housing burden. Council Member Kevin Riley defended single-family zones. Council Member Rafael Salamanca cited balancing concerns and securing $5 billion for affordable housing. Borough President Antonio Reynoso warned of increased housing pressure elsewhere. The Council’s changes preserve car-centric zoning, leaving vulnerable road users exposed and limiting progress on safer, less car-dependent streets.

• Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-22

Nov 20 - A 26-year-old front-seat passenger suffered head injuries and minor bleeding in a Brooklyn crash involving two sedans. The impact struck the left front bumper of one vehicle and the left side doors of the other. Driver distraction caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Franklin Street in Brooklyn at 7:54 AM involving two sedans traveling west and south. The impact was on the left front bumper of the westbound sedan and the left side doors of the southbound sedan. A 26-year-old female front passenger was injured, sustaining head trauma and minor bleeding, and was in shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in multi-vehicle collisions, with serious injuries to vehicle occupants even when restrained.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - A box truck and sedan collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway late at night. The sedan driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered chest injuries and shock. Police cited improper lane usage as the cause. No ejections or visible complaints were reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:39 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The collision involved a 2016 box truck traveling north and a 2024 sedan also heading north. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the truck and the left front quarter panel of the sedan, which sustained damage. The sedan driver, a 33-year-old male occupant, was injured with chest trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The driver was wearing a lap belt. The police report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor to the crash, pointing to driver error in lane management. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both drivers were licensed in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776735 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - Two sedans collided on Grand Street in Brooklyn. The rear passenger of the stopped vehicle suffered head injuries and whiplash. Driver inattention caused the crash. The injured occupant was conscious and restrained by a lap belt during impact.

According to the police report, a rear-end collision occurred on Grand Street in Brooklyn at 7:00 PM involving two sedans traveling north. The front sedan, driven by a male from Virginia, was going straight ahead and struck the rear of a stopped sedan driven by a licensed female from New York. The impact was at the center front end of the striking vehicle and the center back end of the stopped vehicle. The rear passenger, a 21-year-old female, sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to rear-end impacts and serious injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - Taxi merged too close. Slammed sedan’s rear. Woman at wheel hurt, chest bruised, in shock. Police blame taxi for tailgating. Expressway speed turned mistake into pain.

According to the police report, a taxi merging westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway struck the center rear of a sedan traveling straight. The sedan’s 36-year-old female driver suffered chest injuries and shock. Police cited the taxi driver for "Following Too Closely." The sedan was damaged at the center back end. No contributing factors were listed for the sedan driver. The crash shows the danger when drivers fail to keep distance during merging on high-speed roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772614 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - A taxi making a left turn struck a southbound motorcycle on Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver, helmeted, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield and improper lane usage as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:16 on Humboldt Street in Brooklyn when a taxi making a left turn collided with a motorcycle traveling southbound. The motorcycle driver, a 49-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors attributed to the motorcycle driver. The taxi driver was also implicated in the failure to yield. The motorcycle's point of impact was the left front quarter panel, indicating a side collision with the taxi. Both vehicles were registered in New York and driven by licensed male drivers. The motorcycle driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. This collision highlights critical driver errors involving yielding and lane use that led to injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773003 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A sedan struck a 35-year-old bicyclist on Graham Avenue. The crash left the cyclist with a head injury. Driver confusion and reaction errors fueled the impact. The street turned dangerous in a heartbeat.

According to the police report, a sedan starting from parking on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a 35-year-old female bicyclist traveling south. The bicyclist suffered a head contusion and remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The sedan and bike both sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The data highlights driver confusion and systemic danger at the scene. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 14 - Steel shrieked on Meeker Avenue as a westbound sedan plowed into a parked Dodge. A 29-year-old man gripped his bleeding arm, seatbelt biting. The signal was ignored. The wound lingered, echoing the violence of midnight metal.

A westbound Honda sedan struck a parked Dodge on Meeker Avenue near Union Avenue just before midnight, injuring the 29-year-old male driver of the Honda. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as the primary contributing factor. The narrative states, 'The signal was ignored,' underscoring the failure to obey traffic controls. The impact left the driver with severe lacerations to his arm, as he remained restrained by his lap belt. The parked Dodge was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No evidence in the police report attributes any contributing factors to the parked vehicle or its occupants. The collision highlights the consequences when drivers disregard traffic signals, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774773 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 14 - A distracted driver collided with a moped in Brooklyn’s Ross Street area. The moped rider, a 20-year-old man wearing a helmet, suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. The SUV was parked at the time, sustaining left side damage from the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7 PM on Ross Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 20-year-old male wearing a helmet, was traveling east when he was struck on the right front quarter panel by a parked SUV. The SUV sustained damage to its left side doors. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the moped driver’s lack of attention played a role. The moped driver was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The SUV was stationary before the collision. No other contributing factors were listed. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 14 - A southbound SUV making a left turn struck a northbound bicyclist on Broadway in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broadway near Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. A 31-year-old female bicyclist traveling north was struck on her left front quarter panel by a 2014 Jeep SUV making a left turn southbound. The SUV driver, a licensed female, failed to yield the right-of-way, causing the collision. The bicyclist, who was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV and the left front quarter panel of the bike. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772953 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19