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

May 24 - A moped driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an improper left turn collided with a northbound taxi on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver was in shock and bleeding, with no damage reported to either vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:15 on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn involving a taxi and a moped. The moped driver, a 31-year-old male with a permit license, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The taxi, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight north. The report identifies 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, indicating the moped driver’s error in executing the turn. The moped driver sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, experienced shock, and had minor bleeding. Neither vehicle showed damage upon impact. The taxi driver was uninjured. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing the cause on the moped driver’s improper turning maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A 33-year-old bicyclist was injured on Broadway in Brooklyn after a collision involving aggressive driving. The cyclist suffered lower leg injuries and was wearing a helmet. Police cite other vehicular factors and road rage as contributing causes.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Broadway near Leonard Street in Brooklyn at 16:43 involving a bicyclist and a Nissan car. The bicyclist, a 33-year-old male, was injured with trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies aggressive driving and other vehicular factors as contributing causes, highlighting driver errors related to road rage. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time and was not ejected from his bike. Both vehicles were traveling westbound and collided at their center front ends. The police report emphasizes the role of the vehicle driver’s aggressive behavior and other vehicular factors in causing the crash, without attributing fault to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A sedan struck an e-bike rider as the cyclist started from parking on Ainslie Street in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the sedan driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:50 on Ainslie Street in Brooklyn. The e-bike, traveling south, was starting from parking when it was struck on the right side doors by a sedan traveling east. The sedan's point of impact was its center front end. The e-bike driver, a 40-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the sedan driver as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing. The collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users starting from parking positions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A bus struck a 16-year-old cyclist head-on on Broadway. The boy flew from his bike, landing hard. His head split open, blood pooling on the street. The bus rolled away, untouched. The boy lay conscious, pain etched across his face.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on Broadway struck a 16-year-old male cyclist head-on. The collision ejected the cyclist from his bike, resulting in severe head lacerations. The report states the bus driver was inattentive and failed to yield the right-of-way. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, landed hard on the pavement and remained conscious with a torn-open head. The bus sustained no damage and continued on. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The narrative details the violence of the impact and the aftermath, emphasizing the unyielding force of the bus and the vulnerability of the young cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727033 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Three vehicles collided in a chain-reaction crash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 64-year-old front-seat passenger suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved rear-end impacts and was caused by a driver following too closely.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:15 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving three vehicles traveling westbound. The collision sequence began with a station wagon/SUV striking the center back end of a sedan, which then impacted the center back end of another SUV. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in maintaining safe distance. A 64-year-old female front passenger in the sedan sustained neck injuries and was in shock, reporting pain and nausea. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report explicitly identifies driver failure to maintain proper following distance as the cause, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727445 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-05-21

May 20 - A truck rear-ended a sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Two men in the sedan suffered neck injuries. Police cite following too closely by the truck. Impact was hard. Both victims stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a tractor truck diesel rear-ended a sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 8:17 AM. Both vehicles traveled westbound. The truck struck the sedan's center back end. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, showing driver error by the truck operator. Two men in the sedan—a 57-year-old driver and a 19-year-old passenger—sustained neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors for the victims. The crash underscores the danger when drivers follow too closely at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - A northbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped sedan on Beadel Street. The sedan’s driver, a 51-year-old man, suffered back injuries and shock. Police cite following too closely as the cause, highlighting driver error in a chain-reaction crash.

According to the police report, at 5:35 AM on Beadel Street, a northbound SUV driven by a licensed female driver traveling straight ahead struck the center back end of a stopped sedan. The sedan, driven by a 51-year-old licensed male driver wearing a lap belt and harness, was stopped in traffic when the SUV rear-ended it. The impact caused back injuries and shock to the sedan driver, who was not ejected and showed no visible complaints. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision resulted in damage to the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway late at night. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause. Both vehicles were traveling westbound at impact.

According to the police report, at 11:55 PM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, two sedans traveling westbound collided. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of a 2018 Honda and the center front end of a 2024 Mercedes. The driver of the Honda, a 25-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck pain and shock, and was restrained by a lap belt. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating the striking vehicle failed to maintain a safe distance. Both drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead at the time of impact. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - A Honda SUV turned left across Union Avenue. A woman pedaled straight. Metal struck flesh. She flew, head slamming down. Blood pooled on South 2nd Street. Shock swallowed her. The city kept moving. The driver failed to yield.

A collision occurred at Union Avenue and South 2nd Street in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Honda SUV 'turned left' while a 26-year-old woman on a bike 'went straight.' The report states, 'Metal met bone. She flew. Her head struck. Blood pooled. Shock took her.' The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was ejected from her bike. Police cite 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, while the bike was struck on the left front quarter panel. The report does not list any cyclist behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver's left turn and failure to yield, compounded by alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726548 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - SUV driver distracted. Failed to yield. Hit cyclist head-on. Cyclist suffered facial abrasions. Blood on the street. Brooklyn night. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 290 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:10 p.m. An SUV, parked before the incident, struck a 39-year-old male bicyclist traveling east. The cyclist was injured, suffering abrasions to the face but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. The SUV was hit on its left side doors, while the bike was damaged at the center front. The police report highlights driver distraction and failure to yield as the primary causes. No contributing actions by the cyclist are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727778 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - An SUV making a right turn hit a northbound e-bike on Broadway near Graham Avenue. The e-bike rider suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury, left front quarter panel damage marks the SUV. Driver inattention caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:10 on Broadway near Graham Avenue. The SUV was making a right turn northeast when it struck the e-bike traveling north. The point of impact was the SUV's left front quarter panel and the e-bike's center front end. The e-bike rider, a 49-year-old male, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and experienced shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention during the turn. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited. The SUV had no occupants other than the driver, and the e-bike rider was licensed. Vehicle damage and injury severity confirm the impact's force and the rider's vulnerability.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - An 81-year-old woman suffered a head injury after being struck by a northbound pick-up truck on Humboldt Street. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal. The driver, licensed and going straight, showed no vehicle damage at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Humboldt Street in Brooklyn at 9:52 AM. An 81-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a northbound pick-up truck struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, a factor noted in the report. The driver was licensed in New York and was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed collision. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and was incoherent with minor bleeding. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the pedestrian crossing against the signal. No driver errors such as failure to yield were explicitly cited, but the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal was a critical element in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726131 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - An 81-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after a sedan making a right turn struck her while she crossed with the signal on Varet Street in Brooklyn. The vehicle's front center impacted the pedestrian off intersection, causing minor bleeding.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Varet Street near Humboldt Street in Brooklyn at 9:30 AM. An 81-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a sedan traveling north and making a right turn struck her. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end, which sustained damage in the collision. The pedestrian suffered head injuries, was in shock, and experienced minor bleeding. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the pedestrian. The driver's pre-crash action of making a right turn and the resulting impact indicate a failure to yield to a pedestrian crossing with the signal. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 14 - A sedan and box truck crashed head-on in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver distraction for both. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 2014 Kia sedan and a 2024 Mack box truck collided at 951 Grand Street in Brooklyn at 9:50 AM. The impact struck the left front bumpers of both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 43-year-old man, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. He was conscious and wearing a harness. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The sedan was damaged; the truck was not. The report does not mention any other injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724746 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Two sedans collided in Brooklyn at dusk. The female driver suffered a head injury and concussion. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Impact occurred at the right rear bumper. The crash left one occupant injured and conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Brooklyn near Ten Eyck Street at 7:20 p.m. Two sedans traveling east collided, with impact at the right rear bumper. The injured party was a 27-year-old female driver who sustained a head injury and concussion but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles were initially parked before the crash, indicating driver error in vehicle movement or control. No other contributing factors were specified. The report focuses on driver actions leading to the collision and does not attribute fault to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724740 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 11 - A 24-year-old male bicyclist suffered full-body abrasions and partial ejection after a collision on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved driver inexperience and failure to maintain safe distance, resulting in serious injury and vehicle damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:00 PM on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 24-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions over his entire body, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The bicyclist was riding straight ahead when the collision happened, impacting the center back end of his bike and the center front end of the other vehicle involved. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report highlights the driver errors of failing to maintain a safe following distance and inexperience behind the controls, which directly contributed to the crash and the bicyclist’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723920 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19