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

Jun 8 - Lawmakers killed a bill to force repeat speeders to install devices that stop reckless driving. Upstate politicians balked. The bill will not pass this session. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. No relief. No change. The danger rolls on.

On June 8, 2025, the New York State Assembly Transportation Committee, chaired by William Magnarelli, blocked the Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, had passed the Senate Transportation Committee but stalled in the Assembly. The measure would have required drivers caught speeding six or more times in a year to install devices preventing reckless driving. The matter summary states: 'A bill that would require recidivist speeders to install a simple device to block the car from being driven recklessly will not pass this session.' Gallagher expressed frustration, warning that every delay means preventable crashes and lives lost. Safety analysts note the bill would have directly reduced risk for pedestrians and cyclists by targeting repeat dangerous drivers. Despite support from advocates and NYC DOT, the committee cited due process and enforcement concerns. The bill must be reintroduced next year. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• BREAKING: Key ‘Super Speeders’ Bill Won’t Pass This Session, Says Assembly Transportation Chair, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 8 - Two sedans slammed together on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway ramp. One driver suffered neck and internal injuries. Children in the cars escaped with minor harm. Following too closely left metal twisted and bodies shaken.

Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway ramp in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 40-year-old woman driving one sedan suffered neck and internal injuries. Several passengers, including children aged 8, 11, and 13, were also hurt. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. One car was struck in the rear, the other damaged in front. The data points to a clear driver error: not enough space between vehicles. All those injured were inside the cars. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819687 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Two sedans crashed on Humboldt Street near Boerum. One passenger, a man, took a blow to the face. Shock followed. Police list driver inattention as the cause. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous. The city kept moving.

Two sedans collided on Humboldt Street at Boerum Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south when the crash occurred. A 45-year-old male passenger suffered a facial injury and was in shock. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured passenger was seated in the left rear and wore a lap belt. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. The crash underscores the risk when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - Two taxis collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One driver suffered abdominal injuries. Police cite driver inattention and other vehicular factors. The road remains unforgiving.

Two taxis crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. According to the police report, one driver was injured with abdominal bruising. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling east; one was going straight, the other slowing or stopping. The impact struck the center front of one taxi and the center rear of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - A distracted moped driver crashed on Wythe Avenue. He was ejected and injured. The crash left him with abrasions. No other vehicles struck. Streets stayed dangerous.

A 22-year-old moped driver was ejected and injured on Wythe Avenue at North 10th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The driver suffered abrasions to his entire body. No other vehicles were involved. The report lists no helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash highlights the risk when drivers lose focus, especially for those on smaller vehicles like mopeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - A sedan turned left on Grand Street. A motorcycle struck hard. The rider flew from his bike. He suffered severe arm wounds. Obstructed view and unsafe speed played a role.

A sedan making a left turn on Grand Street collided with a motorcycle traveling straight. The motorcycle rider, a 47-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. According to the police report, 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Unsafe Speed' contributed to the crash. The sedan's right side doors and the motorcycle's front end took the impact. The injured rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819537 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A taxi reversed unsafely on Blue Slip. It struck a 28-year-old man. He suffered leg injuries and shock. The police report lists unsafe backing as the cause.

A taxi reversed on Blue Slip in Brooklyn and hit a 28-year-old man who was not in the roadway. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. According to the police report, the driver backed unsafely, leading to the crash. 'Backing Unsafely' is listed as the sole contributing factor. No other errors or factors are cited in the report. The pedestrian's use of 'Other' safety equipment is noted, but only after the driver's unsafe backing. No blame is placed on the injured pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - Motorscooter crash on Stewart Avenue. Driver hurt. Police cite improper lane use. Impact left rider with abrasions. Brooklyn street, late afternoon, danger in the lane.

A motorscooter crash on Stewart Avenue in Brooklyn left the driver injured. According to the police report, the incident involved improper passing or lane usage. The driver, a 52-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his entire body but remained conscious. Police listed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The driver wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the risk when lane discipline breaks down.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A utility vehicle hit parked cars on Franklin Street. Three adults and two infants were hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Shock followed. The street stayed dangerous.

A utility vehicle traveling south struck two parked cars on Franklin Street in Brooklyn. Three adults and two infants were injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved a Ford utility vehicle, a Toyota SUV, and a Mercedes sedan. Both parked vehicles sustained damage. No other contributing factors were listed. The report highlights driver distraction as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819564 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 2 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A woman suffered chest injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and glass met at speed. The system failed to protect its users.

A crash involving two sedans on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway left a 37-year-old woman with chest injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The impact struck the center front and back ends of the vehicles. One driver and several occupants were involved, with one woman reporting whiplash and chest trauma. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - A sedan hit a cyclist at Provost and Java in Brooklyn. The crash threw the rider from his bike. He suffered a shoulder injury. Police cited improper lane usage. The street saw blood and metal. The system failed the vulnerable again.

A sedan collided with a cyclist at the intersection of Provost Street and Java Street in Brooklyn. The 28-year-old male cyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained a shoulder injury, described as a contusion. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The sedan, traveling north, struck the cyclist, who was making a left turn. The report does not list any errors by the cyclist. The police report notes the cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s improper lane usage. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed the ongoing risks faced by those outside a car’s steel shell.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - A sedan and SUV collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Two people suffered injuries. One passenger hurt her leg. One driver took a blow to the head. Police blamed driver distraction. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The road stayed dangerous.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided while traveling east on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The crash left a 19-year-old female passenger with a knee and lower leg injury and a 21-year-old male driver with a head injury and whiplash. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping before impact. The SUV struck the sedan from behind, damaging the center front of the SUV and the center back of the sedan. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the ongoing threat of driver distraction on New York City highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - A sedan struck a cyclist on Graham Avenue. The rider, 33, suffered bruises. No driver errors listed. Brooklyn streets remain dangerous for those outside cars.

A cyclist, age 33, was injured when a sedan and bike collided at Graham Avenue and Scholes Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered contusions to the entire body and was conscious at the scene. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The crash involved a sedan and a southbound cyclist going straight ahead. The report did not mention any helmet use or signaling as factors. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818409 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - A driver backed up unsafely on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. An e-bike rider struck the vehicle’s rear. The rider suffered a leg injury and shock. The crash left pain and damage. The street stayed dangerous. Metal met flesh. The system failed again.

An e-bike rider was injured in a crash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a vehicle backed unsafely, causing the e-bike to strike the rear of the vehicle. The e-bike rider, a 21-year-old man, suffered a knee and lower leg injury and was in shock. The police report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. The rider reported pain and nausea. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to operate safely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - A sedan hit a man crossing Green Street in a marked crosswalk. The crash left the pedestrian bruised and hurt his hip. Obstructed view cited. Danger at the intersection, pain on the pavement.

A sedan traveling north on Green Street struck a 29-year-old man as he crossed in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a hip injury and a contusion. The driver was making a right turn when the crash occurred. Police listed 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were reported. The data shows the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but the primary factor remains the obstructed view. No mention of helmet or signal use as a cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28