Brooklyn Bleeds: Slow Down or Count More Bodies

Two vehicles traveling west on Linden Blvd collided in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered injuries, including head trauma and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. The crash left both vehicles damaged and occupants hurt.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Linden Blvd near Van Siclen Ave in Brooklyn at 11:30 AM. Two vehicles, a 2021 Honda sedan and a 2018 box truck, both traveling west, struck each other. The sedan was impacted on its left rear bumper, sustaining damage to the left front quarter panel, while the truck was hit on its right front bumper. The female sedan driver, age 64, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles straight ahead when the crash occurred, highlighting systemic risks tied to driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

In Brooklyn, two SUVs collided on Liberty Avenue. One driver suffered hip and upper leg injuries, trapped in shock. The crash stemmed from driver inattention, with impact centered on the front and rear quarter panels. Both drivers were licensed men.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:40 AM involving two sport utility vehicles traveling north and west. The driver of the northbound SUV, a 51-year-old man, was injured with hip and upper leg trauma and experienced shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and complained of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the northbound SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the westbound SUV. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The collision highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction leading to multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders signs at every speed camera. Drivers will see warnings from all directions. Law aims for full sign coverage within a year. No mention of direct safety gains for people on foot or bike.

Int 1218-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 12, 2025, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Susan Zhuang, and Frank Morano. The bill reads: 'requiring the installation of signs indicating the presence of every speed camera.' If passed, the city must install signs near each speed camera, visible from all approaches, within a year. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. There is no analyst note on its impact for vulnerable road users. The measure focuses on driver awareness, not direct protection for pedestrians or cyclists.

• File Int 1218-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-03-12

Two sedans crashed at Miller and Liberty in Brooklyn. One driver, age 58, suffered back injury and whiplash. Both cars were parked before impact. Police list unspecified factors. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at Miller Ave and Liberty Ave in Brooklyn at 11:30 AM. Both vehicles were parked before the crash. The driver of one sedan, a 58-year-old man, was injured with back pain and whiplash. He was not ejected and wore a lap belt. The report lists 'unspecified' contributing factors and does not cite driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact struck the center front of one sedan and the left front quarter of the other. Only the driver was hurt. No further details on fault or cause were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797465 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a parked SUV on Hale Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was hurled onto the street, unconscious and bleeding from the head. The crushed bike lay silent, the night marked by distraction and speed.

A violent crash unfolded on Hale Avenue near Etna Street in Brooklyn when a moped collided with a parked SUV. According to the police report, the 31-year-old moped rider was ejected from his vehicle, struck his head, and was found unconscious and bleeding. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet. The moped was left demolished at the scene. Police attribute the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' explicitly listing distraction as the contributing factor. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797756 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Two SUVs crashed head-on on Highland Place. A woman behind the wheel suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles took heavy front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs traveling south on Highland Place in Brooklyn collided, striking each other's front quarter panels. The 44-year-old female driver of one SUV was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The male driver of the other SUV was licensed and driving straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver but does not cite explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 4-year-old girl suffered upper arm contusions after a sedan made a right turn and struck her in a marked crosswalk. The collision occurred at a Brooklyn intersection, highlighting driver failure to yield to a crossing pedestrian.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Hinsdale Street made a right turn and struck a 4-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk at the intersection with Atlantic Avenue. The child sustained contusions and bruises to her shoulder and upper arm, classified as injury severity level 3. The point of impact was the sedan's right front bumper. The report lists no contributing factors from the pedestrian but notes unspecified contributing factors overall. The driver’s action of making a right turn without yielding to the pedestrian in the crosswalk was the critical error leading to the collision. No information on driver license status or other vehicle occupants was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797453 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turning right on Liberty Ave hit a 61-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered bruises to her knee and leg. Police cite driver distraction. The street failed her, not her actions.

According to the police report, at 19:31 on Liberty Avenue at Eldert Lane, a 2012 Nissan sedan made a right turn and struck a 61-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' twice as the contributing factor. The vehicle's center front end hit the pedestrian, damaging the right front bumper. The woman was conscious and following crossing signals. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers at intersections, even when pedestrians obey signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796897 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan struck him on Van Siclen Ave in Brooklyn. The driver, traveling east, impacted the pedestrian with the vehicle’s right front bumper. The boy was in shock but had no visible complaints.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Van Siclen Ave in Brooklyn struck a 13-year-old male pedestrian at 7:20 AM. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, causing injuries to the boy's knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of the collision. The driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver, but the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted. The boy was in shock and sustained injury severity level 3, with no visible complaints recorded. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. The driver hit a man crouched for food. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver fled. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets remain deadly for those on foot.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was kneeling in the street to pick up food when the truck, turning right, hit him. According to police, 'the driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.' The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was one of several fatal crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting persistent dangers for pedestrians. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene underscores ongoing issues with hit-and-runs and enforcement.

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

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

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

Council slashed parking mandates in transit-rich zones. Mandates linger in outer areas. Progress, but not full victory. Some districts carved out exceptions. Housing and parking no longer clash in core neighborhoods. Vulnerable road users still face cars in many places.

""A spokesperson for Council Member Sandy Nurse (D Brownsville) said her entire district is in the 'outer transit zone' because the Council's 'compromise [was] shaped by amendments from our district’s community boards.' 'It wasn't something that was pushed for specifically by Council Member Nurse,' spokesperson Patricia Santana told Streetsblog." -- Sandy Nurse

On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved Mayor Adams's 'City of Yes' rezoning. The bill divided the city into zones: the Manhattan core, an inner transit zone with no parking mandates, an outer transit zone with reduced mandates, and areas beyond where mandates mostly remain. The matter summary states, 'The final plan did not eliminate parking mandates citywide but divided the city into zones.' Council Member Crystal Hudson pushed to eliminate mandates in all her districts. Council Member Shahana Hanif opposed carve-outs. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez called parking mandates 'a concession to cars that we don’t need and can’t afford.' Council Member Sandy Nurse’s district saw mandates shaped by community board amendments, not her advocacy. Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning chair, said, 'parking and housing are no longer coming into conflict in the parts of New York City that are well-served by transit.' The bill passed after compromises, leaving mandates in some areas and progress in others. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• ‘City of … Sort Of’: How Do The ‘Outer Transit Zone’ Parking Mandate Reductions Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-26

A 24-year-old woman was struck while crossing a marked crosswalk on Dumont Ave in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, traveling east, had limited view obstructed. The pedestrian suffered lower leg injuries and shock but no visible complaints were reported.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Dumont Ave and Miller Ave in Brooklyn around 4:10 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when the collision occurred. The driver, a licensed male operating a 2019 Hyundai sedan traveling eastbound, had a limited view obstructed, which was cited as a contributing factor. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the primary driver error leading to the crash. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock, though no visible complaints were noted. The vehicle showed no damage and the point of impact was recorded as 'No Damage.' No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795193 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Liberty Avenue. Metal tore. Three people hurt. Backs and shoulders slammed. Police cite traffic control ignored. Streets stained by driver error.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 17:20 on Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were going straight before impact. Three occupants—a 27-year-old man, a 31-year-old man, and a 64-year-old woman—were injured. All suffered abrasions and trauma to the back or shoulder. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, pointing to driver failure to obey signals or signs. No victim actions contributed. The crash left deep damage on the left side doors and front ends, marking the force of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi and a van collided head-on at Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact injured a 36-year-old female passenger, who suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left sides. The crash unfolded during morning hours.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:15 AM on Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn involving a 2019 taxi traveling west and a 2015 van traveling south. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead when the collision happened. The taxi sustained damage to its left front bumper, while the van was damaged on its left rear quarter panel. A 36-year-old female passenger in the taxi was injured, suffering neck injuries and whiplash, remaining conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors or victim behaviors explicitly. The collision highlights the dangers of multi-vehicle interactions on city streets, with impact concentrated on the left sides of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 75-year-old woman crossing Van Siclen Ave was struck by a BMW backing into a parked position. The vehicle hit her center back end, causing knee and lower leg abrasions. The driver’s unsafe backing led to the injury.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Van Siclen Ave in Brooklyn at 1:30 PM. The BMW, traveling north and entering a parked position, struck her with its center back end. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication of pedestrian fault or contributing factors on her part. The incident highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to safely back their vehicles, resulting in harm to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794407 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling east on Warwick Street struck a southbound bicyclist, ejecting him and causing serious leg injuries. The driver disregarded traffic control, leading to a violent collision that overturned the bike and bruised the rider’s lower body.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:19 on Warwick Street in Brooklyn. A sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling east, collided with a bicyclist moving south. The point of impact was the sedan’s center front end, which struck the bicyclist, causing the bike to overturn and ejecting the 30-year-old male rider. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated as serious (3). The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. No contributing factors were assigned to the bicyclist. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers ignoring traffic controls, resulting in severe harm to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18