Brooklyn CB6: Jan 1, 2022 - Sep 3, 2025

Just after the morning rush on Aug 27, 2025, a box truck hit a motorcyclist by the BQE’s Atlantic Avenue exit in Cobble Hill. The rider, a 30‑year‑old NYPD officer headed home, died at the scene; police later charged the truck driver with leaving the crash scene.

“We are, once again, gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets,” State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said at a recent Brooklyn street‑safety rally. “But it doesn’t have to be this way.” BKReader

He was one of nine people killed on the streets of Brooklyn Community Board 6 since Jan 1, 2022, according to city crash data we analyzed from NYC Open Data here. The same data show hundreds more left injured.

BQE, Flatbush, Atlantic: pain points you can map

• The Brooklyn‑Queens Expressway through CB6 is a long‑running hotspot, with deaths and scores of injuries tied to that corridor, including at the Atlantic Avenue ramps NYC Open Data.
• Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue also rack up repeated harm in this district, as does 4th Avenue — wide, fast, and unforgiving NYC Open Data.
• Trucks figure in some of the worst outcomes here, including pedestrian deaths, according to the same dataset NYC Open Data.

The pattern does not let up. Over the last 12 months in CB6, crashes numbered in the thousands and injuries in the hundreds; deaths continued. Year‑to‑date, crashes and injuries remain high compared to last year’s pace, while severe injuries dipped — a small mercy in a sea of wrecks NYC Open Data.

What the record shows — and what local leaders have done

• After the BQE death near Atlantic, the truck driver was arrested and charged with leaving the scene that caused a death, police said ABC7 and NY Daily News.
• Albany renewed New York City’s school‑zone speed cameras through 2030. Gov. Hochul signed it; Sen. Andrew Gounardes sponsored and voted yes, and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon voted yes, according to public records and coverage Streetsblog NYC.
• To rein in the worst repeat speeders, Gounardes is the sponsor of the Stop Super Speeders Act in the Senate (S 4045) and voted yes in committee; Simon co‑sponsors its Assembly partner (A 2299 listed here alongside related enforcement fixes) Open States. These bills would require intelligent speed assistance for drivers with repeated violations.

Streets that forgive mistakes — not just punish them

• Daylight every corner to clear sightlines. The Council’s Progressive Caucus is pushing a universal daylighting bill this year; DOT has raised doubts, but lawmakers call it “proven.” The Transportation Committee can bring it to a vote City & State NY.
• Add leading pedestrian intervals and hardened turns on Atlantic, Flatbush, and 4th. Slow turning speeds save lives — especially where trucks mix with walkers and cyclists NYC Open Data.
• Fix truck movements at BQE ramps with tighter geometry and clear yield control. The crash that killed the officer happened at an expressway ramp; ramps magnify force when things go wrong ABC7 and NYC Open Data.

Citywide levers that matter on these blocks

• Lower the default speed limit. Albany reauthorized cameras; the next step is slower speeds on every block. The governor signed the camera law; the city has the tools and the data shows speed kills. The Council and DOT have to move Streetsblog NYC.
• Pass the Stop Super Speeders Act. Sen. Gounardes is in; Assembly Member Simon is on board as a co‑sponsor. The full Legislature can finish the job this session Open States.

The officer’s crash on the BQE ramp was not the first life taken on these streets, and it will not be the last unless we change the streets and the rules. Start with speed. Start with the worst repeat offenders. Then clear the corners so people can see and live. Take one step today at Take Action.