Two Dead, Still No Fix: City Lets Third Avenue Kill

A sedan hit a 16-year-old girl in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. Her leg was bruised. The car’s bumper struck her. The driver was not hurt. Police list no clear cause.

A 16-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing 5th Avenue at 21st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the vehicle, making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. She suffered a contusion to her lower leg and remained conscious. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Terrace Place in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered bruises. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Airbags burst. The street fell silent. The system failed to protect those inside.

Two sedans collided at Terrace Place and 20th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers were injured: a 56-year-old woman with a leg contusion and a 51-year-old man with an arm bruise. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report does not specify which driver failed to obey signals or signs. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. Airbags deployed in both cars. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818899 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 26-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV turning right on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street. The crash threw the cyclist from his bike. He suffered leg injuries. The SUV driver and passenger were not reported injured.

A crash on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street in Brooklyn left a 26-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when a 2023 Toyota SUV, also heading north, made a right turn and struck him. The impact ejected the cyclist from his bike, causing abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The SUV's driver and a passenger, both 59-year-old men, were not reported injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report, but no helmet or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors. The data does not specify any driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan with faulty headlights hit a moped at 5th Avenue and 62nd Street. One man suffered leg injuries. Police cite driver distraction and defective headlights as causes.

A sedan and a moped collided at 5th Avenue and 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The crash left a 54-year-old man with leg injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Headlights Defective' contributed to the crash. Both vehicles showed damage, with the moped struck on its left side and the sedan's front end impacted. The report lists defective headlights as a factor for both the driver and another occupant. No mention of helmet or signaling issues appears in the data. The crash highlights the danger when drivers operate vehicles with faulty equipment and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 19-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and hurt on 58th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left him with hip and internal injuries. He was conscious at the scene. The cause remains unspecified.

A 19-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured while traveling north on 58th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the rider suffered hip and internal injuries but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or road users were involved. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The impact and damage centered on the motorcycle's front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A sedan backed up on 40th Street. It hit an 82-year-old woman. She was not in the roadway. She suffered a facial contusion. The driver was unhurt. The street saw another mark in the city’s toll.

An 82-year-old woman was struck and injured by a sedan backing up near 653 40th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not in the roadway when the vehicle, a Nissan sedan, reversed and hit her. She suffered a facial bruise. The driver, a 62-year-old man, was not injured. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The incident highlights the risk to pedestrians even when they are not in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup and a sedan crashed on 35th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury. The crash came fast. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Shock followed. Another occupant was hurt. The street bore the mark of impact.

A pickup truck and a sedan collided on 35th Street near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed. One driver, a 40-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and was in shock. Another occupant was also injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The pickup was struck at the left rear bumper, while the sedan was damaged at the center front end. Airbags deployed in the pickup. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not specify further details about the sequence of events or additional injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on the Gowanus Ramp. One driver, nineteen, suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper lane use and passing too closely. Metal scraped metal. The night air filled with the sound of impact. The system failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on the Gowanus Ramp in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a nineteen-year-old driver suffered neck injuries described as whiplash. Another occupant, age thirty-four, had unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling north; one was going straight, the other making a left turn. The BMW sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane changes and close passing. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

A sedan struck a cyclist on 19th Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist flew from his bike, hit his head, and suffered bruises. Police cited failure to yield. The driver was not ejected. Both remained conscious after the crash.

A crash on 19th Street in Brooklyn involved a sedan and a cyclist. The 28-year-old male cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury and bruising. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan, driven by a 74-year-old man, was traveling north while the cyclist headed south. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No injuries were specified for the sedan driver. The police report does not mention any actions by the cyclist as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

A pregnant woman stepped from her car after a crash. The other driver floored it, struck her, dragged her, then fled. She died at the hospital. The driver vanished into the night. Police search. Grief lingers on Van Buren Street.

According to the New York Post (published May 26, 2025), Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a minor collision at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her Toyota 4Runner to check for damage. The driver of a Chevy Trax then accelerated, struck her from behind, dragged her, and sped away against traffic on a one-way street. The article states, "the driver of the Trax gunned it and struck Cifuni from behind, dragging her before speeding away." The suspect crashed into two more vehicles before fleeing on foot, leaving behind a car with temporary plates. The driver remains at large. The incident highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by unchecked reckless driving on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-And-Run, New York Post, Published 2025-05-26

A moped’s faulty accelerator sent its driver flying on 6th Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider, 26, hit the ground hard. He suffered a fractured leg. The crash left him conscious but injured. The street stayed quiet. The danger was mechanical.

A 26-year-old moped driver was ejected and injured on 6th Avenue at 48th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by a defective accelerator. The rider suffered a fractured and dislocated lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Accelerator Defective' as the sole contributing factor. No other vehicles or people were involved. The moped sustained unspecified damage. The driver was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the danger posed by mechanical failures on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816070 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pregnant woman stood in the street after a fender bender. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off. She died at the scene. The driver fled on foot. Family waits for answers. The street holds the silence.

ABC7 reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old pregnant woman was killed in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, after a traffic incident at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard. The article states, "Authorities say a female driver slammed into the victim as she stood in the roadway after a traffic incident." The victim, Tiffany Cifuni, had exited her SUV following a minor collision and approached the other vehicle. The driver then accelerated, dragging Cifuni and driving the wrong way before striking parked cars and fleeing on foot. The crash highlights the dangers of post-collision interactions and reckless driving. Police continue to search for the suspect.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-25

Two cars slammed together at 3rd Avenue and 50th Street. Metal twisted. Three men hurt. One bled. Two bruised. A baby and another man shaken. Police blamed other vehicular factors. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A station wagon SUV and a sedan collided at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 50th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured: a 40-year-old front passenger suffered minor bleeding, while both drivers, aged 26 and 38, sustained bruises. A 49-year-old man and an infant were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for all involved. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the sedan striking the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left bodies hurt and the street marked by another violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided on Prospect Expressway. One driver struck the other from behind. A 59-year-old man suffered a head injury. Police cite following too closely as the cause.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed on Prospect Expressway East in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one SUV was stopped in traffic when another SUV, starting in traffic, struck it from behind. A 59-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and reported whiplash. An 87-year-old woman and a child were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other causes are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate moves to clamp down on repeat speeders. Bill forces reckless drivers to install speed limiters. Lawmakers act after years of carnage. Streets remain perilous for walkers and riders until the law takes hold.

On May 21, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced bill S4045B, known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure passed with just two 'no' votes out of 13. The bill requires speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year. Streetsblog NYC reports, 'A bill that would prevent the most-reckless drivers from speeding easily moved forward on Tuesday.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill, emphasizing it targets the most dangerous drivers. Assembly sponsor Emily Gallagher raised concerns about cost and judicial bias, but stressed that speeding endangers everyone. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins backs the bill's safety focus. According to safety analysts, restricting repeat speeders directly tackles a major threat to pedestrians and cyclists, likely reducing crashes and making streets safer citywide.

• ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Advances in Senate Committee, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21