Eastern Parkway’s toll: six lives, hundreds hurt, and no slow-down

Dec 31 - A sedan struck a cyclist on Kingston Ave. The rider suffered a back contusion. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The crash left the cyclist conscious but hurt.

A sedan collided with a cyclist at Kingston Ave and President St in Brooklyn. The 32-year-old woman riding the bike was injured, suffering a back contusion but remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was traveling straight when the sedan struck. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 29 - A 72-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn. The impact fractured and dislocated her knee and lower leg. Driver inattention and failure to yield caused the collision at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Troy Ave and Carroll St in Brooklyn around 7 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2014 Toyota sedan, traveling north and making a right turn, struck her. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her knee and lower leg, classified as a serious injury. The sedan showed no damage despite the impact occurring at the center front end. The driver, a licensed female from New York, failed to yield to the pedestrian legally crossing the street, directly causing the collision and the victim's injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 26 - A 23-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a parked sedan in Brooklyn. The bike struck the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The bicyclist remained conscious and was not ejected. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:29 PM in Brooklyn near 384 Maple Street. A 23-year-old male bicyclist traveling east collided with a parked 2015 Honda sedan, also facing east. The point of impact was the sedan’s left rear quarter panel and the bike’s right rear quarter panel. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan had no reported damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, and the bicyclist’s safety equipment status is unknown. The sedan driver was licensed and the vehicle was parked at the time of impact. This incident highlights the dangers posed by stationary vehicles to cyclists traveling alongside them.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 25 - A pick-up slammed into a sedan’s rear on Eastern Parkway. A 36-year-old woman in the back seat took the hit. Head injury. Whiplash. Police blame driver distraction. Brooklyn street, midday, danger in plain sight.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck rear-ended a sedan on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn at 12:15 p.m. Both vehicles were heading west. The impact struck the sedan’s center back end. A 36-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a head injury and whiplash. She was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. No victim actions contributed. The crash shows the risk when drivers lose focus, leaving passengers to bear the harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781788 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Two pedestrians crossing with the signal on Washington Ave were struck by a sedan making a left turn. Both suffered serious injuries and shock. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision without visible vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 2013 Honda sedan traveling west on Washington Ave was making a left turn when it struck two pedestrians at the intersection. Both pedestrians, a 62-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, were crossing with the signal but were injured, suffering back and full-body injuries respectively, and were in shock. The report explicitly cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor to the crash. There was no damage to the vehicle, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrians were not cited for any contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield at intersections, resulting in serious harm to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 13 - A 78-year-old pedestrian was injured crossing Empire Blvd at Nostrand Ave. The BMW, making a right turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The impact caused abrasions and lower arm injuries. The driver showed no license issues, but vehicle damage was absent.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan traveling west on Empire Blvd was making a right turn at Nostrand Ave when it struck a 78-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor attributed to the driver. The driver was licensed in New York and the vehicle sustained no damage despite the impact occurring at the right front bumper. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene and located at the intersection, with no contributing factors listed on her part. This crash underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 12 - Maritza Davila endorsed Mark Levine’s run for Comptroller. Levine vows to cut living costs, build housing, and make streets safer. He supports congestion pricing and more cycling lanes. Davila’s support signals a push for citywide safety and accountability.

On December 12, 2024, Mark Levine announced his candidacy for New York City Comptroller. The campaign launch drew endorsements from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Brian Cunningham and Maritza Davila, and others. The campaign summary states Levine will 'drive affordability, solve the housing crisis, support working families, demand fiscal responsibility, and make streets safer.' Davila, representing District 53, publicly backed Levine. Levine’s record includes advocacy for congestion pricing, e-commerce reform, and expanding cycling infrastructure. These stances align with efforts to protect vulnerable road users and reduce traffic violence. The campaign’s focus on safer streets and better transit marks a shift toward systemic change for New Yorkers.

• Mark Levine launches campaign for Comptroller, backed with citywide support, amny.com, Published 2024-12-12

Dec 8 - A 57-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Eastern Parkway. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle’s left front bumper struck her, causing contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Eastern Parkway made a left turn and struck a 57-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with Albany Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises, and was conscious at the scene. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact occurring at the left front bumper. No driver license or occupant information was provided. The driver’s failure to yield while turning directly caused the pedestrian’s injuries, highlighting systemic dangers at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777434 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - SUV driver turned right, distracted. Struck 19-year-old e-bike rider going straight. Rider ejected, leg shattered. Driver inattention and failure to yield fueled the crash. Streets failed the vulnerable again.

According to the police report, a 2015 SUV made a right turn from Bedford Ave onto Maple St in Brooklyn at 9:22 AM and struck a northbound e-bike. The 19-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV's right front bumper hit the e-bike's left front quarter panel, causing serious injuries. No contributing factors were attributed to the e-bike rider. The crash highlights the dangers posed by inattentive drivers and turning vehicles to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Dec 3 - Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03

Nov 27 - A sedan struck a 39-year-old woman crossing Eastern Parkway. She suffered a concussion and full-body injuries. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The crash left the pedestrian conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old woman was crossing Eastern Parkway at an intersection in Brooklyn when a sedan making a left turn struck her with its left front bumper. The crash happened at 18:54. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal and suffered a concussion and injuries to her entire body. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The driver was licensed in New York. The pedestrian’s use of the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The incident underscores driver error and the risks faced by people crossing at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 26 - A box truck struck a sedan traveling north on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan’s female driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front and side damage in the midday crash.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on Utica Avenue collided with a northbound sedan at noon. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the truck and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan’s 36-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining head injuries and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as the contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs by one or both drivers. The box truck driver’s license status and sex were not reported. The collision caused center front end damage to the sedan and left side door damage to the truck. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 25 - A distracted driver caused a collision on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Two sedans and an SUV were involved. A 76-year-old driver suffered facial contusions. The crash highlights dangers of driver inattention in busy city streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:12 AM on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision involved two sedans and an SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. A 76-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining facial contusions and bruising. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicles had impact damage at their center back ends and front ends, indicating a chain reaction collision. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. This crash underscores the systemic danger posed by driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 23 - A Dodge sedan turned left at Winthrop and New York. Its bumper cracked the head of a 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the street. The car rolled on, unscathed. She did not.

At the intersection of Winthrop Street and New York Avenue in Brooklyn, a Dodge sedan making a left turn struck a 75-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the collision occurred when the sedan's left front bumper hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, explicitly citing the driver's error in not yielding to a pedestrian lawfully crossing. 'View Obstructed/Limited' is also listed as a contributing factor. The police narrative states, 'A Dodge sedan turned left. A 75-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The bumper struck her head. She bled on the street. The car was fine. She was not.' The pedestrian was conscious but suffered a head injury. The vehicle sustained no damage, underscoring the disparity in harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775697 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - An 82-year-old man crossing Albany Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian’s right arm. The victim suffered bruising but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:45 PM on Albany Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2023 Ford sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, was making a left turn when it struck an 82-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was injured in the elbow, lower arm, and hand area, sustaining contusions and bruises. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report also notes 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, which may have affected the driver’s ability to see the pedestrian. The vehicle sustained no damage despite the impact to its right front quarter panel. The incident highlights driver error in yielding during left turns as a critical cause of injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19