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

May 1 - A distracted SUV driver struck a sedan from behind on Empire Boulevard. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The SUV sustained rear-end damage. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound at the time of collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Empire Boulevard at 3:59 p.m. The collision involved a 2024 Honda SUV and a 2011 Volkswagen sedan, both traveling eastbound. The SUV struck the sedan at the center back end, causing damage to the SUV’s rear. The sedan showed no damage. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old female occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The primary contributing factor cited was "Driver Inattention/Distraction" on the part of the SUV driver. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A distracted driver slammed into another sedan on Flatbush Avenue. Both drivers suffered neck injuries. Impact crushed the rear and front ends. Distraction and tailgating fueled the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Flatbush Avenue at 15:27. The rear sedan, driven by a 31-year-old woman, struck the center back end of the front sedan. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both the rear driver and her 70-year-old male passenger suffered neck injuries, consistent with whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained at the time of the crash. The front sedan's driver was not listed as injured. The report does not cite any contributing factors related to the victims. This collision shows the danger when drivers lose focus and follow too closely on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A 13-year-old girl suffered a fractured knee and lower leg when an ambulance changed lanes unsafely on Nostrand Avenue. The ambulance struck her off the intersection, causing severe injury. The driver’s error led to a violent impact and lasting harm.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Nostrand Avenue at 14:55 involving an ambulance and a sedan. The ambulance driver, licensed and traveling west, made an unsafe lane change, which is cited as the contributing factor. The collision struck a 13-year-old female pedestrian who was not in the roadway and not at an intersection. She sustained a fracture, distortion, and dislocation to her knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3. The ambulance’s center front end impacted the pedestrian, causing serious bodily injury. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior. The driver’s unsafe lane change directly caused the crash and injury, highlighting systemic danger from emergency vehicles maneuvering unsafely in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721817 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - A sedan executing an improper U-turn collided with a southbound e-bike on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ front bumpers and left side doors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:38 on Utica Avenue near 330 in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling north was making a U-turn when it struck a southbound e-bike. The police identified the contributing factor as "Turning Improperly" by the sedan driver. The e-bike rider, a 33-year-old man, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The e-bike was impacted on its left front bumper, while the sedan sustained damage to its right front bumper and left side doors. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the improper turn. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - Tow truck hit a cyclist head-on in Brooklyn. The rider, 28, took the blow in the back and went into shock. Police blame driver distraction. Metal and bone broke on Empire Boulevard.

According to the police report, a tow truck and a bicyclist collided head-on while both traveled east on Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn at 17:20. The 28-year-old cyclist suffered a back injury and shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause for both operators. The cyclist was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but the report centers on driver distraction as the key factor. Both vehicles took damage to their front ends. The report does not assign fault to the cyclist, focusing on driver error behind the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721153 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - Brooklyn Community Board 9 wants a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board passed a resolution after years of crashes and deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have paid the price. Local officials back the call. DOT has not acted.

On April 18, 2024, Brooklyn Community Board 9 passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation to build a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board wants to upgrade the faded painted lane, which runs west to Flatbush Boulevard, to a 'vehicle-protected' lane. The matter summary states: 'bring much-needed road safety to a neighborhood.' Council Members Rita Joseph and Crystal Hudson represent the area. Hudson's spokesperson called the resolution 'a necessary step to protect cyclists and pedestrians.' Joseph and DOT did not comment. Between 2021 and 2023, Empire Boulevard saw 406 crashes, injuring 29 cyclists and 52 pedestrians. Two cyclists and two pedestrians have died since 2011. Community Board 9 has zero miles of protected bike lanes. Advocates say improvements are overdue. DOT has yet to propose changes.

• Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26

Apr 25 - A new state bill would let New York City street sweepers use cameras to catch cars blocking cleaning routes. Repeat offenders rack up most tickets. Lawmakers say dirty streets and blocked drains endanger everyone. The law would sunset in 2029.

Assembly Bill (unnumbered) was introduced by Brooklyn Assembly Member Brian Cunningham on April 25, 2024. The bill is pending in the state legislature. It would allow New York City to mount enforcement cameras on street sweepers to ticket cars parked illegally during street cleaning hours. The bill summary states it 'fulfills the Sanitation Department's longstanding ask for help getting vehicles out of the way of road-cleaning operations.' Cunningham, who sponsors the bill, said, 'Dirty streets are totally unacceptable.' Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch supports the change, noting that state law must allow automated ticketing. Uptown Manhattan State Senator Robert Jackson introduced a similar Senate bill. The law would phase in after a year and expire by mid-2029, giving officials time to assess its impact. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Street Sweepers Could Nab Illegal Parking Under State Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-25

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Apr 17 - Two sedans collided on Eastern Parkway at dawn. A female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. The impact struck the right rear quarter panel and front end of the vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:59 AM on Eastern Parkway involving two sedans. One driver, a 41-year-old female, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors. The first vehicle, a 2018 Toyota sedan traveling west, struck the right rear quarter panel of the second vehicle, a 2021 Nissan sedan making a right turn northbound. The impact points were the center front end of the Toyota and the right rear quarter panel of the Nissan. No occupants were ejected. The female driver’s injuries and the collision dynamics highlight the dangers of distracted driving in multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 13 - A sedan veered on Eastern Parkway. Driver lost consciousness. Car struck hard. Both driver and passenger hurt. Faces cut, chests bruised. Metal twisted. System failed. No one walked away clean.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old woman driving a 2009 Dodge sedan east on Eastern Parkway lost consciousness at 7:49 AM. The sedan hit an object head-on. The driver suffered facial abrasions. The 26-year-old male passenger had chest pain and whiplash. Both were moderately injured. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the main contributing factor for both. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed. The crash shows the risk when a driver suddenly loses control behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Apr 9 - A 74-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a Hyundai SUV struck her during a right turn on Carroll Street. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 2017 Hyundai SUV, traveling east and making a right turn on Carroll Street in Brooklyn, struck a 74-year-old female pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle without occupants. This collision underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716340 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 8 - A 24-year-old man riding an e-scooter was injured after a collision with a sedan traveling west on Ocean Avenue. The rider was ejected and suffered upper leg injuries. Police cite pedestrian/bicyclist confusion as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:40 on Ocean Avenue involving a 2023 sedan and a 24-year-old male e-scooter rider. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight west when it struck the e-scooter from the left front bumper. The e-scooter rider was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining upper leg injuries classified as severity level 3. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor to the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited. The e-scooter rider was not using any safety equipment and was riding/hanging on the outside. The collision caused damage to the sedan's left front bumper and the e-scooter's center back end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720022 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - An SUV swung right on Rutland Road, cutting across an e-scooter’s path. The rider, twenty-four, struck headfirst, thrown and torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement while the SUV sat untouched. The street bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 617 Rutland Road in Brooklyn at 15:30. An SUV made a right turn while an e-scooter, operated by a 24-year-old man, continued straight. The report states the e-scooter rider 'struck headfirst,' was 'ejected,' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head, bleeding on the pavement but remaining conscious. The SUV sustained no damage and its driver was uninjured. The police report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, drawing attention to the systemic danger of limited sightlines at this location. The SUV driver’s action—turning across the path of a straight-traveling e-scooter—created a deadly conflict. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - A southbound sedan struck a parked car on Schenectady Avenue. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite inattention and unsafe speed. The parked car was empty. Impact was severe.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a parked sedan at 4:57 AM. The moving car's left front bumper hit the right rear bumper of the parked vehicle. The 24-year-old male driver of the moving sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash, remaining inside his car and restrained by a lap belt. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No other behaviors or factors are noted. The parked sedan was unoccupied. The crash damaged the right rear quarter panel of the parked car and the center front end of the moving vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 29 - A 52-year-old man lay bleeding on Eastern Parkway, head struck by a Nissan sedan. The driver, unlicensed and inattentive, left the street empty but for silence and blood. Metal crumpled. The man did not move.

A 52-year-old pedestrian suffered a severe head injury and lay unconscious on Eastern Parkway after being struck head-on by a 2012 Nissan sedan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 3:18 a.m. The report states the driver was unlicensed and operating a vehicle registered in Pennsylvania. The car's left front quarter panel was crushed from the impact. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The narrative describes the victim bleeding in the road, unmoving, after the collision. No contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. The police report makes clear the driver's lack of a valid license and inattention were central to this crash, underscoring the systemic danger posed by unlicensed, inattentive drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a motorcycle traveling straight on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver, unlicensed, suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. The sedan driver had limited view, contributing to the crash and injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:55 on Bedford Avenue near Lincoln Road in Brooklyn. A sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling north, was making a left turn when it struck a southbound motorcycle. The motorcycle driver, a 36-year-old male occupant, was injured with abrasions to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors, indicating the sedan driver's limited visibility played a key role. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed, but no other victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The sedan sustained damage to its right front bumper, while the motorcycle showed no damage. This crash highlights driver errors related to turning maneuvers and limited sightlines.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713965 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - A female SUV driver struck a sedan traveling south on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The SUV hit the sedan’s right side doors, injuring the sedan’s 24-year-old female driver. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield as key factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Eastern Parkway near Utica Avenue in Brooklyn at 1:21 AM. A 2017 Ford SUV traveling east struck the right side doors of a 2016 Mercedes sedan going south. The sedan’s 24-year-old female driver, who was not ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries, was injured and experienced shock. The report explicitly lists driver errors including 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed New York residents. The impact was centered on the front end of the SUV and the right side doors of the sedan. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712779 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 26 - A bicyclist suffered abrasions and arm injuries after a steering failure led to a collision with a sedan on Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn. The crash involved driver distraction and resulted in significant vehicle damage and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:06 on Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn. A 30-year-old female bicyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Steering Failure' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The bicyclist was traveling westbound, going straight ahead, when the steering failure caused loss of control. The sedan, also traveling westbound, collided with the bike at the right front quarter panel, damaging the sedan's right side doors and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report highlights vehicle driver errors, specifically steering failure and distraction, as central causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19