Brooklyn’s Streets Bleed—How Many More Must Die Before City Hall Acts?

A man fell onto Prospect Park subway tracks during a fight. The train struck him. He died at the scene. Police questioned the other person. The platform became a place of sudden death.

NY Daily News (2025-07-30) reports a man died after falling onto the tracks at Prospect Park station during a fight. Police said, "As the fight escalated, he landed on the train tracks and was struck by an oncoming train." The victim suffered fatal head trauma. The other person involved was taken into custody for questioning. No charges were filed at the time. The article does not specify if the man fell or was pushed. The incident highlights the dangers of open subway platforms and the risks faced by riders in moments of conflict.

• Man Dies After Fall Onto Subway Tracks, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-30

Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

SUV slammed into stopped car on Bay Ridge Parkway. One woman suffered head injury. Police cite following too closely. Metal, glass, pain. Brooklyn street, early morning.

A southbound SUV struck another SUV stopped in traffic on 4th Avenue at Bay Ridge Parkway. According to the police report, one female driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash. The crash involved five other occupants, including a 17-year-old and a 36-year-old passenger, who were not reported injured. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The stopped vehicle was hit in the center back end, while the striking vehicle sustained front-end damage. No other driver errors are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV turned left on Ovington. Motorcyclist ejected. Shoulder fractured. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control ignored. Streets scar. Riders pay.

A station wagon/SUV making a left turn on Ovington Avenue struck a northbound motorcyclist. The 23-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' were listed as contributing factors. The SUV’s left front bumper was damaged. The motorcycle was demolished. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 17-year-old moped driver crashed on Fort Hamilton Parkway. He was ejected and hurt his chest. Unsafe speed led to the crash. The street bore the mark of impact.

A 17-year-old male driving a moped on Fort Hamilton Parkway at 82nd Street in Brooklyn was ejected and injured after a crash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver suffered a chest injury and abrasion. The moped's left front bumper took the impact. No safety equipment was used. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830373 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Two SUVs crashed on 12th Avenue in Brooklyn. A 13-year-old and a 38-year-old passenger were injured. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control ignored. Metal struck metal. Pain followed.

Two SUVs collided at 12th Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 13-year-old girl suffered whiplash and a 38-year-old woman reported pain in her upper arm and shoulder. Both were passengers. The crash left four others with unspecified injuries. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were going straight. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A car struck an 11-year-old boy by a Brooklyn playground. He survived. Police search for answers. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car near a playground on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday. The boy is in stable condition. Police are investigating the circumstances. The article states, "There is no word yet on how the accident happened." No details on driver actions or charges have been released. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to children near city streets and playgrounds.

• Child Hit Near Sheepshead Bay Playground, ABC7, Published 2025-07-19

Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

A judge stopped the city from tearing out Bedford Avenue’s only protected bike lane. The fight over safety and street space continues. Cyclists and pedestrians wait as legal battles stall change.

Streetsblog NYC reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge halted Mayor Adams’s plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Judge Ventura issued a restraining order after Transportation Alternatives and Baruch Herzfeld appealed the city’s move. The city had planned to start demolition after complaints from local leaders, but the court’s order blocks any changes until further review. Streetsblog quotes Ben Furnas: 'The Adams administration is going to have to spend their night preparing their legal case, not ripping out a critical safety project.' The article highlights weak enforcement of parking rules and the city’s reversal against its own DOT’s safety plan. The case underscores how political pressure and lax enforcement can threaten vulnerable road users.

• Court Blocks Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

Two drivers hurt as SUV and sedan collide at speed on Belt Parkway. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed listed. Passengers shaken. Metal and glass, lives jarred.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, both cars were traveling west when they collided. Two drivers, both men, suffered injuries—one reported whiplash, the other was in shock. Passengers in both vehicles were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left metal twisted and people hurt, another toll from speed and aggression on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan hit a 12-year-old boy riding south on his bike. The crash threw him off. He suffered a concussion and leg injuries. The street saw blood and fear. The car’s front end took the blow.

A sedan traveling west on 71st Street collided with a 12-year-old boy riding his bike southbound at Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was ejected from his bike and suffered a concussion and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan’s center front end struck the cyclist’s left front quarter. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the report. The child was conscious after the crash. No helmet use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

A 14-year-old on a motorized device was ejected and suffered a head injury when a sedan backed unsafely on Bay Ridge Parkway. Impact was hard. Streets stayed dangerous. No helmet listed.

A crash on Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn left a 14-year-old operating a motorized device injured with a concussion after being ejected. According to the police report, the collision involved a sedan and another standing vehicle. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the main contributing factor. The teen suffered a head injury. No helmet use was listed as a factor. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver or a child occupant. The crash underscores the risks when drivers back up without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

A judge let the city move a protected bike lane off Bedford Avenue. Cyclists lose curbside safety. Adams pushed the change after local protests. Advocates warn the street grows more dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-09) reports a state judge allowed Mayor Adams to remove curbside bike lane protections on Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue. The city will shift the lane to the street's center, ending the barrier of parked cars. The move follows protests from local Orthodox Jewish communities and a recent e-bike crash. Advocates sued, arguing Adams bypassed environmental review. The judge ruled the change was not a major project. Transportation Alternatives warns, 'If the Bedford Avenue safety improvements are destroyed, this all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams' hands.' The decision highlights Adams' pattern of scaling back street safety redesigns.

• Judge Allows Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Change, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-09

A Smart Car struck Dov Broyde, 70, as he crossed Avenue I near his home. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. No charges filed. Brooklyn street claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-08) reports Dov Broyde, 70, was fatally struck by a Smart Car while crossing Avenue I at E. Fifth St. near Midwood around 9:30 p.m. The article states the driver 'plowed into him' and remained at the scene. No criminal charges were filed at the time. The incident highlights persistent danger for pedestrians in New York City, where 55 have died this year. The crash underscores the ongoing toll of traffic violence and the urgent need for systemic safety improvements.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Avenue I, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-08

Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Two cars slammed together on 65th Street. Three men suffered neck injuries. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The cause: other vehicular factors, police say.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided on 65th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured, all suffering neck pain or whiplash. The crash involved both drivers and a front-seat passenger. Police list 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The report does not specify further details about the cause beyond 'Other Vehicular.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31