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

Oct 21 - A bus struck an e-scooter from behind on 8 Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver, a 50-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The crash exposed driver distraction as a deadly hazard on city streets.

According to the police report, the collision occurred at 19:20 on 8 Avenue in Brooklyn when a southbound bus rear-ended a southbound e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 50-year-old male, was injured with abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, implicating the bus driver in failing to maintain attention. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead, and the bus impacted the left rear bumper of the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in interactions with vulnerable road users like e-scooter riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - A moped passenger was ejected and suffered a serious head injury after a distracted driver turned right and struck the vehicle. The passenger was semiconscious and injured internally, highlighting the dangers of driver inattention in Brooklyn traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 86 Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn at 3:23 PM. The collision involved a moped traveling east and another vehicle making a right turn. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' twice as the contributing factor. The moped passenger, an 18-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a head injury along with internal complaints. He was semiconscious at the scene and was not wearing any safety equipment. The other vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. This incident underscores the critical role of driver distraction in causing severe injuries to vulnerable vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 17 - A 21-year-old woman suffered back injuries and shock after a sedan struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a right turn, failed to pay attention. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 65 Street and 10 Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:48. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan, making a right turn, struck her with its center front end. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained a back injury and contusions, experiencing shock at the scene. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The driver was licensed and operating a 2002 Nissan sedan. The report does not list any pedestrian errors or helmet use as contributing factors, focusing solely on the driver's failure to maintain attention while turning.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764262 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 16 - Two sedans collided on 86th Street in Brooklyn. A one-year-old boy in the back seat was hurt. Both cars were moving east. Police cite vehicular factors. Metal twisted. A child suffered.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 6:46 AM on 86th Street in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were traveling east. One sedan was going straight. The other was entering a parked position. The right front bumper of one car struck the left rear bumper of the other. Police list 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor. A one-year-old male passenger in the right rear seat was injured, suffering whiplash and injuries to his entire body. He was restrained in a child seat. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash damaged both vehicles’ bumpers and quarter panels. The report does not attribute any fault to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 15 - A 67-year-old man crossing at a Brooklyn intersection was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The pedestrian suffered upper leg injuries and shock. Police cited improper lane markings as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on 74 Street near Colonial Road in Brooklyn at 8:33 AM. The pedestrian was struck by a 2013 SUV making a right turn. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The primary contributing factor identified was 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate,' cited twice, indicating systemic roadway issues. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling eastbound. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the hip and upper leg and was in shock. There was no visible damage to the vehicle, and no other driver errors were reported. The report focuses on the inadequate lane markings as a critical element leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - A 54-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan backing unsafely in Brooklyn. The driver, unlicensed and traveling east, caused knee and lower leg injuries. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 70 Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn at 14:18. A 54-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was hit by a sedan backing unsafely. The driver, a male with an unlicensed Virginia license, was traveling east and backing the vehicle at the time of impact. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious after the collision. The vehicle, a 2019 Lexus sedan, showed no damage despite the impact. The driver’s unlicensed status and unsafe backing maneuvers directly contributed to the crash, highlighting systemic dangers posed by driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763440 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - Two SUVs collided on 86 Street in Brooklyn at midday. One driver changed lanes unsafely, striking the other vehicle’s left side doors. The struck driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries, bruised but conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:05 on 86 Street, Brooklyn, involving two sport utility vehicles traveling east. One SUV was going straight ahead when it was struck on the left side doors by another SUV that was changing lanes. The contributing factor cited was "Unsafe Lane Changing" by the driver of the second vehicle. The driver of the struck SUV, a 37-year-old male occupant, was injured with contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the first SUV and the right front bumper of the second. No factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763426 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 13 - A 44-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after a distracted SUV driver struck her while she crossed with the signal. The impact occurred at the front center of the vehicle as it made a right turn on 92 Street at night.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2013 SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, struck her on 92 Street at 8:06 PM. The vehicle was making a right turn traveling east when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, and the report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and was in shock. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. The report explicitly cites driver error—distraction and inattention—as the cause, with no fault attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763141 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 6 - An unlicensed e-bike driver was ejected and injured in a Brooklyn crash. The collision involved a failure to yield right-of-way. The rider suffered abrasions to the face and was conscious after impact near Bay Ridge Avenue.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:50 a.m. in Brooklyn near 630 Bay Ridge Avenue. The injured party was a 21-year-old male e-bike driver who was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions to the face. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error. The e-bike was traveling east and struck another vehicle on the left front quarter panel, causing damage to the left side doors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The rider remained conscious despite the injury severity classified as moderate.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761525 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 28 - A pedestrian suffered head injuries and shock after being struck by a pickup truck traveling east on 92 Street. The victim was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The vehicle showed no damage, and no driver errors were specified in the report.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection on 92 Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn at 9:09 PM. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and was in shock with minor bleeding. The collision involved a pickup truck traveling east, going straight ahead, which struck the pedestrian at the center front end. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists no contributing driver errors or violations such as failure to yield or reckless driving. The pedestrian's actions were crossing with the signal, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The report notes unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not assign fault to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - A 3-year-old boy suffered a head contusion after being struck while playing in the roadway on 72 Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway. The sedan involved showed no damage, and no driver errors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, a 3-year-old male pedestrian was injured with a head contusion while playing in the roadway on 72 Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The child was conscious at the scene and sustained a bruise to the head. The vehicle involved was a 2023 Chevrolet sedan traveling westbound, with one licensed male driver going straight ahead. The report notes no damage to the vehicle and no point of impact damage, indicating a low-impact collision. No contributing driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited. The pedestrian's contributing factors were listed as unspecified. The report focuses on the pedestrian playing in the roadway but does not assign fault or blame to the child.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759025 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 15 - An inattentive SUV driver hit a cyclist on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider suffered bruises to his arm. The crash left the cyclist hurt but conscious. The SUV’s right front bumper struck the bike’s left front.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2025 Jaguar SUV traveling north on 5 Avenue near Bay Ridge Avenue struck him at 19:17. The SUV’s right front bumper hit the bike’s left front. The cyclist sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or victim behavior, were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755905 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 15 - An e-bike struck a parked vehicle on Fort Hamilton Parkway, injuring the 46-year-old male rider. The crash caused abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cite other vehicular factors contributing to the impact and damage to both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn around 2:55 p.m. The e-bike, traveling north, collided with a parked vehicle also facing north. The point of impact was the e-bike's right front quarter panel and the parked vehicle's left side doors. The bicyclist, a 46-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor, indicating driver or vehicle-related errors beyond the bicyclist's control. The parked vehicle was unoccupied at the time. No driver license issues or victim fault were noted. This crash highlights risks posed by vehicle interactions and parked cars on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 13 - A 2-year-old pedestrian suffered a back contusion after an e-bike struck him on Bay Ridge Avenue. The rider failed to yield right-of-way. The child was conscious but injured, caught outside the roadway amid confusion, police report states.

According to the police report, a 2-year-old male pedestrian was injured by an eastbound e-bike traveling straight ahead on Bay Ridge Avenue at 10 p.m. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike. The child sustained a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the e-bike operator as a contributing factor, along with 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' related to the child. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the collision. The e-bike showed no damage after the crash. This incident highlights driver error in yielding and the vulnerability of young pedestrians in traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755624 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 13 - A sedan’s front bumper slammed into a 43-year-old cyclist on Belt Parkway. The man was ejected, suffering fatal head trauma. He died alone in the darkness, the highway silent but for the hum of passing cars.

A 43-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Belt Parkway was killed when a sedan, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma, dying at the scene before dawn. The narrative states, 'A 43-year-old man on a bike, no helmet, struck by a sedan’s front bumper. Ejected. Head trauma. He died there in the dark, alone, the road lit only by headlights and the hush before dawn.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' are cited in the data. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears after the description of the collision and is not listed as a contributing factor. The impact and fatality underscore the lethal consequences when cars and vulnerable road users collide on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - A white SUV struck a 74-year-old man in a Bay Ridge crosswalk. The driver did not slow down. The victim flew through the air. He died at the hospital. The driver fled. Senator Gounardes called for prosecution and safer streets.

On September 12, 2024, State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26) responded to a fatal hit-and-run in Bay Ridge. Surveillance video shows a white SUV slamming into Segundo Reina-Gaon, 74, at Ridge Boulevard and Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver did not slow down and fled the scene. Gounardes wrote, 'Awful news to wake up to this morning in Bay Ridge. The video is hard to watch. The driver doesn’t appear to even slow down. This driver needs to be apprehended and prosecuted. And we will continue to work with DOT to make this intersection – and Ridge Boulevard – safer.' Gounardes supports stronger enforcement and street redesign to protect pedestrians. The crash underscores the deadly risk to vulnerable road users at dangerous intersections.

• Brutal video shows SUV plow into 74-year-old, send him flying in fatal hit-and-run crash, nypost.com, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 12 - A white SUV struck and killed a 74-year-old man in a Bay Ridge crosswalk. The driver fled. Council Member Justin Brannan called out the violence. Police search for answers. Grief and anger grip the neighborhood. The victim’s family mourns. Justice remains elusive.

On September 12, 2024, Council Member Justin Brannan (District 47) responded to a deadly hit-and-run in Bay Ridge. The incident, reported by brooklynpaper.com, saw a 74-year-old pedestrian killed while crossing Ridge Boulevard at Bay Ridge Avenue. The matter, titled 'Police seek driver of white SUV after 74-year-old killed in Bay Ridge hit-and-run,' details how the driver fled, leaving the victim and several damaged vehicles behind. Brannan posted: 'This is not the news any of us wanted to wake up to today. One of our neighbors was killed by a driver in a white SUV last night. The driver took off, and all of it was captured on video.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes also voiced outrage and concern. Both officials pledged to support the investigation and seek justice for the victim. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this event.

• Police seek driver of white SUV after 74-year-old killed in Bay Ridge hit-and-run, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 12 - A white SUV struck Segundo Reina-Gaon, 74, in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Reina-Gaon to the hospital. He died. Police set up a checkpoint. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes had raised safety concerns at this spot days before.

On September 12, 2024, a fatal hit-and-run occurred in Council District 26. Segundo Reina-Gaon, 74, was killed crossing Ridge Blvd. near Bay Ridge Ave. The incident happened just a block from where State Senator Andrew Gounardes met with Department of Transportation officials to discuss safety issues earlier that week. Gounardes responded, 'Devastated to wake up to the news that a Bay Ridge neighbor was killed by an SUV in a hit-and-run last night. Just two days ago I was discussing safety concerns one block from here with DOT.' The NYPD set up a checkpoint at the crash site, stopping vehicles and checking IDs. The matter underscores the deadly risk to pedestrians and the urgent need for systemic change. Gounardes supports pedestrian safety improvements and enforcement against hit-and-run drivers.

• SUV collides with 74-year-old man on Brooklyn crosswalk in fatal hit-and-run, nydailynews.com, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 11 - A 74-year-old man crossed Bay Ridge Avenue. A northbound Honda SUV hit him with its right front bumper. His body broke on metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise. The crash ended one life in Brooklyn’s dark.

A 74-year-old man was killed while crossing Bay Ridge Avenue near Ridge Boulevard in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:56 p.m. when a northbound Honda SUV struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report states, 'A 74-year-old man stepped into the dark against the light. A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. His body broke against metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The pedestrian was noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but no driver errors or additional contributing factors were cited by police. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19