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

Feb 23 - A truck hit a woman crossing Sutton Street in Greenpoint. She lies in critical condition. The driver, with a long record of violations, faces charges. Council Member Restler and others demand safer streets, calling out reckless driving and deadly intersections.

On February 23, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in a public statement after a truck struck a pedestrian at Sutton Street and Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. The incident left a 49-year-old woman in critical condition. The driver, Stanley Manel, was arrested and charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The officials' statement read: 'We’re deeply saddened and outraged at the news of yet another pedestrian being struck by an unsafe driver in Greenpoint.' Restler and colleagues highlighted the intersection's dangers and the driver's history—35 tickets since 2019, including 26 speed camera violations. They urged support for bills requiring speed control devices for repeat offenders and for Sammy’s Law, which would let NYC set its own speed limits. The group called on the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting to protect pedestrians.

• Driver arrested after crash that left Greenpoint pedestrian in critical condition, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-23

Feb 22 - A 73-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries when an SUV making a right turn struck him at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:49 AM on Bay Ridge Parkway near 13 Avenue in Brooklyn. A 73-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when a 2018 Ford SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, made a right turn and struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor on the driver's part. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704903 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 22 - A bill from Sen. Gounardes orders New York to cut driving by 20 percent by 2050. Fewer cars, fewer deaths. The plan would save nearly 600 lives a year from crashes. Active travel rises. Streets grow safer. Pollution drops. Wallets breathe easier.

Senate Bill S1981A, proposed by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, demands a 20-percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled statewide by 2050. The bill, backed by New Yorkers for Transportation Equity, was introduced last year and is under consideration. The measure’s summary promises to 'improve air quality and reduce fatal crashes.' Gounardes, representing Brooklyn’s western edge, champions the shift: 'A new approach will not only protect our climate, but also make New York a safer, more affordable place to live.' Analysis from the Rocky Mountain Institute projects 593 fewer traffic deaths each year, with thousands more lives saved through active transportation. The bill’s focus is clear: less driving, more safety, cleaner air, and real savings for families.

• Bill to Cut Vehicle Miles in New York Would Also Reduce Traffic Deaths, Costs and Pollution, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-22

Feb 18 - An 18-year-old pedestrian suffered a head contusion after an SUV made a left turn and struck him at an intersection. The driver faced glare conditions, impairing visibility. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred.

According to the police report, a 2021 Chevrolet SUV was making a left turn on 92 Street near Gelston Avenue in Brooklyn at 10:45 AM when it struck an 18-year-old male pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection and sustained a head injury classified as a contusion with injury severity level 3. The report identifies glare as a contributing factor affecting the driver’s visibility during the maneuver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and traveling southeast with two occupants in the vehicle. The police report does not list any pedestrian errors contributing to the crash, focusing on the driver’s impaired visibility due to glare as the primary factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 16 - A 56-year-old man died behind the wheel on 82nd Street. His sedan crashed into a parked Toyota. The front end crumpled. He wore no seatbelt. Metal folded, and the street fell silent. He never stepped out. The impact ended everything.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man driving a sedan on 82nd Street crashed into the rear of a parked Toyota. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a parked Toyota.' The front end of the sedan folded in, trapping the driver inside. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, as noted in the narrative. The crash resulted in the apparent death of the driver, who 'never got out.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' and no driver errors are explicitly cited in the available data. The parked Toyota was unoccupied at the time of the collision. The report does not mention any actions by other road users or any additional contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 6 - Senator Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips statewide. Advocates demand less driving, more transit. Highway funds feed car dominance. The law would force state projects to cut vehicle miles. Vulnerable road users stand to gain. Albany stalls. Streets stay deadly.

Bill to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050, introduced by State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26), is backed by advocates and the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity coalition. Announced February 6, 2024, the bill would require transportation officials to align projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes said, "We fundamentally want to be shifting how we think about transportation infrastructure." The measure responds to data showing over 90 percent of infrastructure funds go to roads, not transit. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance called for an "about-face," noting highway projects have torn apart poor communities and endangered pedestrians and cyclists. The bill sits before the state legislature. No direct safety analyst assessment, but advocates stress the law would shift funding from car-centric projects to transit and greenways, reducing systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 6 - State Sen. Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips by a fifth by 2050. Advocates say New York spends billions on roads while traffic deaths climb. The law would force highway projects to prove they cut driving, not fuel it.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill requiring New York to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050. The bill, modeled after Minnesota law, is not yet passed or assigned to a committee. It would amend the state’s climate law, forcing transportation officials to align highway projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes warns, 'If we’re just going to use that money to double down on the transportation of the past, on just purely automobile usage, we’re making a great mistake.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance says the bill is about shifting priorities to climate and equity. Advocates note that over 90 percent of recent infrastructure funds went to roads, not transit. The measure would require revisions or offsets for projects that don’t cut driving. Gov. Hochul’s office declined comment. The bill aims to halt the cycle of road expansion, rising traffic, and mounting deaths.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 3 - A sedan making a right turn struck an eastbound e-bike on Bay Ridge Parkway. The e-bike driver, a 64-year-old man, was ejected and suffered head injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the cause, highlighting the dangers of distracted driving.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:20 on Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn. A 2021 Buick sedan was making a right turn when it collided with an eastbound e-bike. The e-bike driver, a 64-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained head injuries, leaving him semiconscious with complaints of pain and nausea. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan's right front quarter panel struck the e-bike's center front end, indicating the sedan driver failed to yield or properly observe the e-bike. The e-bike driver was wearing a helmet, but no contributing factors were attributed to his actions. The sedan driver was licensed in Ohio, while the e-bike operator was unlicensed. This collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction in mixed-vehicle environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 31 - A pick-up truck making a right turn hit a bicyclist traveling straight on Senator Street in Brooklyn. The 44-year-old woman was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention was cited as a key factor.

According to the police report, at 8:16 AM on Senator Street in Brooklyn, a 2023 Ford pick-up truck was making a right turn when it collided with a bicyclist going straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 44-year-old woman, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The truck's right front bumper struck the left side doors of the bike. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver of the truck was licensed and male, while the bicyclist was unlicensed. The collision caused damage to the truck's right front bumper and the bike's left side doors. The incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699455 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 28 - A distracted driver struck a parked sedan on slippery pavement in Brooklyn. The driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected. The collision damaged both vehicles’ bumpers, highlighting risks from inattention and road conditions.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 11 Avenue in Brooklyn at 2:10 a.m. A 39-year-old male driver of a sedan was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a primary contributing factor, alongside slippery pavement. The sedan was parked and struck in the rear center, while the SUV, traveling north, hit the sedan’s left rear bumper with its right front bumper. Both vehicles sustained damage. The driver of the sedan was not using any safety equipment. This collision underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction and hazardous road conditions, without any noted fault or contributing behavior from other road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - A 69-year-old woman suffered back injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. The vehicle's right front bumper struck her, causing bruising and contusions.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 92 Street and 5 Avenue in Brooklyn around 9:36 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2015 Toyota SUV, traveling northeast and making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and contusions but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The collision highlights a failure in yielding that led to the pedestrian's injury, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian herself.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - Albany weighs bills A5259 and S2812 to keep and expand red-light cameras past December. Assembly Member Dinowitz and Senator Gounardes push for more cameras. DOT data shows fewer violations and crashes. Advocates demand action. The cap leaves neighborhoods exposed. Lives hang in the balance.

Bills A5259 and S2812 face debate in the New York State legislature. If lawmakers fail to act, the city’s red-light cameras—now capped at 150 intersections—will shut off December 1, 2024. The matter, described as 'reauthorize and expand the city's red-light camera program,' is championed by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senate co-sponsor Andrew Gounardes. Dinowitz, the sponsor, urges expansion, stating, 'We should have red-light cameras on every intersection.' Gounardes expects a review and expansion. DOT data backs them: violations and rear-end crashes have dropped at camera sites. Residents like Amy Bettys call the cap dangerous. Advocacy groups support the bills, though they are not a top priority. Dinowitz stresses automated enforcement is vital with limited police. The bills await committee action. Vulnerable road users face risk if the program lapses.

• Better Red Than Dead: Albany Takes Up Camera Reauthorization, Expansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-25

Jan 23 - Every day, 9,000 trucks thunder through Sunset Park and Red Hook. Warehouses choke streets. Black and Latino residents breathe the fumes and dodge danger. Lawmakers push the Clean Deliveries Act to curb the chaos. The burden falls hard. The fight is on.

The Clean Deliveries Act, now under consideration in Albany, aims to regulate last-mile warehouse traffic and emissions across New York State. The bill responds to a new report showing Sunset Park and Red Hook face the city's highest truck volumes—over 9,000 daily trips—linked to sprawling Amazon, FedEx, and UPS facilities. The report states, 'a quarter of residents across the Empire State live within half a mile of a distribution center that’s at least 50,000 square feet, disproportionately harming Black and Latino communities.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, representing the affected Brooklyn neighborhoods, calls for urgent action 'for the sake of our climate and the safety of our streets.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, whose district sees the most daily truck traffic, urges colleagues to pass the Act. Advocates like Kevin Garcia say the bill is 'key legislation to protect frontline communities from increased vehicular traffic and tailpipe emissions.' The Act would require emissions reviews, pollution minimization, and studies of low-emission zones in hotspots.

• Poorer Brooklynites Bear the Brunt of Online Delivery Boom: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

Jan 22 - A pick-up truck traveling south struck two pedestrians crossing at a marked crosswalk without signal. Both victims, a 40-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy, suffered lower leg injuries. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision.

According to the police report, a 2011 Ford pick-up truck traveling south on 14 Avenue in Brooklyn struck two pedestrians at a marked crosswalk around 7:47 AM. The victims, a 40-year-old female and a 5-year-old male, were crossing without a signal when the crash occurred. Both pedestrians sustained injuries to their knees, lower legs, and feet, with contusions and abrasions reported. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck, which sustained damage consistent with striking the pedestrians. The driver was licensed and was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This collision highlights the systemic danger posed by driver failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - E-scooter hit another vehicle on 5 Avenue. Driver and passenger, ages 19 and 20, suffered bruised knees and legs. Police cite driver error. Both stayed conscious. System failed to protect them.

According to the police report, a northbound e-scooter struck the center back end of another vehicle on 5 Avenue at 15:01. The 19-year-old female driver and her 20-year-old male passenger were both injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to their knees and lower legs. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor attributed to the driver, highlighting driver error in the crash. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors. The crash shows the dangers that arise when driver mistakes meet city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696765 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - E-bike slammed into a 46-year-old woman crossing 62 Street in Brooklyn. Driver blew past traffic control. Pedestrian suffered full-body abrasions. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a male e-bike driver heading south on 62 Street in Brooklyn struck a 46-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with 8 Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The e-bike hit the pedestrian with its center front end, causing abrasions and injuries to her entire body. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. Driver errors are the primary cause named in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695861 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

Jan 16 - A Dodge truck turned left on Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 52-year-old woman head-on. She died beneath the streetlight. The crash left blood on the asphalt and silence in the street.

According to the police report, a Dodge truck making a left turn on Bay Ridge Avenue near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 52-year-old woman standing in the roadway. The impact was direct, hitting her with the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver, licensed in New York, was operating a 2019 Dodge truck and was the sole occupant. The police narrative states, 'The driver was distracted.' No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions are cited in the report. The fatal collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19