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

Oct 10 - An 86-year-old man was struck by a northbound sedan on 6 Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver was inattentive and distracted. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage despite impact to the right side doors.

According to the police report, an 86-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being hit by a northbound sedan on 6 Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The sedan struck the pedestrian on the right side doors but sustained no vehicle damage. The pedestrian was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time of the collision. No other contributing factors or safety equipment were noted. The driver’s distraction was the critical error leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673931 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 8 - A BMW SUV struck a 19-year-old riding an Arrow e-bike on 73rd Street near 13th Avenue. The teen was thrown, crushed, and left unconscious. The SUV’s front end bore the mark. The street fell silent around broken bones and twisted metal.

A 19-year-old riding an Arrow e-bike was hit by a BMW SUV on 73rd Street near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the teen was thrown from his bike, crushed, and found unconscious with injuries across his entire body. The SUV’s center front end showed damage from the impact. The report lists the bicyclist as helmetless and ejected. No specific driver errors are named in the data. The crash left the street marked by silence and injury, with the vulnerable road user bearing the full force of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668780 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 5 - A 13-year-old girl was struck at an intersection while crossing with the signal. The SUV was entering a parked position and hit her on the right rear quarter panel. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The driver was licensed.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 85 Street with the signal. The driver, a licensed male from Pennsylvania, was operating a 2019 GMC SUV traveling south and was entering a parked position when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. No vehicle damage was reported. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A 24-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a collision with an SUV on 73 Street near 13 Avenue. The SUV struck the scooter’s right rear quarter panel. The rider suffered abrasions and leg injuries but was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male operating an e-scooter was injured when a 2007 Honda SUV traveling north on 73 Street collided with him. The SUV impacted the scooter’s right rear quarter panel with its right front bumper. The e-scooter driver sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists contributing factors as "Other Vehicular" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way," indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The e-scooter rider was conscious and not ejected but was not using any safety equipment. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 3 - A 60-year-old man was injured in Brooklyn after a sedan hit him while he was getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection. The driver was distracted, striking the pedestrian with the car’s left front bumper. The man suffered a fractured leg.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 60-year-old male pedestrian who was getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated injury to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The driver was going straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 20 - A 44-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2017 SUV on 80 Street. The bike struck the SUV’s front center. The cyclist suffered bruises and leg injuries. The driver showed inattention and distraction at the time.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male bicyclist riding north on 80 Street collided with a westbound 2017 Chevrolet SUV. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the bike. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience on the bicyclist’s part. The SUV driver was licensed in Texas and the bicyclist was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction in vehicle-bicycle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 20 - A sedan traveling south struck a parked SUV on 85 Street in Brooklyn. The sedan’s left side hit the SUV’s right rear bumper. The female driver suffered facial injuries and shock. Driver distraction was a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female driver in a 2014 sedan was traveling south on 85 Street when she collided with a parked 2022 SUV. The point of impact was the sedan’s left side doors and the SUV’s right rear bumper. The driver was injured, sustaining facial injuries and experiencing shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The parked SUV was unoccupied at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 19 - A repeat offender killed Xia Ying Chen, 66, in Bath Beach. Senator Gounardes called for tougher laws and real consequences for reckless drivers. He slammed weak enforcement. Streets remain deadly. Calls for redesign and accountability echo. The system failed again.

On September 19, 2023, after a deadly crash in Bath Beach, State Senator Andrew Gounardes demanded action. The driver, Faheem Shabazz, had a record of speeding violations. Gounardes, a safe streets advocate, said, 'That's really what this conversation should be about—how are we holding people accountable when they have violations to their record and zero consequences for it.' He supports lowering speed limits and tougher penalties but stressed that enforcement is lacking. Senator Iwen Chu urged the NYC DOT to study the area for safety upgrades, stating, 'We must recognize that our streets need to be designed with safety in mind.' The DOT is reviewing the intersection. The call is clear: repeat offenders face little consequence, and street design still puts pedestrians at risk.

• ‘A real damn shame’: After grandmother killed in Bath Beach crash, pol says reckless drivers must be held accountable, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-09-19

Sep 18 - DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 18 - Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 17 - A 74-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a pick-up truck making a right turn in Brooklyn. The impact fractured and dislocated his shoulder and upper arm. The driver failed to yield right-of-way at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 92 Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2016 Dodge pick-up truck making a right turn struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a fractured, dislocated shoulder and upper arm. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 11 - A 78-year-old man was struck by a BMW sedan while crossing 3 Avenue with the signal in Brooklyn. The driver was making a left turn. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his lower leg and foot. Pavement was slippery.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 3 Avenue and 73 Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2019 BMW sedan, driven by a male driver making a left turn, struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor to the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were specified. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision and suffered serious lower limb injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - MTA promised faster R trains in Brooklyn. Riders waited up to 16 minutes. Senator Gounardes called out the agency for misleading the public. Track work on another line delayed improvements. Riders left stranded. Trust broken. Transparency demanded.

On September 7, 2023, the MTA faced backlash for failing to deliver on its pledge of eight-minute weekday headways for the R train in southern Brooklyn. The issue, reported by State Senator Andrew Gounardes, surfaced after riders complained of waits as long as 16 minutes. The MTA had announced service upgrades, but later changed its press release, citing F line track work as the cause for delay—work unrelated to the R train. Gounardes, who fought for MTA funding in Albany, accused the agency of misrepresenting the improvements, saying, 'I’m shocked and frustrated that the MTA would misrepresent these service upgrades to the riding public.' Transit advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance echoed calls for honesty: 'Public transit shouldn’t be a rollercoaster of mismatched expectations.' The incident has strained relations between the MTA and its legislative supporters, highlighting the need for transparency and reliability in transit service.

• MTA ‘Bungles’ Increased R Train Service Promise, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

Sep 6 - A 28-year-old woman was struck at a Brooklyn intersection. The sedan, making a left turn, hit her on the left front quarter panel. She suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and showed inexperience.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection in Brooklyn. The driver of a 2021 Honda sedan was making a left turn when the vehicle struck the pedestrian on the left front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle westbound. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - A Toyota SUV turned left on Shore Road. A Harley slammed into its side. The rider flew, his leg crushed, helmet scraping pavement. He lay conscious, blood pooling on the asphalt. The SUV failed to yield. The crash left pain and sirens.

A collision on Shore Road near 4th Avenue in Brooklyn left a 31-year-old motorcycle rider with severe leg injuries. According to the police report, a Toyota SUV made a left turn and was struck by a Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling straight. The rider was ejected, suffering crush injuries to his hip and upper leg, but remained conscious at the scene. The report states: 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed; the motorcycle rider was unlicensed but wore a helmet. The impact was violent, with the motorcycle hitting the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No pedestrians or other passengers were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659237 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - A Ford SUV struck a Toyota sedan from behind on 74th Street in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were stopped in traffic. The sedan’s rear was hit hard. A 43-year-old female passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Driver distraction was cited.

According to the police report, a 2006 Ford SUV traveling west rear-ended a 2017 Toyota sedan also stopped in traffic on 74th Street, Brooklyn. The impact occurred at the left front bumper of the SUV and the right rear bumper of the sedan. A 43-year-old female occupant in the sedan, seated in the middle rear seat and restrained by a lap belt, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash. The report lists driver inattention and distraction, including eating or drinking, as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and male. The injured passenger was conscious and not ejected. The collision caused center front end damage to the SUV and rear bumper damage to the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 29 - A sedan backing into a parked position struck a stopped bicyclist on 63 Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 41-year-old woman, suffered knee and lower leg bruises. The driver failed to back safely and was inattentive, causing the collision.

According to the police report, a 2017 Hyundai sedan was entering a parked position on 63 Street in Brooklyn when it backed unsafely into a stopped bicyclist traveling north. The bicyclist, a 41-year-old woman, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the driver’s errors as "Backing Unsafely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The sedan showed no damage, and the bicyclist was not ejected but suffered injury severity level 3. The cyclist’s safety equipment status is unknown. The crash highlights the danger of inattentive backing maneuvers in shared traffic spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658055 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 28 - A 39-year-old woman on an e-scooter was struck on her left front quarter panel by a sedan traveling east on Bay Ridge Parkway. She suffered injuries to her elbow and lower arm, with minor bleeding and shock. The sedan hit the scooter’s left side doors.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn involving an e-scooter and a sedan, both traveling east. The e-scooter driver, a 39-year-old woman, was injured with wounds to her elbow and lower arm, experiencing minor bleeding and shock. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the scooter and the right front bumper of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The e-scooter driver was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 26 - Two sedans collided on 86 Street in Brooklyn. One driver made a left turn into the path of an oncoming sedan. The left rear passenger of the turning vehicle suffered a hip and upper leg injury. Both vehicles sustained right-side damage.

According to the police report, a 2013 Ford sedan was making a left turn on 86 Street when it collided with a 2021 Toyota sedan traveling straight westbound. The impact struck the right side doors of the turning vehicle and the right front bumper of the oncoming vehicle. The left rear passenger in the turning sedan, a 54-year-old woman, was injured with contusions and bruises to her hip and upper leg. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but notes the turning vehicle's pre-crash action as making a left turn and the other vehicle going straight ahead. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 26 - Pickup truck turned left and struck a 13-year-old on a bike. The boy suffered leg injuries and abrasions. Police cite driver for following too closely and unsafe speed. The street saw pain, not mercy.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old boy riding a bike was hit by a 2019 Chevrolet pickup truck making a left turn on Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn. The boy was injured in his knee, lower leg, and foot, and suffered abrasions. The report lists the driver’s errors as following too closely and unsafe speed. The pickup truck had no damage, but the bike’s front end was struck and damaged. The boy was conscious and not ejected. No safety equipment was noted. The driver was licensed in Georgia. The crash shows the danger when drivers fail to keep distance and control speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657136 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19