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

Jul 18 - Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

Jul 17 - A 9-year-old boy was struck by an SUV on Battery Avenue in Brooklyn. The child suffered bruises and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The driver was going straight north when the collision occurred at the vehicle’s right front quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old pedestrian was injured after being hit by a 2015 Mazda SUV traveling north on Battery Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact occurred at the vehicle’s right front quarter panel. The child sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, and remained conscious. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was performing other actions in the roadway at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A taxi struck a 61-year-old woman at 4th Avenue and Senator Street. The driver was distracted. The car’s bumper hit her head. She died on the pavement, under the streetlamp. The street was busy. The city kept moving.

A 61-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 4th Avenue and Senator Street in Brooklyn when a northbound taxi struck her as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The impact was to the woman’s head, caused by the taxi’s left front bumper. She died at the scene. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary error cited is the driver’s distraction. No mention of helmet or signaling is included in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A 59-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured in Brooklyn. The SUV hit the scooter’s front as both traveled straight. The rider suffered knee and lower leg fractures. Police cited traffic control disregard by the driver. No ejection occurred.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 66 Street in Brooklyn involving a 59-year-old male e-scooter driver and a Nissan SUV. The e-scooter was traveling south, and the SUV was traveling west. The point of impact was the e-scooter’s center front end and the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. The e-scooter driver sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs by the driver. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - An e-bike traveling north struck a 29-year-old woman crossing 74 Street. The impact hit the bike’s front center. She suffered injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The driver’s inexperience and improper lane use caused the crash.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling straight ahead on 74 Street collided with a pedestrian crossing at an intersection. The pedestrian, a 29-year-old woman, sustained injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock. The report lists driver inexperience and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication. No safety equipment or helmet use was noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by inexperienced e-bike operators and improper lane behavior in pedestrian areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - A 52-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured on Bay Ridge Parkway. The SUV driver made a left turn. The e-scooter struck the front center of the SUV. The rider suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. No ejection occurred.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling east on Bay Ridge Parkway collided with a southbound SUV making a left turn. The e-scooter struck the center front end of the SUV, sustaining damage. The rider was injured with abrasions and trauma to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the e-scooter driver but does not identify any driver errors or violations by the SUV operator. The SUV showed no damage. No safety equipment was noted for the e-scooter rider. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable micromobility users at intersections with turning vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644036 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - City’s BQE plan adds new highway ramps, pushing more traffic onto Hicks Street. Politicians and experts slam the move. They say it copies old mistakes, ignores safety, and brings pollution closer to homes. Bike lanes appear, but real safety gains remain unclear.

On July 7, 2023, the Department of Transportation unveiled redesign concepts for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway’s Atlantic Avenue interchange. The plans, discussed in committee, propose new highway off-ramps on Hicks Street. The matter summary states: 'DOT proposals rely on outdated approaches by building new highway ramps instead of eliminating them.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon criticized the plan for increasing traffic and pollution near homes, urging a new approach: 'They need to go back to the drawing board.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes called out the reliance on old infrastructure, saying, 'The proposals should not be doubling down on the infrastructure and transportation of the past.' Former DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said, 'They don't improve safety, they don't improve traffic, and they certainly don't improve any of the surrounding communities.' All concepts include a buffered or protected bike lane on Atlantic Avenue, but the impact on vulnerable road users remains uncertain.

• DOT Plan for BQE’s Atlantic Ave. Interchange is ‘The Robert Moses Playbook’: Pols and Experts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-07

Jul 5 - Sedan merged into motorcycle on Belt Parkway. Rider thrown. Leg and foot battered. Police cite improper passing and unsafe lane change. Helmet worn. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a sedan merged into a motorcycle on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The 29-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan struck the motorcycle's left front with its right front bumper. Police list driver errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Unsafe Lane Changing." The motorcyclist wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - A 33-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered a serious head injury after a collision with a sedan turning right on Bay Ridge Parkway. The bicyclist was unconscious and unhelmeted. The sedan struck the bike’s left front quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male bicyclist riding west on Bay Ridge Parkway was struck by a northbound sedan making a right turn. The impact occurred on the bike’s left front quarter panel and the sedan’s right side doors. The bicyclist was ejected, suffered a severe head injury, and was unconscious at the scene. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. The sedan driver was licensed, but the bicyclist was unlicensed. Both contributing factors for the bicyclist are unspecified. The report highlights the driver’s maneuver of making a right turn as the pre-crash action. No other driver errors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - A sedan and an SUV crashed on 11 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers failed to yield right-of-way. The sedan driver suffered an elbow injury and minor bleeding. The impact damaged the front ends of both vehicles. No one was ejected from the cars.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 11 Avenue in Brooklyn involving a sedan traveling north and an SUV traveling west. Both drivers failed to yield right-of-way, contributing to the crash. The sedan driver, a 51-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, with minor bleeding and shock reported. The impact occurred at the center front end of the sedan and the right front bumper of the SUV. A parked BMW sedan was also damaged in the incident. No occupants were ejected. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary driver error for both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641112 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 35-year-old driver suffered facial fractures. Police cite driver distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists involved. Metal, glass, and pain on the highway.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The lead driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered facial fractures and dislocations. He was conscious and restrained. Police list driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles traveled east and were driven by licensed drivers. The lead sedan was struck in the center back end; the trailing sedan had front end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one driver badly hurt. The road stayed dangerous.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641183 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - SUVs kill. Their bulk crushes bodies and streets. Lawmakers want heavier vehicles to pay more. Revenue would fund safer roads. The bill follows a grim rise in deaths, especially among children. The city bleeds. The council moves. The fight is on.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill to increase registration fees for heavy vehicles and SUVs in New York. The proposal, announced June 23, 2023, aims to direct new revenue toward street safety projects. The report behind the bill states: 'Injuries from crashes involving large vehicles increased by 91 percent and fatalities by 75 percent between 2016 and 2019.' Mamdani said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes called out the public cost of 'mini-tanks.' The bill responds to data showing nearly half of children killed on city streets were struck by drivers of large vehicles, rising to 80 percent in 2022. Lawmakers call this common-sense action to address the deadly toll of oversized cars.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

Jun 23 - Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pushes a bill to raise registration fees for heavy vehicles. The move comes as injuries and deaths from SUVs surge. Lawmakers say the fees will fund safer streets. The city’s children pay the price for oversized cars.

Assembly Bill (no number cited) was introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes on June 23, 2023. The bill, now under consideration, would 'raise the existing by-weight registration fees to make them more likely to disincentivize the purchase of larger cars.' The proposal responds to a Transportation Alternatives report showing a 91% jump in injuries and a 75% rise in fatalities from large vehicle crashes between 2016 and 2019. Mamdani, at a press conference, said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes added, 'We the public has had to bear the cost of people's decisions to drive these mini-tanks.' The bill earmarks new revenue for street safety projects, aiming to protect vulnerable road users from the growing threat of oversized vehicles.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-23

Jun 22 - A 38-year-old e-bike rider suffered head injuries after a collision with a sedan on 73 Street near 12 Avenue. The sedan struck the e-bike’s front end. The rider was not wearing safety equipment and was left in shock with bruises.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 73 Street collided with an eastbound e-bike at the intersection near 12 Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider, a 38-year-old man, sustained head injuries and contusions but was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The sedan impacted the right front quarter panel, striking the e-bike’s center front end. The e-bike rider was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified. The rider was left in shock and injured, highlighting the dangers posed by distracted driving in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639895 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - A sedan struck an object on Shore Road. The driver’s arm was injured. Police noted alcohol involvement. No other people were hurt.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old man driving a 2013 Volkswagen sedan on Shore Road in Brooklyn was injured when his car’s undercarriage struck an object. The driver suffered a contusion and injury to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or passengers were reported injured. The driver was conscious, not ejected, and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4638447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 15 - A 24-year-old woman was hit by an SUV while crossing 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver disregarded traffic controls and failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. She remained conscious.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling north on 5 Avenue struck a 24-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with 92 Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report lists the driver's errors as "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4638013 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 14 - A Jeep SUV traveling north struck a southbound Kia sedan making a left turn on 92 Street in Brooklyn. Both female drivers suffered neck contusions. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way and turned improperly, causing the crash.

According to the police report, a 2022 Jeep SUV was going straight north on 92 Street when it collided with a 2016 Kia sedan making a left turn southbound. Both drivers, women aged 38 and 42, were injured with neck contusions but remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists the sedan driver’s errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Turning Improperly. The Jeep SUV’s left front bumper struck the sedan’s center front end. Both drivers wore lap belts. The crash caused moderate injuries to both drivers, highlighting the dangers of improper turning and failure to yield in Brooklyn traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 14 - An 18-year-old woman was struck while crossing outside a crosswalk in Brooklyn. The vehicle, traveling south at unsafe speed, hit her on the left front quarter panel. She suffered a bruised shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old female pedestrian was injured crossing outside a crosswalk on 8009 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. The vehicle was traveling south, going straight ahead, and struck her with its left front quarter panel. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for the driver. The pedestrian's contributing factors include 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' She sustained a contusion and bruising to her shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of speeding and pedestrian confusion in non-intersection crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 14 - SUV and diesel truck crashed head-on in Brooklyn. Both drivers hurt. Passenger trapped, back cut. Police cite driver distraction and traffic control disregard. Metal twisted. No one ejected.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV and a diesel tractor truck collided on Shore Road Drive in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were going straight. The SUV's right front hit the truck's left front. The SUV driver, age 45, suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock. The right rear passenger, also 45, had back abrasions and was trapped but conscious. Police list driver inattention and distraction for both drivers, along with disregard for traffic control. The SUV driver wore a lap belt and harness. The passenger had no safety equipment. No one was ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637722 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A sedan struck an e-bike on 66 Street in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver and passenger were ejected and suffered head injuries. The sedan driver disregarded traffic control. Both victims were unconscious or semiconscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 66 Street collided with a northbound e-bike. The sedan driver, who was unlicensed, struck the e-bike's right rear quarter panel with the sedan's left front bumper. Two people on the e-bike, an 18-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old female passenger, were ejected and sustained serious head injuries. Both were injured internally and were unconscious or semiconscious after the crash. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as the primary contributing factor by the sedan driver. Neither victim wore safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers ignoring traffic controls and operating without a license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637575 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19