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

May 5 - An e-bike rider collided with a sedan making a left turn on 86 Street near 4 Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor. The rider was conscious and wearing a helmet.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 86 Street in Brooklyn involving an e-bike and a sedan. The e-bike rider, a 49-year-old man, was injured with contusions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan was making a left turn when it struck the e-bike on the left side doors. The police identified driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. The e-bike rider was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the rider. The sedan sustained damage to its left front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626241 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - A Lexus SUV backing into a parked spot on 9 Avenue struck two pedestrians. Both elderly, they suffered bruises and abrasions. The crash left them conscious but injured. The SUV’s unsafe backing caused the collision with no intersection involved.

According to the police report, a 2019 Lexus SUV was entering a parked position on 9 Avenue in Brooklyn when it backed unsafely and struck two pedestrians, aged 71 and 72. Both pedestrians were not at an intersection and suffered injuries: one with a hip contusion and the other with an abrasion on the elbow and lower arm. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. The SUV sustained damage to its center back end, while a nearby parked sedan was also involved. Both pedestrians remained conscious but injured. No other driver errors or pedestrian actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626240 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A driver killed Katherine Harris on Atlantic Avenue. Politicians demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, and curb extensions. They call the street a speedway. They blame city inaction. They vow to push for changes. The city promises only to study.

On May 1, 2023, after the death of Katherine Harris, Brooklyn Heights Council Member Lincoln Restler and State Senator Andrew Gounardes called for urgent safety fixes on Atlantic Avenue. At a rally, Restler said, "It is wrong how deadly this strip is." The officials demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and safer pedestrian space near BQE ramps. Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized city resistance to reallocating street space, saying, "They drag their feet because they don’t want to do the inevitable." The Department of Transportation has agreed only to study new crosswalks. The bill is not yet formal legislation but marks a push for action after years of delay. No safety analyst assessment is available.

• In Wake of Death, Pols Want Mid-Block Crossings, Safer Atlantic Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

May 1 - Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City set speed limits below 25 mph, failed to make the state budget. The Council now holds the power. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay deadly. Victims’ families and advocates demand action. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, would let New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. The bill failed to enter the 2023 state budget, shifting responsibility to the City Council. In 2021, the Council backed a home rule message 42-6, but the Assembly blocked it. Last year, the Council reversed course and failed to pass the message. This session, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, with 10 sponsors. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers must hold a hearing before a vote. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Brooks-Powers have not signed on, citing negotiations. The bill’s summary states: 'Life-saving legislation that would allow New York City to set speed limits below 25 miles per hour failed to make it into this year's state budget.' Data show slower speeds save lives. Advocates and victims’ families keep pushing. The Council’s inaction keeps streets dangerous.

• With ‘Sammy’s Law’ Not in the State Budget, It’s Up to the City Council to Push It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

Apr 29 - A taxi struck a sedan while making a right turn on 72 Street in Brooklyn. The taxi driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 72 Street in Brooklyn involving a taxi and a sedan. The taxi driver, a 50-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The crash happened as the sedan was making a right turn and the taxi was traveling straight south. The point of impact was the taxi's left front quarter panel, damaging its left side doors. The police identified 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 25 - Two SUVs crashed on 86th Street in Brooklyn. Both drivers were men. One driver was merging, the other driving straight. The merging driver was distracted and inexperienced. A 20-year-old driver suffered back abrasions but was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on 86th Street in Brooklyn. One vehicle was traveling straight east, the other merging eastbound. The merging driver, a 20-year-old male, was injured with back abrasions but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and inexperience as contributing factors. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the straight-moving SUV and the left front quarter panel of the merging SUV. Both drivers were licensed and operating GMC SUVs. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights driver errors including inattention and merging maneuvers gone wrong.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 21 - Unlicensed teen lost control of SUV at speed. Collision with empty sedan flipped the vehicle. Driver suffered chest abrasions. Inexperience and unsafe speed fueled the crash.

According to the police report, an unlicensed 18-year-old woman drove a 2021 SUV westbound on Belt Parkway. She collided with a sedan, which had no occupants. The SUV overturned. The driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, suffered chest abrasions but remained conscious. The report lists driver inexperience and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The sedan was unoccupied at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 20 - An e-bike traveling south collided with a parked sedan on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider, a 40-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan driver was uninjured. Police cited driver inattention as a factor.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling south on Fort Hamilton Parkway struck a parked 2019 Toyota sedan. The e-bike rider, a 40-year-old man, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The sedan driver was not injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was stationary at the time of impact, with damage to its left side doors. The e-bike sustained damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 20 - A 26-year-old man on an e-bike struck a parked Mercedes SUV on 6th Avenue near 74th Street. He flew over the bars. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. He was conscious, bleeding, alone. The crash left him with severe head wounds.

A 26-year-old man riding an ARROW e-bike slammed into a parked Mercedes SUV near 74th Street on 6th Avenue. According to the police report, 'He flew over the bars. No helmet. Head split open on the pavement. Blood pooled. He was conscious. He bled alone.' The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and was ejected from his bike. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The report also notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary factor of inattention. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The e-bike rider bore the full force of the crash, underscoring the risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - Senator Gounardes wants steeper fines for repeat speed camera violations. The bill targets drivers who ignore warnings. It aims to hit reckless behavior in the wallet. No direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists yet.

Senate bill S 6425 was introduced on April 19, 2023, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, proposes 'increasing fines for subsequent speed camera violations in the city of New York.' Gounardes leads the push to penalize repeat offenders. The legislation is not yet assigned to a committee. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The bill’s intent is clear: escalate penalties for those who keep speeding, but its effect on street safety remains unmeasured.

• File S 6425, Open States, Published 2023-04-19

Apr 14 - A Yamaha motorcycle smashed into a Chevy SUV making a U-turn on Poly Place. The 21-year-old rider, helmeted but unlicensed, was thrown and killed. Improper turning and lane use by drivers led to the fatal crash. The SUV driver survived.

A violent collision unfolded on Poly Place near the VA hospital. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck the left rear quarter panel of a Chevy SUV as the SUV made a U-turn. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider, who wore a helmet but was unlicensed, was thrown from his bike and killed. The SUV driver, a 54-year-old man, survived. Police listed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The report notes the rider's helmet use only after citing driver errors. The impact shattered the rider's body. No pedestrians or other bystanders were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - Senator Gounardes’s bill would end car-first reviews. It targets a 15% cut in vehicle miles by 2050. The plan favors safer streets, less pollution, and more ways to get around. Advocates say it’s overdue. The old system kept streets dangerous.

State Bill S1234, introduced by Senator Andrew Gounardes on April 12, 2023, aims to overhaul New York’s environmental review process. The bill, now before the legislature, would replace the outdated 'level of service' metric—focused on driver delay—with a mandate to reduce total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 15 percent by 2050. The bill summary states: 'By eliminating the relevance of level of service as a metric and utilizing vehicle miles traveled reduction instead, we can provide a new criteria for determining the significance of transportation impacts.' Gounardes, the bill’s sponsor, argues this shift will cut emissions and promote safer, multimodal streets. Advocates like Jon Orcutt and Sara Lind back the measure, calling it a long-overdue update that could finally let safety and climate take priority over car traffic. The bill follows California’s lead and could set a national example.

• State Bill Seeks to Alter Environmental Review So it Doesn’t Only Care About Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

Apr 11 - A 36-year-old man was hit on 4 Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan made a left turn and struck the pedestrian crossing with the signal. The man suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The driver failed to yield right-of-way.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 4 Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn and struck a 36-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection near Senator Street. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash, attributed to the driver. The vehicle's point of impact was the left front bumper, and the sedan sustained damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 7 - Two SUVs collided on 76 Street in Brooklyn. A 38-year-old woman driving one SUV suffered a shoulder bruise. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard. Both vehicles damaged. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on 76 Street in Brooklyn. A 38-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining a shoulder and upper arm contusion. The report lists driver inattention and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The collision involved the left front bumper of one SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the other, damaging the center front end and left side doors. The injured driver was conscious, not ejected, and used a lap belt with airbag deployment. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - A sedan struck an object on 7 Avenue late at night. The 56-year-old male driver suffered a head contusion. Police cited alcohol involvement and driver distraction. The vehicle's front center bore the damage. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on 7 Avenue at 10 p.m. The driver, who was the sole occupant of a 2010 sedan, sustained a head contusion but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The sedan was traveling south and impacted with its center front end, causing damage there. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of impaired and distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618590 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 4 - MTA’s Brooklyn bus overhaul draws fire. Riders and officials slam cuts to B48, fear lost connections. Seniors and disabled New Yorkers face longer walks. Community voices rise. The city’s promise of better service clashes with real, lived needs.

"You have so many people living here who are seniors. You have people with disabilities, you have people who just cannot tolerate the elimination of one stop." -- Alec Brook-Krasny

On April 4, 2023, Council Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and other Brooklyn officials voiced strong opposition to the MTA’s Brooklyn bus network redesign. The draft plan, released in December, proposes increased spacing between stops, route changes, and new 'Rush' service. Key changes include the elimination and rerouting of the B48, which officials say 'removes a vital connection between Western Crown Heights and Greenpoint without any adequate transit replacement.' Forrest and others argue these cuts threaten accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. Community members warn that longer distances between stops will hit the most vulnerable hardest. The MTA claims the redesign will bring 'more reliable, frequent service with better connections,' but public feedback shows deep concern. The plan remains under review, with workshops ongoing and legal hurdles for new bus lanes due to budget and staffing woes.

• Brooklyn bus redesign proposal rankles some riders, amny.com, Published 2023-04-04

Apr 3 - A sedan struck a parked SUV’s rear in Brooklyn. Two occupants in the sedan suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west collided with the center back end of a parked SUV in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver and front passenger, both in their early twenties, sustained head injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses at the time of the crash. The report lists unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The impact damaged the sedan’s left front quarter panel and the SUV’s center back end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights driver errors that led to serious injuries for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A 13-year-old girl was injured crossing with the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. An SUV making a left turn struck her, impacting the center front end. Limited view contributed to the crash. She suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at the intersection of 72 Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2015 Jeep SUV, was making a left turn when the vehicle's center front end struck the pedestrian. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 30 - An SUV backing south hit an eastbound 18-year-old bicyclist in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation. Police cited unsafe backing by the SUV. The bicyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a 2014 Subaru SUV was backing south on 81st Street in Brooklyn when it struck an 18-year-old male bicyclist traveling east. The collision impacted the SUV's left rear bumper and the bike's left front quarter panel. The bicyclist sustained a fractured and dislocated shoulder but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed; the bicyclist was unlicensed. The cyclist wore a helmet. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of unsafe vehicle backing maneuvers in shared traffic spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 30 - A sedan turned right on 82nd Street. A Yamaha motorcycle hit the car’s front. The 51-year-old rider flew off. Blood poured from his leg. He wore a helmet. He stayed conscious. He lay hurt on the street. Inexperience played a role.

A crash unfolded near 82nd Street and 4th Avenue. According to the police report, a sedan made a right turn as a Yamaha motorcycle traveled straight. The motorcycle slammed into the sedan’s front. The 51-year-old rider was ejected, suffering severe bleeding to his leg, but remained conscious. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the data. No other injuries were specified for the sedan driver or passengers. The impact and injury show the danger when inexperience meets the city’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19