Who Let Them Drive? Brooklyn Families Pay the Price

A Honda SUV hit a woman in the crosswalk at 19th Avenue and 62nd Street. She was crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The woman suffered facial injuries. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A 36-year-old woman was injured when a Honda SUV struck her as she crossed 19th Avenue at 62nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal' at the intersection when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV was making a left turn and hit the woman with its center front end. She sustained facial injuries and was conscious at the scene. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was licensed and remained uninjured. The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819467, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a woman crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact left her hurt and in shock. Police blame driver distraction. The car’s front end struck her. No damage to the vehicle. The street stayed dangerous. Pain lingered.

A 58-year-old woman walking on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan as she emerged from behind a parked vehicle. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The sedan, driven by a 66-year-old woman, was traveling straight ahead when its center front end hit the pedestrian. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The report does not mention any errors or actions by the pedestrian as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819466, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. A baby girl suffered a head injury. Five adults were also involved. Police cited unsafe lane changing and passing too closely. The crash left metal twisted and lives shaken. The system failed to protect its youngest rider.

Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, six people were involved, including a baby girl who sustained a head injury and whiplash. Five adults, both drivers and passengers, were also in the vehicles. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling west when the collision occurred, damaging the right front and left rear quarter panels. The infant was in a child restraint, as noted in the report, but driver errors remain central. The crash shows the ongoing danger for passengers, especially children, on New York City roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818684, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped and SUV collided on Avenue O. A 14-year-old boy was ejected and bruised. A 32-year-old woman suffered neck pain. Unsafe speed and lane changes led to injury. The street bore the impact. The system failed to protect them.

A crash on Avenue O in Brooklyn involved a moped and an SUV. According to the police report, a 14-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered bruises to his entire body. A 32-year-old SUV driver reported neck pain. Another passenger and a registrant were also involved. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were moving in opposite directions, with the moped heading east and the SUV parked before the crash. The teen on the moped was not using any safety equipment. The collision left vulnerable road users hurt, exposed to the risks of speed and reckless maneuvering.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818568, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV turned left on Bay 17th Street. It hit an e-scooter head-on. The rider suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention. The street fell silent as first responders arrived. Metal and flesh met at the intersection. The system failed again.

An SUV and an e-scooter collided at Bay 17th Street in Brooklyn. The SUV, making a left turn, struck the e-scooter head-on. The 18-year-old e-scooter rider suffered a head injury and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other contributing factors were cited. The SUV driver and passenger, both 29-year-old men, were not seriously hurt. The e-scooter rider was not wearing safety equipment, but this is noted only after the primary cause: driver inattention. The crash underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815468, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped hit a seven-year-old boy on 61st Street in Brooklyn. The child suffered abrasions to his leg. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. The crash happened as the boy got on or off a vehicle, not at an intersection.

A moped traveling west struck a seven-year-old pedestrian on 61st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was getting on or off a vehicle other than a school bus, away from an intersection, when the crash occurred. The boy sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any injuries to the moped occupants. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the moped. The data highlights driver error as the primary cause, with no indication of helmet or signal use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814324, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man slipped into a Brooklyn bus depot. He took the wheel of an MTA bus with the operator still on board. He drove one block, then crashed into a parked car. No one was hurt. Police arrested him at the scene.

According to the New York Post (published May 20, 2025), a 32-year-old man entered the Ulmer Park Bus Depot in Brooklyn and drove off in a B6 MTA bus while the operator was on board. The article states, "The suspect was somehow able to drive off the lot with the operator on board, making it down the block to 25th and Cropsey avenues, where he crashed into a parked car." No injuries were reported. Police took the man into custody at the scene. The incident highlights a lapse in depot security, as the intruder was known to frequent the area and accessed the bus before the route began. The event raises questions about access controls and safety protocols at MTA facilities.

• Intruder Crashes Stolen MTA Bus, New York Post, Published 2025-05-20

A Jeep SUV hit a 15-year-old boy on a bike at Bay Parkway and 80th Street. The cyclist suffered bruises across his body. Both vehicles moved straight before impact. The street saw pain and confusion. The system failed the vulnerable again.

A collision occurred at Bay Parkway and 80th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling south struck a 15-year-old male bicyclist riding west. The cyclist was injured, suffering contusions over his entire body. The report lists both vehicles as going straight ahead before the crash. No driver errors or contributing factors were specified in the data. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, but this detail is noted only after the absence of listed driver errors. The crash highlights the danger faced by young cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815476, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs slammed together on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered a back injury and concussion. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left three others shaken but not seriously hurt. Metal twisted. Sirens wailed. Another day, another wound on city roads.

Two station wagons—both SUVs—collided on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Four people were involved. One driver, a 40-year-old woman, was injured with a back injury and concussion. Three others, including a 31-year-old woman and an infant, were listed with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling west and struck at the center front and back ends. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors are noted. The toll: pain, disruption, and another reminder of the dangers faced by all on New York’s roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813932, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs slammed together at Bay Ridge Avenue and 15th Avenue. A teenage passenger and an 11-year-old boy suffered injuries. Both drivers failed to yield and ignored traffic controls. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The system failed to protect its most vulnerable.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided at the intersection of Bay Ridge Avenue and 15th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic controls. The crash left a 19-year-old front passenger injured, complaining of pain and nausea, and an 11-year-old rear passenger with a head abrasion. The report states: 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way, Traffic Control Disregarded.' Four other occupants, including both drivers, were listed with unspecified injuries. The data shows no mention of helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore basic rules and vulnerable passengers pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813560, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist suffered face injuries after an SUV struck him on 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. Police cite alcohol and traffic control disregard. The crash left the cyclist in shock. The road turned violent. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A 29-year-old cyclist was injured when a station wagon/SUV collided with his bike on 20th Avenue near 62nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement and traffic control disregarded were contributing factors in the crash. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the face and was left in shock. The SUV driver, a 66-year-old man, was also listed with alcohol involvement and failure to obey traffic signals. The report makes clear that driver errors—alcohol and ignoring traffic control—led to the crash. The cyclist was not ejected and was not wearing safety equipment, as noted after the driver’s actions. The collision underscores the dangers faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813557, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided on New Utrecht Avenue. Three people hurt. Impact struck doors and front ends. Police cite obstructed view as cause. Passengers and drivers suffered leg and neck injuries. Metal and glass scattered. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed at New Utrecht Avenue and 81st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 65-year-old male driver with leg abrasions, a 30-year-old female driver with neck pain, and a 28-year-old male front passenger with internal and leg injuries. The crash involved a Toyota sedan and a Ford sedan, both traveling straight ahead, with impact to the doors and front ends. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the primary contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Several other occupants were present but not reported injured. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813261, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three sedans slammed together on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered neck whiplash. Metal twisted, glass cracked. The crash left others shaken but unhurt. The cause remains unclear. The road stayed open, but the scars linger.

Three sedans collided on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, a 37-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck whiplash. Five other occupants, including a child, were listed as uninjured. All vehicles were traveling west and struck at the center back and front ends. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors, such as failure to yield or distraction, were documented in the data. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash highlights the violence of car impacts, even when causes remain officially unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811886, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi hit a man crossing Bath Avenue. The crash broke his arm. He was not at an intersection. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed open. The system failed to protect the walker.

A 34-year-old man was struck by a taxi while crossing Bath Avenue at Bay 13 Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection when the crash occurred. He suffered a fractured and dislocated arm. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The taxi, traveling west, struck the man with its right front quarter panel. The driver was licensed and uninjured. No other injuries were reported. The data highlights driver failure to yield as the key error. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809867, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle struck a sedan’s rear on Bath Avenue. The young rider was ejected and bruised. Both drivers showed inattention and inexperience. The crash left one hurt and two shaken. Metal and flesh met hard on Brooklyn asphalt.

A motorcycle and a sedan collided on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle hit the sedan’s rear as the sedan entered a parked position. According to the police report, a 19-year-old motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered a leg contusion. Two 54-year-old men in the sedan were listed with unspecified injuries. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for both drivers. The motorcycle rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus and lack experience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809472, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus collided with a cyclist at Bay Parkway and 67th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left the 28-year-old rider bruised and conscious, pain radiating through his lower leg. Metal scraped pavement. Sirens echoed as the bus idled, its bumper dented.

A bus traveling north on Bay Parkway struck a northbound cyclist near 67th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist, a 28-year-old man, suffered a contusion to his lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The bus’s right front bumper was damaged in the collision. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, but the report does not list helmet use as a factor in the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808873, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 34-year-old man riding an e-bike was thrown to the pavement on 18th Avenue. The crash left him in shock, clutching his arm, after a collision with a parked SUV’s door. Sirens and shouts filled the air as he lay injured.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male bicyclist was injured after being ejected from his e-bike in a crash near 7918 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. The incident involved a parked Nissan SUV and an unspecified vehicle. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, highlighting multiple driver errors that led to the collision. The bicyclist suffered injuries to his arm and was described as being in shock. The report also notes that the cyclist was wearing a helmet, but helmet use was not cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808649, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal scraped and glass rattled at 20th Avenue. Two sedans collided, leaving a 72-year-old driver bruised and conscious. The morning air filled with the sharp scent of coolant and the low hum of emergency response. Blood welled on the driver’s face.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 8684 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. A 72-year-old male driver suffered a facial contusion and was reported conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The injured person was the driver of one vehicle. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No mention of helmet use or turn signal failure appears in the report. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808129, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 78-year-old woman crossing 83rd Street at 20th Avenue was struck and injured. The impact hit her lower leg and foot. Sirens echoed as she stayed conscious, pain sharp in her knee. The driver’s inexperience marked the crash.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 83rd Street at 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. She was in the intersection, crossing with the signal, when a vehicle traveling north struck her with its left front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the contributing factor in the crash. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signal violations, were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807084, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Evening light fell on Avenue S as an SUV turned right, striking a five-year-old boy crossing with the signal. Sirens echoed. Blood dotted the pavement. The child, in shock, clutched his head as bystanders gathered in tense silence.

A five-year-old boy was injured when a station wagon/SUV struck him at the intersection of Avenue S and West 3rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the driver, heading west, made a right turn and hit him. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The boy suffered head injuries and minor bleeding, and was described as being in shock. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signal violations, were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807074, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14