Who Let Them Drive? Brooklyn Families Pay the Price

A sedan sat stopped on 19th Avenue in Brooklyn when a southbound SUV slammed into its rear. The driver of the sedan, a 38-year-old woman, suffered a neck injury and was left in shock. Sirens echoed as traffic snarled.

According to the police report, a 2023 sedan was stopped in traffic on 19th Avenue at 71st Street when it was struck from behind by a 2018 SUV traveling south. The impact damaged the sedan’s center back end and the SUV’s left front bumper. The sedan’s driver, a 38-year-old woman, sustained a neck injury and was reported to be in shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors, such as helmet or signal use, are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807067, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Before dawn on West 9th Street, an 81-year-old man was struck by a northbound vehicle. The impact hit his hip and upper leg, leaving him bruised but conscious. Sirens echoed as first responders arrived to treat the injured pedestrian in the street’s early quiet.

According to the police report, an 81-year-old pedestrian was injured when a vehicle traveling north struck him on West 9th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to his hip and upper leg and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The vehicle’s left front bumper made contact with the pedestrian, who was not at an intersection at the time. No other contributing factors related to helmet use or signaling were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805135, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Night air broke with the sound of impact on 18th Avenue near 65th Street. A 56-year-old woman crossing with the signal was hit by a BMW sedan. She suffered hip and upper leg injuries and was left in shock, the streetlights harsh above.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan traveling east on 18th Avenue struck a 56-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with 65th Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. She sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg and was reported to be in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor on the part of the driver, who was making a left turn at the time. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805630, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW SUV pulled from parking on West 6th. Distraction behind the wheel. A motorcycle struck steel, its rider left bleeding in the street. The helmet could not stop the cut. The city swallowed the sound.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV was 'pulling from parking' near 1770 West 6th Street when a motorcycle traveling south struck the SUV’s front. The 47-year-old motorcyclist suffered severe lacerations to his leg and was found conscious and bleeding. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, placing the focus on the actions of the SUV driver. The narrative notes, 'Distraction. Inexperience. The street held the silence.' The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but the report makes clear that distraction behind the wheel set the crash in motion. No contributing factors are attributed to the motorcyclist. The impact and injury stemmed from the SUV driver’s failure to pay attention while entering traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805636, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal screams on Belt Parkway. A Ford SUV struck from behind. A motorcycle torn open. Two teenagers, thrown from the bike, hit the pavement. Broken bones. Blood on hot asphalt. Sirens echo. The traffic does not pause.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling westbound on Belt Parkway was rear-ended by a motorcycle. The collision shattered the motorcycle’s front end and ejected both riders—an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old—onto the roadway. Both suffered serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors in the crash. The 18-year-old motorcycle driver was unlicensed. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The impact left the SUV’s rear bumper damaged and the motorcycle destroyed at the front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805543, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal screeched on Bay Parkway as a garbage truck turned left into the path of a northbound SUV. Two people inside the SUV suffered back injuries, pain sharp and immediate. The crash left both vehicles battered, the air thick with shock.

According to the police report, a garbage truck making a left turn on Bay Parkway collided with a northbound SUV. The impact left two SUV occupants—a 44-year-old woman driving and a 50-year-old male passenger—with back injuries and complaints of whiplash. Both were conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other driver errors or contributing factors were specified. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The collision underscores the dangers present when large vehicles turn across traffic, especially on busy corridors like Bay Parkway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807053, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A car turning right on 18th Avenue at 77th Street hit a 14-year-old girl crossing with the signal. The impact bruised her shoulder and upper arm. Sirens echoed as she remained conscious, pain blooming in the morning air.

According to the police report, a vehicle making a right turn at the intersection of 18th Avenue and 77th Street in Brooklyn struck a 14-year-old pedestrian. The girl was crossing with the signal when she was hit. She sustained a contusion to her shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no visible damage. No information about helmet use or signaling was noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804759, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Morning on 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. A moped and an SUV collide, metal scraping, bodies jolted. The moped driver, a 34-year-old man, suffers a fractured arm. Sirens echo as he remains conscious, pain sharp and immediate.

A collision between a moped and an SUV occurred on 17th Avenue near 68th Street in Brooklyn at 10:51 a.m. According to the police report, the moped driver, a 34-year-old man, was injured with a fractured arm but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before impact. The moped sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, while the SUV was damaged on the left front. The police report notes the moped driver was wearing a helmet, but helmet use was not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804760, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Broken glass and twisted metal littered the corner of 65th Street and Bay Parkway. Sirens echoed before dawn. Nine people hurt, some clutching their necks and stomachs. The air hung heavy with shock and pain. Distraction ruled the intersection.

According to the police report, three sedans collided at the intersection of 65th Street and Bay Parkway in Brooklyn, injuring nine people. Victims included drivers and passengers, some suffering neck injuries and shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for all involved vehicles, with 'Driver Inexperience' also noted for two individuals. No mention is made of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash underscores the consequences when multiple drivers lose focus behind the wheel, resulting in widespread injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804179, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A driver struck a family in Gravesend. A mother and two daughters died. Their young son fights for life. The driver faces manslaughter charges. The street became a site of sudden loss. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (April 6, 2025), Miriam Yarimi faces manslaughter charges after a March 29 crash in Gravesend, Brooklyn, that killed Natasha Saada, 35, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Debra, 5. Their brother, Philip, 4, remains in critical condition. Court documents detail Yarimi's prior erratic behavior, including 'verbally abusing, cursing, threatening, yelling, and screaming' and 'banging [a] hammer against the door' of a neighbor's apartment days before the crash. Prosecutors noted Yarimi made 'bizarre statements' after the collision. The article highlights a pattern of dangerous conduct and raises questions about oversight and intervention before tragedy struck.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-04-06

Night air split by metal on Avenue P and Dahill Road. Two sedans collide, glass and steel scraping. An 80-year-old woman, shocked and injured, is pulled from the wreckage. Sirens echo through Brooklyn’s dark streets. The intersection is left scarred.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at Avenue P and Dahill Road in Brooklyn at 10:43 p.m. An 80-year-old female driver was injured and in shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating that at least one driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as factors in this crash. No information is provided about injuries to other occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803416, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A forklift moving south on New Utrecht Avenue hit a 31-year-old man near 65th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian, not in the roadway, suffered a bruised leg but remained conscious. The machine’s front end showed damage at the scene.

According to the police report, a forklift traveling south on New Utrecht Avenue struck a 31-year-old male pedestrian near 65th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the collision and sustained a contusion to his lower leg and foot. The report states the pedestrian was conscious after the impact. The police identified 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor in the crash, indicating the driver’s sightlines were compromised. No other driver errors were listed in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803415, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV reversed into a sedan on Kings Highway, striking its front center. The 54-year-old sedan driver was injured and left in shock. The crash unfolded in Brooklyn’s evening traffic, marked by driver error and emergency response.

According to the police report, a 2024 SUV was backing unsafely eastbound on Kings Highway near West 10th Street in Brooklyn when it collided with a 2015 sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan’s 54-year-old female driver, wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured and experienced shock. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, highlighting clear driver errors on the part of the SUV driver. The SUV sustained no damage, while the sedan suffered front-end damage. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to assist the injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802795, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A multi-vehicle crash on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn injured a 54-year-old driver. The collision involved several sedans and a pick-up truck. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor. The driver suffered a head injury and moderate burns but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 17:36 involving multiple vehicles including sedans and a pick-up truck. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor to the collision. A 54-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a head injury and moderate burns. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness at the time. The vehicles involved showed damage primarily to front ends and left side panels, indicating a complex multi-vehicle impact. The driver’s injury severity was classified as moderate. No other contributing factors related to victim behavior were noted in the report. The data highlights driver error in speed management as a key cause of this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802799, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A distracted SUV driver struck a moped making a left turn on Avenue P in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 16-year-old male, was partially ejected and suffered head injuries. The SUV’s left front bumper bore the impact damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Avenue P in Brooklyn at 11:25. The SUV driver, traveling north and going straight ahead, was cited for driver inattention/distraction. The moped driver, a 16-year-old male, was making a left turn southbound when the collision happened. The impact point was the left front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the moped. The moped driver was partially ejected from the vehicle and sustained head injuries with abrasions, classified as injury severity 3. The SUV driver was licensed, while the moped driver was unlicensed. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted in the report. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and failure to yield during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802886, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 16-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered head injuries after colliding with a parked SUV on New Utrecht Avenue. The moped driver was unlicensed, and driver inexperience was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:52 AM on New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision involved a moped traveling north with two occupants and a parked 2024 Dodge SUV. The moped driver, a 16-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained head injuries classified as injury severity level 3. The report highlights 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. Additionally, the moped driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The SUV sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the moped was damaged at its center front end. No occupants were in the SUV at the time. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. This incident underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed and inexperienced drivers operating motorized vehicles in the city.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800060, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bicyclist was ejected and injured after colliding with a parked SUV on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the crash, leaving the cyclist with abrasions and upper arm injuries. The SUV showed no damage from the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 16:23. A 30-year-old male bicyclist traveling south collided with a parked 2015 SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver’s failure to maintain awareness. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and upper arm injuries, classified as injury severity level 3. The SUV showed no damage, suggesting the impact was primarily against the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no contributing factor was assigned to his behavior. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted drivers even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799785, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs collided head-to-tail on New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn. The female driver of the rear vehicle suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling westbound. The crash caused significant damage to the center rear and front ends of the vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:15. Two sport utility vehicles were traveling westbound when the rear SUV struck the front SUV's center back end. The female driver of the rear vehicle, age 61, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and complained of whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center rear and front ends respectively. The report lists the driver's contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver error was recorded. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights the dangers of rear-end collisions even among passenger vehicles in Brooklyn traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798813, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three vehicles collided in a chain reaction on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. The lead SUV stopped in traffic, followed closely by two SUVs and a sedan. The rear driver suffered neck injuries from the impact, highlighting dangers of tailgating in congested traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 3:15 p.m. Three vehicles traveling north were involved: two SUVs and one sedan. The lead SUV was stopped in traffic when the second SUV struck its rear, followed by the sedan hitting the second SUV. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the drivers behind. The injured party was the 43-year-old male driver of the second SUV, who suffered a neck injury described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. He was wearing a lap belt and harness. The collision points were the center back ends of the first two SUVs and the center front end of the sedan. This chain-reaction crash underscores the risks of insufficient following distance in stop-and-go traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798492, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A GMC SUV struck a moped turning on 80th Street near 20th Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was hurled to the pavement, bleeding and torn, left conscious under the harsh streetlight. Metal, flesh, and asphalt collided in Brooklyn’s night.

According to the police report, a GMC SUV collided with a moped at 80th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:50. The moped rider, age 52, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations across the body but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative states, 'A GMC SUV struck a turning moped. The rider, 52, was thrown hard to the pavement. He lay conscious, helmeted, bleeding, torn across the body beneath the cold white glare of the streetlight.' Both vehicles were making left turns at the time of the crash. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error as a key cause. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe actions that led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798376, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14