Brooklyn Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

May 19 - A Jeep SUV hit a 15-year-old boy on a bike at Bay Parkway and 80th Street. The teen suffered bruises. Both vehicles were moving straight. No clear cause named in the police report.

A 15-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a Jeep SUV struck him at Bay Parkway and 80th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both the SUV and the bike were traveling straight when the crash occurred. The teen suffered contusions to his entire body. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are identified in the data. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted after the lack of driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - Two SUVs slammed together on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered back injuries and a concussion. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left metal twisted and lives shaken.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, driver inattention or distraction contributed to the crash. One driver, a 40-year-old woman, was injured with back trauma and a concussion. Three others, including a 31-year-old woman and an infant, were listed as occupants but did not have specified injuries. Both vehicles sustained damage, with one struck in the center back and the other in the center front. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - Two SUVs slammed together in Brooklyn. A child suffered a head injury. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control ignored. Metal twisted. Pain followed. System failed the vulnerable.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed at Bay Ridge Avenue and 15th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a child passenger, age 11, was injured in the head. Another passenger, age 19, reported pain. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed. The crash left metal bent and passengers hurt. The report shows the system failed to protect those inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - SUV slammed into cyclist on 20th Ave. Police cite alcohol and ignored traffic control. Cyclist suffered face injuries. Streets stayed silent. Metal met flesh. System failed.

A 29-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV on 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver disregarded traffic control and alcohol was involved. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the face and was in shock. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. No helmet use was cited as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and operate vehicles under the influence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Two sedans collided on New Utrecht Ave. Three people hurt. Obstructed view listed as cause. Metal twisted. Pain sharp. Brooklyn street, danger clear.

Two sedans collided on New Utrecht Ave near 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 injuries. The crash involved a Toyota sedan and a Ford sedan, both traveling straight, and two parked SUVs. Police list 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the main contributing factor. No other driver errors are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813261 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - A car struck Maurette Lafleur in the crosswalk. She had the signal. The driver sped through. Bones broke. She died on Rutland Road. The street stayed loud. Witnesses watched. The city’s crackdown missed the real threat.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that a 68-year-old woman, Maurette Lafleur, was killed by a driver while crossing Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk with the walk signal when the driver of a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her. A witness told Streetsblog, "The lady spin around and sped through," and described hearing the impact. The article notes that police have not released the driver's name. The incident occurred as NYPD focused enforcement on electric bikes, while drivers continue to cause deadly harm. The tragedy highlights the ongoing danger to pedestrians and raises questions about city policy and street design.

• Driver Kills Senior In East Flatbush, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 12 - Five killed. Forty badly hurt. Conduit Avenue runs fast and bare. No signals. No safe crossings. City now calls in neighbors. Promises change. Workshops open. Danger remains until streets change.

Gothamist reported on May 12, 2025, that the city will redesign Conduit Avenue, a three-mile stretch in Brooklyn and Queens where 'more than 40 serious injuries and five deaths' have occurred in five years. The corridor lacks basic pedestrian infrastructure and has 'long stretches without signalized crossings,' which encourages highway-speed driving through residential areas. The Department of Transportation is launching community workshops and an online feedback map to gather public input. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Brooklyn and Queens Residents deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk.' The redesign aims to address systemic dangers and create safer, more connected streets.

• City Plans Overhaul Of Conduit Corridor, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-12

May 10 - A sedan hit a 74-year-old cyclist on 65th Street. The man was ejected and suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield.

A sedan traveling east on 65th Street collided with a 74-year-old man riding a bike northbound at 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered a head contusion. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The cyclist was conscious after the crash. No helmet use was noted, but the primary causes were driver errors. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 10 - Two sedans slammed together on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered neck whiplash. Metal twisted. The crash left others shaken but unhurt. Police list no clear cause.

A crash involving two sedans occurred on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 37-year-old male driver was injured with neck whiplash. Other occupants, including a child, were listed but not reported as injured. The vehicles sustained damage to their center back and front ends. Police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or external causes were detailed in the report. Helmet use or turn signals were not cited as factors. The incident highlights the sudden violence of car crashes, even when causes remain unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A sedan hit a 13-year-old boy on Bay Parkway. The child suffered a bruised leg. Police list all factors as unspecified. The driver was merging. No other injuries reported.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was struck by a sedan while playing in the roadway near 8973 Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg. The sedan was merging at the time of the crash. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No injuries were reported for the driver or other occupants. The report does not specify any driver errors or additional contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813662 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A police cruiser slammed into a Nissan at a Brooklyn intersection. Sirens wailed. Metal twisted. An officer lay critically hurt. The Nissan driver survived. The street bore the scars. Another night, another crash. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on May 8, 2025, that an NYPD officer was critically injured when a marked police vehicle collided with a white Nissan Rogue at Willoughby Avenue and Walworth Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed man. The article states, “A marked NYPD vehicle was traveling eastbound on Willoughby Avenue when it collided with a white Nissan Rogue traveling northbound on Walworth Street.” The officer was hospitalized in critical but stable condition; the Nissan driver, age 28, was also hospitalized and is stable. The crash highlights the dangers at intersections, especially during emergency responses. The investigation continues, with no details yet on contributing factors or policy changes.

• NYPD Cruiser Collides With Nissan In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-05-08

May 6 - Two bikes crashed at 18th Avenue and 68th Street. One rider, 52, suffered arm abrasions. Police cite driver inattention for both cyclists. The street saw blood and confusion.

Two cyclists collided at the intersection of 18th Avenue and 68th Street in Brooklyn. One rider, age 52, was injured with abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, both cyclists were going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both riders. No other factors were cited in the report. The crash highlights the danger when focus lapses, even among those most exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

May 1 - A taxi hit a man crossing Bath Ave. The driver failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered a fractured arm. The street stayed open. The system failed to protect him.

A 34-year-old man was struck by a taxi while crossing Bath Ave at Bay 13 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian, not at an intersection or crosswalk, suffered a fractured arm and dislocation. The driver, a 59-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No other factors were cited. The crash highlights the danger faced by pedestrians outside marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 30 - A sedan turned left on Avenue P. An e-scooter rider, heading straight, was struck and ejected. She suffered a head injury. Police cite improper lane usage. The street left her exposed.

A sedan making a left turn on Avenue P collided with an eastbound e-scooter. The 28-year-old woman riding the e-scooter was ejected and suffered a head contusion. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The sedan's right front quarter panel struck the scooter's front end. The e-scooter rider was not using safety equipment. No injuries were reported for the sedan's driver or occupant. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810455 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30