Brooklyn Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

Apr 28 - A pickup tore through parked cars on 67th Street. Alcohol played a role. One driver suffered back and crush injuries. The street bore the brunt. Metal twisted. Lives shaken.

A pickup truck crashed into several parked vehicles on 67th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. One 23-year-old male driver was injured, suffering back and crush injuries. Seven other occupants, including a child, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report states, “Alcohol Involvement” as the primary cause. Multiple parked cars, including SUVs and a motorcycle, were struck. The force of the crash left metal bent and people hurt. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - A bus hit a cyclist on Bay Parkway. The cyclist, 28, suffered a bruised leg. Police cite driver inattention. The bus was entering a parked position. The crash left the cyclist hurt.

A bus collided with a cyclist on Bay Parkway at 67th Street in Brooklyn. The 28-year-old cyclist was injured, sustaining a contusion to his leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor in the crash. The bus was entering a parked position when the impact occurred. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause listed is driver inattention. No injuries were reported for the bus driver. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when large vehicles maneuver without full attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808873 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 25 - SUV driver cut off e-bike on 18th Avenue. E-biker thrown, arm injured. Police cite improper lane use, following too close, failure to yield. Streets stay dangerous for Brooklyn riders.

A 34-year-old e-bike rider was injured after a collision with a station wagon/SUV near 7918 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way, followed too closely, and made an improper lane maneuver. The e-biker was ejected and suffered an arm injury. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as driver errors. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights ongoing risks for cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - Two sedans collided on 20th Avenue. A 72-year-old man suffered facial bruises. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass met. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving two sedans on 20th Avenue in Brooklyn left a 72-year-old man with facial contusions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The injured man was driving one of the vehicles. No other injuries were specified. The report does not mention any actions by the injured driver that contributed to the crash. Systemic danger persists when distraction enters the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 19 - A driver struck a 78-year-old woman crossing 83rd Street with the signal. She suffered leg and internal injuries. Police cite driver inexperience as the cause.

A 78-year-old woman was hit while crossing 83rd Street at 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. She was walking with the signal when a northbound vehicle struck her, injuring her leg and causing internal harm. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' was the contributing factor. The report lists no other errors or conditions. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No information was provided about the vehicle or driver beyond inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807084 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - SUV hit a five-year-old boy in the crosswalk. The child crossed with the signal. Driver failed to yield. The boy suffered a head injury. Bleeding. Shock. Brooklyn pavement stained again.

A five-year-old boy was struck by an SUV while crossing Avenue S at W 3rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a right turn, failed to yield. The boy suffered a head injury and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The driver and another occupant were uninjured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807074 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 17 - SUV slammed into stopped sedan on 19th Avenue. Neck injury for sedan driver. Police cite following too closely. Metal, glass, shock. System failed to protect.

A BMW SUV struck a stopped Mercedes sedan on 19th Avenue at 71st Street in Brooklyn. The sedan's 38-year-old woman driver suffered a neck injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the listed contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling south. The SUV hit the sedan's center back end with its left front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of close following in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807067 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 12 - A distracted driver hit an 81-year-old man on West 9th Street. The impact bruised his hip and leg. He stayed conscious. The car’s left front bumper struck him. Streets failed to protect the old and slow.

An 81-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg bruises after being struck by a vehicle’s left front bumper on West 9th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The man was conscious after the collision. The report lists no other contributing factors from the pedestrian. The vehicle was traveling north and going straight ahead when it hit the man, who was not at an intersection. The system failed to shield a vulnerable road user from a distracted driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805135 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A sedan hit a woman crossing with the signal on 18th Avenue. She suffered a hip and leg injury. Police cite failure to yield. The driver was unhurt.

A 56-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing 18th Avenue at 65th Street in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a hip and upper leg injury. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way while making a left turn. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805630 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - A BMW SUV pulled from parking. A motorcycle hit its front. The rider, 47, bled from the leg. Distraction ruled the street. Steel cut through helmet. Brooklyn stood silent.

A BMW SUV pulled out from parking near 1770 West 6th Street in Brooklyn. A motorcycle struck its front. The 47-year-old rider suffered severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The rider wore a helmet, but it could not prevent injury. The SUV driver was not reported injured. The crash left the street quiet, marked by blood and steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - SUV struck motorcycle from behind. Two teens thrown to pavement. Bones broken. Pain sharp. Sirens cut through traffic. The highway keeps moving.

An SUV rear-ended a motorcycle on Belt Parkway, westbound. According to the police report, a Ford SUV struck the motorcycle in the rear. An 18-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old female passenger on the motorcycle were ejected and injured, suffering broken bones and pain. The crash report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. Both injured teens had no safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and unhurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805543 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - SUV and garbage truck collided on Belt Parkway. Three people hurt, including a toddler. Police cite reaction to another vehicle. Metal twisted. Injuries linger.

An SUV and a garbage truck crashed on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Three people were injured: a 44-year-old woman driving the SUV, a 50-year-old male passenger, and a 2-year-old boy. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' The report lists this as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was going straight; the truck was turning left. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured suffered back pain and whiplash. The toddler was restrained in a child seat. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 8 - A driver turned right on 18th Ave, struck a 14-year-old girl crossing with the signal. She suffered a bruised shoulder. Police cite driver distraction and failure to yield.

A 14-year-old girl was hit while crossing 18th Avenue at 77th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was making a right turn and struck the pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal. The girl sustained a contusion to her upper arm and remained conscious. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any vehicle damage or other injuries. The driver’s errors led to the injury of a vulnerable road user in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 7 - A moped and SUV collided on 17th Avenue. The moped driver suffered arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention and distraction. Metal met flesh. Streets failed the vulnerable.

A moped and an SUV collided at 17th Avenue and 68th Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 34-year-old man, was injured in the arm with a fracture and dislocation. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passenger Distraction' were listed as contributing factors. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, leaving vulnerable road users hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19