She Survived Nazis and Chernobyl—But Not a Brooklyn Crosswalk

Apr 25 - SUV turned left on Neptune Ave. Cyclist ejected, leg injured. Police cite failure to keep right. Impact was swift. System failed the rider.

A 48-year-old cyclist was injured after being struck by an SUV making a left turn at Neptune Ave and Brighton 4 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver failed to keep right. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a knee and lower leg injury. The report lists 'Failure to Keep Right' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - Council bill orders NYPD to check temp plates and VINs. Cops must publish parking enforcement reports. Bill sits in Public Safety. Streets stay risky while data hides in shadows.

Int 1252-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced April 24, 2025. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to police department parking enforcement.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Oswald Feliz, Justin L. Brannan, Lincoln Restler, Robert F. Holden, and Chris Banks sponsor the measure. It forces NYPD to verify license plates and VINs on vehicles with temp tags or those ticketed for violations. NYPD must also publish quarterly parking enforcement reports. No safety analyst has assessed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1252-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 24 - Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

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 - A sedan slammed into a parked car on Stillwell Avenue. An 18-year-old passenger suffered a fractured arm. The driver bled from the face. Both were conscious. Police list causes as unspecified.

A sedan traveling east on Stillwell Avenue collided with a parked car near Avenue U in Brooklyn. An 18-year-old male passenger sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm. The driver, a male, suffered minor facial bleeding. According to the police report, both injuries were documented as the result of the crash. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808040 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 23 - SUV and sedan collided on Ocean Parkway. Two women and a child hurt. Police cite failure to yield and improper lane use. Metal twisted. Streets unforgiving.

A crash at Ocean Parkway and Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn left a child and a 52-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The child, riding as a rear passenger, and the SUV driver suffered injuries. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. The report notes child restraint use for the child and seat belts for adults, but only after citing driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807688 - 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 pickup truck backed into a parked sedan on West 20th Street. The sedan driver suffered a leg injury. Police cite unsafe backing. Metal struck metal. Pain followed.

A pickup truck, backing south on West 20th Street in Brooklyn, struck a parked sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 52-year-old man, suffered a knee and lower leg injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Backing Unsafely.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The impact damaged the sedan’s right front bumper and the truck’s rear. The data shows the injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No further injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808332 - 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 15 - Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. Three children hurt. Impact struck front and rear. Shock and pain followed. No driver errors listed. System failed the young again.

Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Three children, ages 2 and 13, suffered injuries to the face, leg, and entire body. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when the collision occurred, with one car's front end hitting the other's rear. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The injured children experienced shock and pain. The report notes lap belt use for one child but does not cite safety equipment as a cause. The crash left vulnerable passengers hurt, with no clear explanation for the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806164 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, 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 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 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 7 - A sedan struck a 29-year-old woman walking along Ocean Parkway. She suffered arm injuries and shock. Driver inattention and inexperience caused the crash.

A sedan traveling south on Ocean Parkway struck a 29-year-old female pedestrian who was walking along the highway with traffic. She suffered injuries to her arm and reported pain and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. The vehicle's right front quarter panel was damaged. The pedestrian was not at an intersection when hit. No other contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - SUV hit a man on West Street. Pedestrian suffered leg injury. Police cite failure to yield. Impact was right front bumper. Danger for those on foot remains high.

A station wagon SUV traveling north struck a 25-year-old man on West Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered a knee and lower leg injury. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor, but the primary error cited is failure to yield. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 4 - SUV cut across Mermaid Avenue. E-bike rider struck. Shoulder torn. Police cite improper turn and distraction. Streets stay ruthless.

An SUV making a right turn on Mermaid Avenue collided with an e-bike traveling straight. The 25-year-old e-bike rider suffered a shoulder injury and reported pain. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The SUV's right front quarter panel took the impact. No injuries were specified for the SUV driver or other occupants. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803693 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A six-year-old boy suffered a concussion after an SUV hit him while he played in the street. The driver and several passengers were unhurt. Police list all factors as unspecified.

A six-year-old boy was injured when a station wagon/SUV struck him as he played in the roadway near 2832 W 23 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child suffered a concussion and injuries to his entire body. The driver, a 47-year-old woman, and several child passengers were not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data. The incident highlights the danger faced by children outside vehicles, even when no specific driver fault is recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805198 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02

Apr 1 - Two SUVs slammed together on Neptune Avenue. Metal twisted. Four men injured. Police cite traffic control ignored and unsafe speed. Pain, blood, broken bones. Brooklyn night, sirens cut the dark.

Two SUVs crashed at Neptune Avenue and West 8th Street in Brooklyn. Four men were injured, including both drivers and two passengers. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed.' One driver was unlicensed. Injuries ranged from head wounds and neck pain to fractured arms and abrasions. The police report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19