She Survived Nazis and Chernobyl—But Not a Brooklyn Crosswalk

Feb 27 - A sedan making a U-turn struck a 50-year-old woman crossing Brighton Beach Avenue outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered bruises and arm injuries. Driver inattention caused the collision, highlighting dangers of distracted driving in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:15. A sedan traveling west was making a U-turn when it struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, with an injury severity rated as moderate. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was conscious and not at an intersection or crosswalk at the time of impact. The vehicle showed no damage despite the collision. This incident underscores the critical role of driver errors, specifically distraction during complex maneuvers like U-turns, in causing harm to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795278 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. Rear driver, 24, suffered back injury and shock. Police blame driver distraction. Both cars moved east when the trailing sedan struck the lead car’s center rear.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway collided when the rear vehicle struck the center back end of the lead car. The 24-year-old male driver of the rear sedan suffered back injuries and shock, with complaints of pain and nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim actions were listed. The crash underscores the danger of driver distraction on high-speed city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - Two sedans crashed head-on and rear-end on 27 Ave in Brooklyn. One driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the nighttime collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 27 Ave near Bath Ave in Brooklyn at 8:49 PM. Two sedans traveling east and southwest collided, with impact points at the center front end and right rear bumper. The driver of one sedan, a 38-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report attributes the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. Vehicle damage was concentrated at the front ends, indicating a failure to maintain attention leading to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 17 - A sedan struck the rear of an SUV on West 5 Street in Brooklyn. The crash injured a 16-year-old female passenger in the sedan, causing head trauma and whiplash. Driver distraction was cited as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, at 8:42 PM on West 5 Street near Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2023 Tesla sedan traveling west rear-ended a 2018 Hino SUV also moving west. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan driver, a licensed female from Pennsylvania, was cited for driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factor. The collision injured a 16-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear of the sedan. She sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior. The damage to both vehicles was centered on the impacted ends, confirming the rear-end collision dynamic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793367 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 17 - A 41-year-old man suffered whole-body injuries and minor bleeding after a collision on Brighton 5 St near Brighton Beach Ave. The pedestrian was left in shock. Details on driver actions or contributing factors remain unspecified in the police report.

According to the police report, a pedestrian, a 41-year-old male, was injured in a crash on Brighton 5 St near Brighton Beach Ave in Brooklyn at 4:00 AM. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his entire body and experienced minor bleeding, resulting in shock. The report does not specify the type of vehicle involved or any contributing factors such as driver errors or pedestrian actions. No details on driver license status, vehicle movement, or point of impact were provided. The absence of cited driver errors or contributing factors in the report limits the ability to identify systemic dangers or driver mistakes in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793146 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 17 - A 47-year-old man suffered a fractured dislocation while crossing 86th Street. The pedestrian was conscious but injured across his entire body. The driver was going straight westbound. Contributing factors remain unspecified in the police report.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 86th Street while crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation affecting his entire body and remained conscious after the collision. The vehicle involved was traveling westbound, going straight ahead, and struck the pedestrian at an unspecified point of impact. The report does not specify the vehicle type or driver details. No explicit driver errors such as Failure to Yield or speeding are listed, and contributing factors are marked as unspecified. The pedestrian's crossing action was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The report focuses on the collision dynamics and injury severity without assigning blame to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 16 - Two sedans smashed head-on on Cropsey Avenue. Night. One driver, sixty-three, took chest injuries and shock. Police blamed broken traffic signals. System failed. Metal and bodies paid the price.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on Cropsey Avenue near Shore Parkway at 8:55 p.m. The 63-year-old male driver of one sedan suffered chest injuries and shock. Both vehicles took center front end damage. Police cited 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other driver errors were listed. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. Faulty traffic signals at the scene directly contributed to the crash, exposing a systemic hazard for all road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 16 - A taxi traveling south and an SUV making a right turn collided on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. A 73-year-old female passenger in the SUV suffered knee and lower leg injuries, experiencing shock and pain. Both vehicles sustained front bumper damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:23 AM on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. A 2024 Toyota taxi was traveling straight south when it collided with a 2024 Mazda SUV making a right turn. The point of impact was the taxi's right front bumper and the SUV's left front bumper. The SUV had one occupant, a 73-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear, who was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma and experienced shock and complaints of pain or nausea. She was secured with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The taxi had two occupants, including the male licensed driver. The report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, but the collision involved conflicting vehicle movements—straight travel versus a right turn—indicating potential failure to yield or right-of-way errors by one or both drivers. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792828 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making an improper left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a head injury and contusion. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest on 28 Ave in Brooklyn struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and turned improperly. The collision caused a head injury and contusion to the pedestrian, who remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factors attributed to the driver. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. This incident highlights driver errors in yielding and turning that led to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Two SUVs crashed at Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, striking each other’s right front panels. The female driver of one SUV suffered a back injury and shock. Both drivers were licensed. The collision caused significant vehicle damage but no ejections.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:54 on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn involving two SUVs traveling south and east respectively. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the right front bumper of the other. The female driver of the eastbound SUV, aged 32, was injured with back pain and shock but was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed in New York and New Jersey. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The collision caused damage primarily to the right front sections of both vehicles. The report focuses on the vehicle impact and resulting injuries without attributing fault or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792827 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 11 - A bus traveling east on Mermaid Avenue struck the rear of an SUV, also heading east. The impact injured a 32-year-old male passenger in the SUV’s rear, causing a head contusion. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage respectively.

According to the police report, a bus and a station wagon/SUV were both traveling east on Mermaid Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:44 PM. The bus struck the center back end of the SUV, which suffered damage to its rear, while the bus sustained damage to its center front end. The collision injured a 32-year-old male occupant seated in the rear of the SUV. He was conscious and suffered a head contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The injury to the passenger highlights the danger of rear-end crashes involving large vehicles like buses, even absent explicit driver fault noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 9 - Ambulance making left turn on Ocean Parkway crashed. Driver distracted. Male passenger in rear injured, found unconscious. Impact struck right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians involved.

According to the police report, an ambulance crashed while making a left turn on Ocean Parkway near Belt Parkway at 12:43 a.m. The vehicle, driven by a licensed female driver, struck with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. A 53-year-old male passenger in the rear of the ambulance was injured and found unconscious. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The police report notes the passenger used no safety equipment, but does not cite this as a cause. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted driving, even in emergency vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - A 79-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver’s inexperience was cited as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:32 AM. A sedan traveling north made a left turn and struck a 79-year-old female pedestrian located at the intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity classified as moderate. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the collision. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but was not ejected from any vehicle. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Jan 24 - Two sedans collided on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. The male driver failed to yield right-of-way. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The front passenger was also injured. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by seat belts.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:19 on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn involving two sedans. The male driver, traveling west, was cited for failure to yield right-of-way. The collision impacted the left front bumper of one vehicle and the right front bumper of the other. Both the driver and front passenger of the northbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. Both occupants were conscious and secured with lap belts and harnesses. The report explicitly identifies the male driver's failure to yield as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The female driver was making a left turn at the time of impact. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Jan 21 - A sedan traveling north on Sheepshead Bay Rd struck its front passenger, causing a head injury. The passenger, a 22-year-old woman, suffered a concussion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:30 on Sheepshead Bay Rd in Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight ahead when the right front bumper impacted the front passenger. The passenger, a 22-year-old female occupant, was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt and harness. She sustained a head injury classified as a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the passenger were listed. The driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the injury of the front-seat occupant, highlighting the systemic danger posed by distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - Senator Scarcella-Spanton pushes S 2622. The bill kills congestion pricing, adds an MTA board seat, and orders a forensic audit. Streets risk more cars. Riders and walkers face louder, dirtier roads.

Senate bill S 2622 was introduced on January 21, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C),' was sponsored by Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23). The bill repeals congestion pricing, expands the MTA board, and mandates a forensic audit. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but repealing congestion pricing means more traffic and danger for New York’s most vulnerable on the street.

• File S 2622, Open States, Published 2025-01-21