She Survived Nazis and Chernobyl—But Not a Brooklyn Crosswalk

Jan 16 - Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 15 - A distracted driver crashed on Neptune Avenue. The impact struck the sedan’s left front. A 23-year-old rear passenger suffered abdomen and pelvis injuries. Shock followed. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle, striking its left front quarter panel. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the cause. A 23-year-old woman riding as the right rear passenger was injured in the crash, suffering trauma to her abdomen and pelvis. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report notes she was in shock, though no visible complaints were recorded. Driver inattention directly led to the collision and the passenger’s injuries. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 15 - A 68-year-old man driving a sedan suffered back contusions after an SUV struck his vehicle’s left rear bumper. The crash, marked by driver inattention, unfolded on Ocean Parkway, leaving the sedan driver injured but restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:51 PM on Ocean Parkway involving two vehicles: a 2025 SUV and a 2022 sedan. The SUV was parked before the crash and impacted the left rear bumper of the sedan, which was traveling westbound. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male occupant, sustained back contusions and was not ejected, secured by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The impact caused damage to the left rear bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - An e-scooter driver suffered a head injury after a crash in Brooklyn. The impact struck the center front end of the vehicle. Driver inattention and distraction caused the collision, leaving the rider bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash at 2:14 AM in Brooklyn near Bay 44 Street. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle, described as an e-scooter traveling straight ahead, sustained damage to the center front end upon impact. The rider was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered a head injury classified as a contusion or bruise with injury severity level 3. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction in operating motorized devices on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - A 31-year-old man crossing Ocean Parkway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The driver’s inattention caused a collision that bruised the pedestrian’s lower leg. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, at 18:09 an SUV traveling north on Ocean Parkway made a right turn and struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old male, suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle, a 2012 Toyota SUV, sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 6 - A 55-year-old female driver suffered upper arm injuries after her sedan struck another vehicle from behind on W 25 St in Brooklyn. The crash caused center back end damage to her car. Police list unspecified driver errors as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female driver traveling east on W 25 St in Brooklyn was involved in a rear-end collision. The sedan she was driving sustained center back end damage, indicating impact from behind. The driver was injured, specifically to her shoulder and upper arm, and was conscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report cites unspecified contributing factors related to the driver, suggesting errors on her part led to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision involved another vehicle, a 2023 Tesla, which sustained front end damage. The report focuses on driver errors without attributing fault to any victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - Two sedans collided on Brighton 7 St in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted, causing impact on the right front bumper and left rear quarter panel. A 57-year-old passenger suffered shoulder injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:45 on Brighton 7 St, Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling west collided; one was going straight ahead and the other was changing lanes. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the first sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the second. Both drivers had contributing factors of inattention and distraction, with one also noted for inexperience. A 57-year-old male occupant in the right rear passenger seat was injured, suffering upper arm and shoulder injuries and experiencing shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - Two sedans collided on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The crash involved merging and straight travel, with front bumper impacts on both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:11. Two sedans, both traveling south, collided. One vehicle was merging while the other was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the merging sedan and the right front bumper of the other sedan. The male driver of the merging vehicle, aged 30, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the merging maneuver by one vehicle and the straight travel of the other set the conditions for the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784250 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A 19-year-old male driver suffered full-body injuries after a collision on Ocean Parkway. The SUV’s front center bore the impact. The driver was semiconscious, restrained by a lap belt, and reported pain and nausea following the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:20 AM on Ocean Parkway near Avenue Y in Brooklyn. The driver, a 19-year-old male operating a 2023 Toyota SUV, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV sustained damage to its center front end. The driver was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt. He was semiconscious and suffered injuries to his entire body, with complaints of pain and nausea. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 31 - A sedan struck a 76-year-old woman outside an intersection in Brooklyn. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact left her in shock. The car hit her while moving from a parked position.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck her outside an intersection on West 2nd Street in Brooklyn at 21:30. The woman was not in a crosswalk and was engaged in other actions in the roadway. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was described as being in shock. The report notes the sedan, a 2013 Honda, was parked before the crash and struck the pedestrian with its right side doors. No driver contributing factors were listed in the report. No helmet or crossing signal factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - A Kia sedan crashed on Shore Parkway. Three inside—driver, two young girls—suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. No blame for passengers. Systemic danger, clear and brutal.

According to the police report, a 2021 Kia sedan traveling west on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle. The sedan carried a 27-year-old female driver and two female passengers, ages 10 and 5. All three occupants were injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both children were passengers, restrained with lap belts. No contributing behaviors are attributed to the passengers. The crash highlights the direct harm caused by driver distraction, leaving vulnerable occupants hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 22-year-old man suffered hip and upper leg injuries when a taxi struck him at an intersection on Harway Ave. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian in the center front end. The victim was conscious but bruised.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling northeast on Harway Ave struck a 22-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The taxi driver, licensed in New York, was going straight ahead but failed to yield right-of-way, as cited in the contributing factors. The impact point was the center front end of the taxi, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a driver error contributing to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - Three SUVs collided on 86th Street in Brooklyn during a traffic stop. A front-seat passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash, left in shock. The crash was caused by driver inattention, with impact centered on vehicle fronts and backs.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:17 on 86th Street in Brooklyn involving three SUVs all traveling westbound. The vehicles were stopped or going straight ahead in traffic when the collision happened. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The impact points were the center front end and center back end of the vehicles, indicating a chain-reaction crash. A 41-year-old female front passenger was injured with head trauma and whiplash, experiencing shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The data highlights driver error as the cause, with no fault attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 16 - SUV struck a 79-year-old woman in Brooklyn. She crossed with the signal. Driver failed to yield. Hip and leg fractured. Impact left her on the street. Car showed no damage. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old woman was crossing Neptune Avenue at W 12th Street in Brooklyn with the signal when a 2022 Mercedes SUV traveling east struck her with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' twice as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a severe fracture and dislocation to her hip and upper leg. The SUV showed no damage. The driver was licensed. This crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780661 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 14 - Two SUVs collided southbound on Shell Road. Debris littered the street. One driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles struck front quarter panels. Obstruction played a deadly role.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs crashed at 11:50 AM on Shell Road in Brooklyn. Both drivers, licensed men from New York and Georgia, were traveling south. One changed lanes as the other went straight. The collision hit the left front of one SUV and the right front of the other. 'Obstruction/Debris' was listed as a contributing factor for both drivers, showing that roadway hazards played a key role. One driver, age 37, suffered back injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The data highlights the systemic danger of debris in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 13 - Two sedans slammed together on Belt Parkway. Three passengers, two children and one adult, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Metal twisted. No ejections. All conscious. The road stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 2007 Toyota struck the rear center of a 2016 Honda on Belt Parkway at 16:30. The Honda carried three passengers: an 8-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, and a 48-year-old man. All three suffered back injuries and whiplash. Each was conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The Toyota had no passengers. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The Toyota sustained center front end damage; the Honda, center back end damage. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The injuries came from the force of the crash, not from any victim action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19