No More Excuses: Barriers Now, Lives Saved Tomorrow

A 36-year-old man driving a sedan in Brooklyn crashed with his vehicle's front center damaged. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a key factor. The driver was semiconscious and injured but not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male driver operating a 2022 Tesla sedan in Brooklyn at 2:00 AM was involved in a crash on Coney Island Avenue near Newkirk Avenue. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end. The driver was the sole occupant and was found semiconscious with injuries of unknown severity. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as the contributing factor twice, indicating impairment played a critical role in the crash. The driver was licensed in New York but was not using any safety equipment at the time. There is no mention of other vehicles or pedestrians involved, nor any victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The data clearly points to driver error due to intoxication as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783712 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Unlicensed driver crashed a sedan into another on Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn. The licensed driver suffered bruises and shock. Both cars damaged. Impact was hard. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 18:20 on Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn. An unlicensed female driver, heading north, struck the center front end of a westbound sedan. The licensed male driver of the second car suffered full-body contusions and shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The police report highlights the unlicensed status of the striking driver as a key factor. No other contributing factors were listed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged at the points of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785087 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 70-year-old man crossing Crooke Ave was struck by a westbound SUV. He suffered arm and hand injuries. Police cited pedestrian confusion. No driver errors listed. The crash left the man conscious and hurt.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old male pedestrian was hit while crossing Crooke Ave at a marked crosswalk in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 8:30 p.m. when a 2019 Porsche SUV, traveling west, struck him at the center front end. The man suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, but remained conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors, such as failure to yield or speeding, were cited. The SUV showed no damage. The data centers on pedestrian confusion, with no fault assigned to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV struck a 60-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Flatbush Avenue. She suffered head injuries and shock. The driver turned left, hitting her head-on. No vehicle damage reported. Impact fell on the pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old woman was crossing Flatbush Avenue at Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn with the signal when a southbound Jeep SUV made a left turn and struck her with the center front end. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and was in shock. The report lists no vehicle damage. The police report does not specify contributing factors but notes the driver's left turn as the pre-crash event. The pedestrian's action—crossing with the signal—is documented but not cited as a cause. The crash highlights the danger turning vehicles pose to people on foot at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A RAM SUV struck a 23-year-old e-bike rider on Avenue J. The rider, thrown and bleeding from the head, lay unconscious in the street. The SUV’s right side bore the mark of impact. Failure to yield shattered the morning calm.

A violent collision unfolded on Avenue J near East 28th Street in Brooklyn when a RAM SUV struck an eastbound e-bike, according to the police report. The 23-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and landed on the pavement, unconscious and bleeding from the head. The police report states the SUV’s right side bore the wound of the crash. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' as a factor. The e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no protective equipment, but these details are mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The crash left the cyclist with severe head injuries, underscoring the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779922 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A corruption probe toppled Ingrid Lewis-Martin, City Hall’s top aide and a key road safety foe. Her resistance stalled the McGuinness Blvd. redesign, leaving pedestrians and cyclists at risk. Only after investigators seized phones did the city revive its safety plan.

This story centers on the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign, a project to protect pedestrians and cyclists on a deadly Brooklyn street. No council bill number applies, but the saga unfolded across 2023 and 2024, with City Hall’s powerful aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin at the center. The matter: 'What role did a single bike lane play in Ingrid Lewis-Martin's undoing?' Lewis-Martin, Mayor Adams’s closest advisor, fought the road diet and bike lane, siding with Broadway Stages and its CEO Gina Argento, who opposed the plan. Under their pressure, Adams abandoned the Department of Transportation’s safety design. After both women’s phones were seized in a corruption probe, City Hall reversed course and advanced the safety project. The episode exposes how political interference delayed life-saving street changes, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• The Lewis-Martin Probe and McGuinness Blvd.: What We Know, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-17

Power and money stalled safety on McGuinness Boulevard. A teacher died. Eleven pedestrians and three cyclists killed since 1995. City Hall caved to donors. Bike lanes and road diets delayed. Vulnerable road users paid the price. The fight continues.

This controversy centers on the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign, with Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (District 42) mentioned at a pivotal June 15, 2023, town hall. The saga unfolded as City Hall, under pressure from Broadway Stages and its donors, repeatedly stalled or watered down the Department of Transportation’s plan to calm the deadly Brooklyn roadway. The matter’s summary: 'Under pressure from Broadway Stages, Mayor Adams abandoned his own Department of Transportation's plan to calm the notoriously dangerous Brooklyn roadway.' Despite neighborhood support and a history of fatal crashes, City Hall intervened, delaying life-saving changes. Bichotte Hermelyn appeared alongside DOT Commissioner Rodriguez at a meeting dominated by project opponents. The watered-down redesign, installed north of Calyer Street, did 'nothing' for pedestrian safety, according to local officials. The pattern: political influence trumped safety, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• The Lewis-Martin Probe and McGuinness Blvd.: What We Know, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-12-17

A sedan and SUV slammed together on Coney Island Avenue. The crash bruised a 57-year-old woman riding in the back seat. Metal twisted. She stayed conscious. No pedestrians or cyclists were hit.

According to the police report, a 2014 BMW sedan heading south and a 2024 Cadillac SUV heading east collided at Coney Island Avenue and Avenue N in Brooklyn. Both vehicles struck at their front bumpers. A 57-year-old female passenger in the sedan’s right rear seat suffered facial contusions. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash’s force injured the passenger but did not eject her from the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV veered on Flatbush Avenue. Metal struck metal. A woman in the front seat took the blow. Her shoulder and arm broke the silence. Lane change error left her hurt.

According to the police report, a southbound Lexus SUV changed lanes on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn and struck a northbound Isuzu box truck at 12:30. The SUV’s front end hit the truck’s rear. The SUV’s front passenger, a 27-year-old woman, suffered internal, shoulder, and upper arm injuries. She was conscious and not ejected. The box truck showed no damage. The report lists the SUV driver’s pre-crash action as 'Changing Lanes,' highlighting a lane change error. No contributing factors were assigned to the passenger or the truck driver. The crash underscores the risk when drivers fail at basic maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed into an SUV’s side on Cortelyou Road. Two men inside the SUV suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Both drivers were licensed. No driver errors listed. Impact left the SUV’s doors crushed.

According to the police report, at 1:20 AM on Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn, a westbound sedan struck the left side doors of a northbound SUV. Two men, ages 27 and 31, rode in the SUV. Both wore lap belts and remained conscious, but suffered whiplash and injuries to their entire bodies. The sedan’s male driver was licensed. Both vehicles were traveling straight before the crash. The report lists no contributing driver errors or factors such as failure to yield or speeding. The collision’s force crushed the SUV’s side, injuring its occupants despite restraint use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A Jeep swung right on Avenue L. The front end hit a 73-year-old woman crossing with the light. She fell, crushed and killed in the crosswalk. The SUV showed no damage. The street stayed silent, the danger plain.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV made a right turn at the corner of East 12th Street and Avenue L in Brooklyn. The vehicle's center front end struck a 73-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states she was in the crosswalk and had the light. She suffered fatal head and crush injuries and died at the scene. The SUV sustained no damage. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian, but the narrative confirms the driver turned into the crosswalk while the woman crossed with the light. The driver’s action—making a right turn into a marked crosswalk occupied by a pedestrian—created the lethal impact. The victim’s behavior is noted only to confirm she was crossing with the signal, as reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775450 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

A southbound SUV struck a southbound sedan starting from parking on Avenue K in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 55-year-old man, suffered head abrasions and was conscious. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the late-night crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 11:00 PM on Avenue K in Brooklyn. A 2023 Honda SUV traveling south collided with a 2020 Chevrolet sedan also heading south but starting from a parking position. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front bumper and the sedan’s left front quarter panel. The sedan’s driver, a 55-year-old male occupant, was injured with head abrasions and remained conscious. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends. There is no mention of pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan made a bad left on Beverley. Struck a woman crossing with the signal. She took the hit to her knee and leg. Driver failed to yield. Streets turned dangerous in a blink.

According to the police report, a 2022 Honda sedan turned left onto Beverley Rd near Flatbush Ave and struck a 47-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The impact hit her knee, lower leg, and foot, leaving her bruised and injured. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as driver errors. The driver, licensed in New Jersey, was alone in the car. The pedestrian was crossing legally at the intersection. The crash shows how driver mistakes put people on foot at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773635 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 12-year-old girl suffered abrasions and full-body injury after being struck while crossing a marked crosswalk without signal at Nostrand Avenue. The vehicle, traveling northeast, impacted her center front with no reported damage. Shock was reported.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:25. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk but without a crossing signal. The vehicle involved was traveling northeast, going straight ahead, and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The report notes the pedestrian's injury as abrasions and entire body trauma, with a severity level of 3 and emotional shock. The vehicle sustained no damage. The contributing factor listed is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' indicating pedestrian error or confusion as a factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into the back of an SUV on Coney Island Avenue. The unlicensed, helmetless rider, sixty, was thrown headfirst to the pavement. Limbs crushed. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The SUV’s bumper bent under the force.

According to the police report, a moped collided with the rear of a southbound SUV on Coney Island Avenue at Avenue N in Brooklyn at 11:31 a.m. The moped rider, a 60-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The report states he was ejected from the seat, struck the ground headfirst, and suffered severe crush injuries. The narrative details, 'Limbs crushed. Blood on the asphalt.' The SUV’s left rear bumper was damaged. The police report lists the moped rider’s license status as 'Unlicensed' and notes 'None' for safety equipment. No driver errors are cited for the SUV. The report does not identify any contributing factors beyond those already described. The focus remains on the violent impact and the systemic risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A van veered down Flatbush Avenue, its driver asleep. Four parked sedans took the blow. Steel twisted. Glass scattered. The driver woke to crushed legs and silence. Engines cooled. The street held its breath.

A van traveling south on Flatbush Avenue near Albemarle Road struck four parked sedans after the driver fell asleep, according to the police report. The report states that the van's driver, a 31-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his legs. The narrative describes, 'A van veered south, driver asleep. It struck four parked sedans. Steel folded. Glass scattered. The 31-year-old man woke to crushed legs and silence.' The police report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors are cited for the victims or parked vehicles. The collision underscores the systemic danger posed when drivers lose control of their vehicles, even for a moment. The impact left parked cars damaged and one person seriously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A male pedestrian suffered facial abrasions after being struck by the center back end of a northbound tractor truck on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. The truck was traveling straight ahead. The pedestrian was conscious but injured in the roadway.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured when a northbound tractor truck traveling straight ahead struck him with the center back end of the vehicle on Church Avenue, Brooklyn. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to the face and was conscious at the scene. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors explicitly noted. The truck driver was licensed in New York and operating a 2006 KW-TRUCK/BUS. The collision caused damage to the center back end of the truck. No helmet use or crossing signal compliance was reported as contributing factors. The focus remains on the impact from the truck's rear and the pedestrian's presence in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04