Eight Dead, Thousands Hurt. Brooklyn Streets Are Killing Fields—Who Will Stop the Bloodshed?

A Ford van struck a baby boy on Bradford Street. The right front bumper hit. His body torn, bleeding, semiconscious. Not at a crosswalk. The van showed no damage. The child did not cry. Brooklyn pavement bore witness.

According to the police report, a Ford van traveling north on Bradford Street near 165th struck a baby boy in the roadway. The collision occurred at 18:54 in Brooklyn. The report states, 'The right front bumper hit. His whole body torn. He lay bleeding, semiconscious, not at a crosswalk. The van showed no damage. The child did not cry.' The child suffered severe lacerations and was listed as semiconscious, with injuries to his entire body. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the data. The child was not in a crosswalk at the time of impact, as noted in the report, but the focus remains on the devastating outcome of the collision between a van and a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768068, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped tore through Bushwick Ave. Distraction ruled. The driver, helmetless, flew headfirst and bled. The passenger, helmeted, struck hard and bled from the face. Both ejected. Both broken. Night swallowed their cries.

Two people suffered serious injuries when a moped crashed on Bushwick Ave near Halsey St, according to the police report. The report states both the driver, a 30-year-old man, and the passenger, a 25-year-old woman, were ejected from the moped. The driver, who wore no helmet, sustained severe head lacerations. The passenger, who wore a helmet, suffered severe bleeding from facial injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was cited as the primary contributing factor for both individuals. The narrative notes, 'Distraction rode with them through the dark.' No other vehicles were involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors beyond the mention of helmet use after driver distraction. The crash underscores the danger when attention lapses on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798441, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel swept through the crosswalk at De Kalb and Wyckoff. A van turned right, head-on into a man with the light. No screech, no skid, no mercy. The man died where he stood, body broken by the van’s front end.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the intersection of De Kalb Avenue and Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn when a van making a right turn struck him head-on. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal' in the crosswalk when the van, registered in Michigan and operated by a licensed New York driver, failed to yield the right-of-way. The report states, 'A van turned right. A man, 59, walked with the light. Steel struck him head-on.' The impact was so severe that the victim suffered injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report notes there were 'no skid marks' and 'no damage to the van.' The contributing factor listed is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The pedestrian’s lawful crossing is mentioned only after the driver’s error, underscoring the systemic danger posed by vehicles failing to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764527, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Members Nurse and Rivera push DOT to install 175 e-bike charging hubs in five years. Only three city-run stations exist now. Advocates say the plan lags behind surging e-bike use. Riders and delivery workers face mounting risks from unsafe charging.

On October 11, 2024, Council Members Sandy Nurse and Carlina Rivera introduced a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to install 35 e-bike charging stations each year for five years, totaling 175 hubs. The bill, now before the Council, mandates at least 25 percent of stations be placed in the roadway and requires DOT to report on usage and maintenance after three years. The matter title calls for 'expanding e-bike charging and battery safety infrastructure.' Rivera said, 'We certainly want to expand the conversation around e-bike charging and battery safety as much as possible.' Industry voices, like Baruch Herzfeld of Pop Wheels, argue the plan is too small to meet demand or curb deadly indoor charging fires. Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project warns that infrastructure has not kept pace with e-micromobility growth, increasing risks for riders and workers. The bill follows years of slow city action, with only three public charging stations operating today.

• Council Seeks to Force DOT to Build 175 E-Bike Charging Hubs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-11

Council bill orders DOT to install 35 e-bike battery stations each year for five years. A quarter must go curbside, letting riders park and lock up. Sponsors demand public reporting. The measure targets commercial corridors. Streets may shift for cyclists.

Int 1084-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on October 10, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to install e-bicycle battery stations," requires DOT to install at least 35 e-bike battery stations annually for five years. At least 25% will be curbside, allowing secure e-bike parking. Council Members Carlina Rivera (primary sponsor), Sandy Nurse, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. DOT must report on station locations and operations. The bill aims to carve out space for e-bike riders in busy corridors, forcing the city to track and share progress.

• File Int 1084-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

A moped’s bumper slammed into a young man working in the street. Blood streaked his face under the streetlights. He stood conscious, wounded, while the driver’s inattention left him bleeding in the dark Brooklyn night.

A 21-year-old man was injured when a westbound moped struck him as he worked in the roadway at Myrtle Avenue and Bleecker Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the moped’s left front bumper hit the pedestrian’s head, leaving him bleeding but conscious at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was performing work in the road at the time of the collision. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior are listed in the police report. This incident underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving to people working or moving in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760621, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1069-2024 slashes legal parking time for tractor-trailers and similar trucks to 90 minutes. Commercial vehicles clogging curbs will face tighter limits. The measure targets streets where hulking rigs linger, blocking sightlines and endangering walkers and riders.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." It limits parking for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers, and semi-trailers to 90 minutes, down from three hours. Council Member Kevin C. Riley leads as primary sponsor, joined by Nantasha M. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Sandy Nurse, and others. The bill was referred to committee the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the measure aims to keep large trucks from blocking curbs and crosswalks, where they threaten pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A motorcycle, moving too fast, crashed into a turning SUV at Pennsylvania and Jamaica. A woman riding outside the bike was thrown hard to the pavement. Her legs torn open. She stayed conscious. The street echoed with the cost of speed.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling at 'unsafe speed' struck a station wagon/SUV making a left turn at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision occurred at 6:10 a.m. The report states that a 31-year-old woman, riding on the outside of the motorcycle, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to her legs but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes the motorcycle as having 'slammed into an SUV turning left.' The primary contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' No contributing factors are attributed to the victim. The impact and subsequent ejection underscore the dangers posed by excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752580, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

On Hemlock Street, a sedan and e-bike fleeing police collide. The e-bike rider, 31, is torn at the neck, blood pooling. Doors crumple. Sirens echo. Unsafe speed drives the chaos. Brooklyn’s street absorbs the shock.

According to the police report, a sedan and an e-bike collided on Hemlock Street near Etna Street in Brooklyn during a police pursuit. Both vehicles were fleeing police at the time of the crash. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe neck lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The police narrative describes a violent impact: 'The e-bike rider, 31, strikes hard. No helmet. Neck torn. Blood pools. Doors crumple. Sirens wail.' The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, while the e-bike impacted the left front bumper. The focus remains on the excessive speed and the peril of high-velocity chases, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750146, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep struck a northbound moped on Bushwick Avenue. The 65-year-old rider was thrown headfirst to the pavement. Blood pooled. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The man died in the street. The driver was unlicensed, according to police.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling west on Bushwick Avenue near Putnam Avenue collided with a northbound moped. The impact was severe: 'A Jeep slammed into a northbound moped. The 65-year-old rider flew from the seat, struck the pavement headfirst. Blood pooled in the street. The SUV’s front end folded. He died there.' The moped rider, a 65-year-old man, was killed instantly, suffering fatal head injuries after being ejected from his vehicle. The police report notes the SUV driver was unlicensed, with a license from Georgia that was not valid in New York. No driver errors beyond 'unspecified' are listed, but the unlicensed status is a critical systemic failure. Helmet use is mentioned only to note its absence, after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when unlicensed drivers operate vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748017, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a halted taxi on Bradford Street, folding metal violently. A 25-year-old woman in the back seat, belted, suffered crushing injuries. Shock held her still as the street fell silent, the impact brutal and unforgiving.

According to the police report, at 2:06 p.m. on Bradford Street near Fulton Street in Brooklyn, a sedan traveling east struck a halted taxi from behind. The impact occurred at the center back end of the taxi and the center front end of the sedan, crumpling metal severely. A 25-year-old woman, seated in the left rear passenger seat of the taxi and wearing a lap belt, sustained crushing injuries to her entire body and remained still, held by shock. The report lists no specific driver errors but the collision’s nature—a sedan hitting a stopped vehicle from behind—indicates a failure to prevent rear-end collisions. Both vehicles were traveling east, with the taxi stopped and the sedan moving straight ahead. No contributing factors were specified for either driver. The focus is on the violent impact and the severe harm inflicted on the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741827, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV turned left on Gates Avenue and struck a 26-year-old woman riding an e-scooter. She flew headfirst, hit the ground, and bled in the street. The SUV’s bumper cracked. She was conscious, badly hurt, and wore no helmet.

According to the police report, an SUV made a left turn on Gates Avenue and collided with a 26-year-old woman operating an e-scooter. The report states the SUV struck the e-scooter, causing the rider to be ejected, land headfirst, and suffer severe bleeding. She was conscious at the scene but sustained a significant head injury. The SUV’s right front bumper was damaged in the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash, pointing to driver error as a primary cause. The report also notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s failure to yield. The crash underscores the lethal risks faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Buick SUV slammed into a 37-year-old man crossing Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The front end struck his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver, holding only a learner’s permit, continued west. The man lay conscious, wounded, under city lights.

According to the police report, a Buick SUV traveling west near 2440 Fulton Street in Brooklyn struck a 37-year-old man who was crossing the roadway outside a crosswalk just after midnight. The report states the vehicle's center front end hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe lacerations and leaving him bleeding but conscious on the pavement. The driver of the SUV held only a learner’s permit at the time of the crash, as documented in the police report. The report does not specify any additional driver errors or contributing factors beyond the driver’s license status. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the police report does not list these as contributing factors—only as the location and action. The collision underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially when drivers lack full licensure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736534, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi slammed into an eastbound e-scooter at Greene and Wilson. Metal shrieked. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and crushed. The cab’s front quarter buckled. Traffic control was disregarded. Flesh and steel collided in Brooklyn’s morning heat.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on Wilson Avenue struck an eastbound e-scooter at the corner of Greene and Wilson in Brooklyn at 11:02 a.m. The report states, 'A taxi struck an eastbound e-scooter. The rider, 42, helmeted, was thrown and crushed.' The e-scooter rider suffered crush injuries to the entire body and was ejected from the vehicle but remained conscious. The police report explicitly lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to obey traffic signals. The narrative underscores that 'signals [were] ignored.' The e-scooter rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause cited is the taxi driver’s disregard for traffic control. The crash left the scooter folded and the cab’s front quarter crumpled, marking another instance where systemic driver error endangered a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735776, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Sanitation named a monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions after fatal crashes and hundreds of violations. Council members question why a company with such a record still hauls trash in city zones. The city’s new waste program promises stricter oversight, but danger remains.

On June 3, 2024, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) appointed an independent monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions, a private carting firm with a deadly safety record. The move comes before the city’s new Commercial Waste Zone program launches this fall. Council Members Shaun Abreu and Sandy Nurse raised alarms, asking, 'how the city awarded a contract to a company with a history of endangering workers to begin with.' Cogent’s trucks have killed one, injured four, and racked up hundreds of violations. Despite this, DSNY allowed Cogent to win contracts in four waste zones. DSNY Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman defended the process, stating, 'Safety was absolutely one of the weighted factors,' and promised, 'there will be consequences for lack of compliance.' The oversight hearing exposes a system that lets reckless firms operate, even as new rules loom.

• Exclusive: Sanitation Dept. Appoints Monitor for Carting Firm with Spotty Safety Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-03

A sedan and SUV collided head-on at Central and Gates. A 29-year-old woman, riding in the back seat, was thrown from the wreck and died of crush injuries. Traffic control was ignored. The street fell silent. Lives changed. Metal ruled.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV crashed head-on at the corner of Central Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn at 6:28 a.m. The impact ejected a 29-year-old woman from the rear seat; she died from crush injuries affecting her entire body. The report states, 'Traffic control was ignored,' identifying 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided. The police narrative makes clear that the drivers' failure to obey traffic controls directly led to the deadly collision. No information in the report attributes any contributing behavior to the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard basic traffic rules, leaving passengers and bystanders exposed to catastrophic harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727582, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council wants lights on city step streets. The bill orders the DOT to brighten at least 25 stairways a year. Dark stairs mean danger. Light means fewer falls, fewer hidden threats. The push comes from a broad coalition. The goal is simple: safer steps.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lighting on at least 25 step streets each year. The bill’s matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola leads, joined by Council Members Hanks, Ayala, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Louis, Hudson, Schulman, Ossé, Krishnan, Nurse, Moya, and Marmorato. Step streets are public staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to ensure these stairs are well-lit, reducing risk for walkers. Once all step streets are lit, the mandate ends. The measure targets a clear hazard: darkness on city stairs.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A northbound Mazda, driven by an unlicensed man, struck a 71-year-old woman crossing Eldert Street in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fatal crush injuries. The driver disregarded traffic control. She never regained consciousness. Brooklyn pavement claimed another life.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was crossing Eldert Street near Knickerbocker Avenue in a marked crosswalk when she was struck head-on by a northbound Mazda sedan. The report states the driver was unlicensed and disregarded traffic control. The impact caused fatal crush wounds across her body, and she never regained consciousness. The crash occurred at 17:02 in Brooklyn. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The victim was crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as documented in the report. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s failure to yield and disregard for traffic control, underscoring the lethal consequences when drivers ignore basic rules and operate vehicles without a license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV turned left on Logan Street. The bumper hit a 61-year-old man crossing in the marked crosswalk. He fell. Crush injuries. No warning. The street fell silent, the impact echoing in the late morning air.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV was making a left turn on Logan Street near Atlantic Avenue when its left front quarter panel struck a 61-year-old man who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The report states the pedestrian was hit in the chest by the bumper and suffered crush injuries. The incident occurred in late morning. Police data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor on the part of the driver. The pedestrian was crossing with no signal present, as noted in the report, but the primary driver error cited is failure to yield. The narrative describes no warning, no sound, and a sudden, violent impact. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723163, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15