Hit-And-Run Nation: Brooklyn Bleeds While City Hall Stalls

Before sunrise on Pennsylvania Avenue, a 24-year-old moped rider slammed into a turning sedan. He flew from his seat, helmet on, skull crushed. Death came fast, the street stained with loss. Two wheels, one life, ended in Brooklyn.

A deadly crash unfolded on Pennsylvania Avenue near Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn, early in the morning. According to the police report, a moped traveling straight collided head-on with a sedan that was making a left turn. The 24-year-old moped rider was ejected from his seat, suffering fatal head injuries despite wearing a helmet. The report states the moped struck the sedan's center front end while the sedan was turning. Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the sequence of events highlights the systemic danger when turning vehicles cross the paths of vulnerable road users. The moped rider's helmet use is noted in the report, but the impact proved overwhelming. The crash left the young rider dead in the street, underscoring the lethal consequences of vehicle movements and street design.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782957 - 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 pickup reversed into the night. Metal struck a man’s hip. Blood spilled onto cold Brooklyn asphalt. He stood, wounded but conscious, as the street swallowed the noise and the danger lingered in the dark.

A 40-year-old man was injured when a pickup truck backed into him on Fulton Street near Wyona Street in Brooklyn at 8:14 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was standing outside the crosswalk when the collision occurred. The pickup, a 2017 Dodge, struck the man with its right front bumper, causing severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, the primary contributing factor was 'Backing Unsafely,' with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' also cited. The pedestrian’s actions or location are mentioned only as context; the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s unsafe backing and lack of attention, which led to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780076 - 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 76-year-old man fell hard on Broadway, his head split open by an eastbound e-bike. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider kept moving. Confusion ruled the intersection. The old man stayed down, silent in the chaos.

A 76-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by an eastbound e-bike at Broadway and Mac Dougal Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'Head split, blood on the asphalt. He stayed down. The rider did not.' The collision left the man with severe lacerations to his head, and he remained conscious but injured at the intersection. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion at the intersection. The e-bike was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. No additional driver errors or victim behaviors are cited in the report. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776052 - 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 bus hit a 15-year-old girl as she crossed St. Nicholas Avenue with the signal. Blood marked the crosswalk. The bus kept moving. The girl stayed conscious, head bleeding, as the street bore silent witness to the violence of traffic.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on St. Nicholas Avenue struck a 15-year-old girl in the crosswalk at Stanhope Street. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal' when the collision occurred. The girl suffered severe lacerations to her head but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative notes, 'Blood pooled on white paint,' underscoring the violence of the impact. The bus did not stop and was described as 'unmarked.' Police list the contributing factors as 'unspecified,' but the report makes clear the pedestrian was in the intersection, acting lawfully, with the signal in her favor. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, but the facts highlight the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians even when following traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775142 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle tore into a turning sedan on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. The rider, helmeted, flew and bled on the asphalt. The car’s side caved. One man conscious, broken, lay in the street. The night went silent.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Eastern Parkway near Herkimer Street collided with the right side of a sedan that was making a left turn. The report states the motorcycle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as the primary contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan’s right doors and sent the motorcycle’s front end into ruin. The motorcycle rider, a 39-year-old man, was ejected from his bike, suffering severe lacerations across his entire body. He was found conscious on the roadway, helmeted and bleeding. The sedan driver’s actions are not listed as contributing factors in the report. The crash unfolded at 8:00 p.m., leaving the street still and marked by violence. Systemic danger persists where speed and turning vehicles meet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders DOT to build 35 e-bike battery stations yearly. A quarter will sit curbside, letting riders lock up. Sponsors: Rivera, Nurse, Hanif. Streets may shift. City must post locations.

Int 1084-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced October 10, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to install e-bicycle battery stations.' Council Members Carlina Rivera (primary sponsor), Sandy Nurse, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It mandates DOT to install at least 35 e-bike battery stations each year for five years, with at least 25% curbside for secure parking. DOT must report on station rollout and post locations online. The bill aims to reshape curb space and infrastructure for e-bike riders, but offers no direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users.

• 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

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

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04