Crash Count for District 37
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 8,499
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 4,582
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 938
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 66
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 15
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 15, 2025
Carnage in CD 37
Killed 13
+1
Crush Injuries 11
Whole body 5
Head 3
Chest 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Neck 1
Amputation 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Lower leg/foot 1
Severe Bleeding 14
Head 8
+3
Face 2
Lower leg/foot 2
Chest 1
Whole body 1
Severe Lacerations 31
Head 11
+6
Lower leg/foot 7
+2
Whole body 4
Face 3
Lower arm/hand 3
Hip/upper leg 2
Eye 1
Neck 1
Concussion 22
Head 12
+7
Neck 4
Lower leg/foot 2
Whole body 2
Back 1
Hip/upper leg 1
Lower arm/hand 1
Whiplash 156
Neck 63
+58
Back 42
+37
Head 32
+27
Whole body 18
+13
Shoulder/upper arm 7
+2
Lower leg/foot 5
Hip/upper leg 3
Lower arm/hand 2
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Chest 1
Face 1
Contusion/Bruise 170
Lower leg/foot 68
+63
Head 30
+25
Lower arm/hand 18
+13
Shoulder/upper arm 18
+13
Hip/upper leg 11
+6
Back 10
+5
Face 7
+2
Whole body 5
Neck 4
Abdomen/pelvis 3
Chest 1
Abrasion 159
Lower leg/foot 59
+54
Lower arm/hand 31
+26
Head 18
+13
Face 13
+8
Whole body 11
+6
Shoulder/upper arm 10
+5
Back 6
+1
Hip/upper leg 6
+1
Abdomen/pelvis 5
Eye 4
Neck 3
Pain/Nausea 86
Back 17
+12
Whole body 17
+12
Lower leg/foot 14
+9
Head 12
+7
Shoulder/upper arm 12
+7
Hip/upper leg 7
+2
Neck 6
+1
Lower arm/hand 4
Abdomen/pelvis 3
Chest 2
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 15, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in District 37?

Preventable Speeding in CD 37 School Zones

(since 2022)
Atlantic and Elton: two lives gone on a road we already knew was deadly

Atlantic and Elton: two lives gone on a road we already knew was deadly

District 37: Jan 1, 2022 - Sep 6, 2025

Just after 8 PM on Sep 1, at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street, a man and a woman on a motorcycle were ejected and died after colliding with an SUV making a left turn (NYC Open Data; ABC7).

They were two of 13 people killed on District 37 streets since Jan 1, 2022 (NYC Open Data).

This Week

  • Sep 1: Two people on a Harley‑Davidson were killed in a collision with a left‑turning SUV at Atlantic Ave and Elton St (NYC Open Data; ABC7).
  • Aug 19: Two SUVs collided; a teen rear passenger was injured (timeline).
  • Aug 15: Left‑turn sedan hit two motorcycle riders (timeline).
  • Jul 27: Moped rider was killed on Jamaica Avenue (timeline).

Speed and steel do not forgive after dark

Crashes do not slow in this district. Year to date: 1,345 crashes, up 15.7% from last year’s 1,162. Deaths climbed from 3 to 5; serious injuries from 10 to 18 (NYC Open Data). The hours when families head home are the worst. Deaths stack up in the evening, including 6 PM through 10 PM in the district’s hourly record (NYC Open Data).

Atlantic Avenue is a known wound. In this period it saw 1 death and 253 injuries tied to crashes in District 37. Central Avenue saw 2 deaths and 47 injuries (NYC Open Data).

Drivers making lefts and rights keep hitting people. Police records show recurring driver failures: failure to yield and disregarding signals appear again and again in the district’s severe crashes (NYC Open Data).

The biggest machines do the deepest harm

Pedestrians in District 37 are most often hit by drivers in sedans and SUVs, but trucks and buses are deadlier: they are tied to 2 pedestrian deaths and 6 serious injuries in the current tally (NYC Open Data). A bus driver hit a pedestrian on Van Sinderen Avenue near Herkimer Street this spring; police cited driver distraction (NYC Open Data).

At Broadway and Somers, a turning bus driver left a man on a bike with severe head bleeding in July (NYC Open Data).

We know what clears the view

Daylighting removes parked cars at corners so people can see and be seen. Council Member Sandy Nurse backs a citywide push to require it: “Universal daylighting is a proven, effective way to make our streets safer for pedestrians, bikers and drivers” (City & State NY). Nurse also co‑sponsors Intro 1138, which would ban standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and force 1,000 hardened daylighting installs per year (NYC Council – Legistar).

On abandoned hulks that block sightlines and crosswalks, the Council voted to make removal faster; Nurse voted yes (NYC Council – Legistar).

District pattern, city fixes

Here the bodies are pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders, passengers, and drivers. The pattern repeats on Bushwick Avenue, Central Avenue, Crescent Street, Hale Avenue, and up and down Atlantic. Evenings cut the deepest. Heavy vehicles add fatal force. It does not stop on its own.

Two citywide moves would help now:

  • Lower the default speed limit on residential streets. Slower speeds cut deaths. New Yorkers have already organized for it; the mechanism exists. Start with a citywide 20 MPH default and build from there (CrashCount: Take Action).
  • Stop repeat speeders with in‑car limiters for the worst offenders. Require intelligent speed assistance for drivers who rack up camera or point violations, as outlined in the Stop Super Speeders push (CrashCount: Take Action).

Accountability

The two people who died at Atlantic and Elton cannot be brought back. The fixes are known. Use them. Act now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street?
On Sep 1, 2025, just after 8 PM, a motorcycle and an SUV collided at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street. The driver and passenger on the motorcycle were ejected and died. Police records list the SUV as making a left turn. Source: NYC Open Data crash record and ABC7 coverage.
How many people have been killed on District 37 streets since 2022?
Thirteen people have been killed between Jan 1, 2022 and Sep 6, 2025, according to District 37 rollups in the provided dataset.
Where are the worst spots?
Atlantic Avenue shows the largest injury burden in the period, with one death and 253 injuries tied to crashes in District 37. Central Avenue shows two deaths and 47 injuries. Source: NYC Open Data crash data for the district period.
When are crashes most deadly here?
Evenings. The district’s hourly distribution shows deaths occurring during 6–10 PM, among other hours. Source: NYC Open Data hourly distribution in the provided analysis.
How were these numbers calculated?
We used NYC Open Data’s Motor Vehicle Collisions datasets (Crashes h9gi-nx95, Persons f55k-p6yu, Vehicles bm4k-52h4), filtered to Council District 37 for 2022-01-01 through 2025-09-06. We counted total crashes, fatalities, injuries, serious injuries, top locations, hourly distributions, and pedestrian injury by vehicle type. Data was accessed Sep 6, 2025. You can view the base dataset here.
What is CrashCount?
We’re a tool for helping hold local politicians and other actors accountable for their failure to protect you when you’re walking or cycling in NYC. We update our site constantly to provide you with up to date information on what’s happening in your neighborhood.

Citations

Citations

Fix the Problem

Council Member Sandy Nurse

District 37

Other Representatives

Assembly Member Maritza Davila

District 53

State Senator Julia Salazar

District 18

Other Geographies

District 37 Council District 37 sits in Queens, Precinct 104, AD 53, SD 18.

It contains Bushwick (West), Bushwick (East), The Evergreens Cemetery, Cypress Hills, East New York (North), Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (South), Ocean Hill, Brooklyn CB4, Brooklyn CB5.

See also
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 37

13
Int 1105-2024 Nurse co-sponsors bill boosting street safety transparency and project accountability.

Nov 13 - 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.


31
Ford Van Strikes Infant on Bradford Street

Oct 31 - 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 2025-09-19
31
Moped Crash on Bushwick Ave Hurls Two Riders

Oct 31 - 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 2025-09-19
18
Van Turns, Strikes Pedestrian in Brooklyn Crosswalk

Oct 18 - 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 2025-09-19
10
Int 1084-2024 Nurse co-sponsors bill to boost street safety with e-bike battery stations.

Oct 10 - 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.


2
Moped Driver Strikes Road Worker on Myrtle Avenue

Oct 2 - 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 2025-09-19
26
Int 1069-2024 Nurse co-sponsors bill to shorten commercial vehicle parking times, safety impact neutral.

Sep 26 - 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.


26
Int 0346-2024 Nurse votes yes to decriminalize jaywalking, boosting pedestrian safety citywide.

Sep 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.


2
Speeding Motorcycle Slams SUV, Passenger Ejected

Sep 2 - 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 2025-09-19
23
Police Pursuit Ends in Violent E-Bike, Sedan Collision

Aug 23 - 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 2025-09-19
15
Int 0745-2024 Nurse votes yes on bill requiring DOT to report micromobility data, no direct safety impact.

Aug 15 - 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.


14
Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Moped Rider on Bushwick Avenue

Aug 14 - 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 2025-09-19
20
Sedan Rear-Ends Stopped Taxi, Passenger Crushed

Jul 20 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
11
SUV Turns Left, Strikes E-Scooter Rider on Gates Avenue

Jul 11 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
26
SUV With Permit Driver Strikes Pedestrian Head-On

Jun 26 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
25
Taxi Ignores Signal, Crushes E-Scooter Rider

Jun 25 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
5
Pickup Truck Strikes Child Crossing Jamaica Avenue

Jun 5 - A Dodge pickup slams into a 9-year-old boy crossing Jamaica Avenue in darkness. No crosswalk. No signal. The truck hits head-on. Blood pours from the child’s head. He stays conscious. The street stains. The danger remains.

According to the police report, near 420 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn, a Dodge pickup truck traveling east struck a 9-year-old boy who was crossing the street in the dark. The report states there was no crosswalk and no signal at the location. The truck hit the child head-on, causing severe bleeding from his head. The boy remained conscious at the scene, but blood continued to flow, as described in the narrative: 'He bleeds from the head. He stays conscious. The blood keeps coming.' The point of impact and vehicle damage were both at the center front end of the truck, confirming a direct collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on driver actions, but the facts highlight the lethal risk posed to pedestrians where infrastructure fails to protect them.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730403 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
26
Passenger Ejected, Killed in Head-On Brooklyn Crash

May 26 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19
16
Int 0875-2024 Nurse co-sponsors bill boosting step street lighting, improving pedestrian safety.

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill 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, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.


9
Unlicensed Driver Strikes Elderly Woman in Crosswalk

May 9 - A Mazda sedan, driven by an unlicensed man, hit a 71-year-old woman crossing Eldert Street. She died from crush injuries. Another woman, 44, suffered chest bruises. The driver ignored traffic control. Brooklyn pavement took another life.

According to the police report, a northbound Mazda sedan struck a 71-year-old woman as she crossed Eldert Street near Knickerbocker Avenue in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fatal crush wounds and never regained consciousness. A second pedestrian, age 44, was also hit and sustained chest contusions but remained conscious. The report states the Mazda driver was unlicensed and disregarded traffic control. 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' are listed as contributing factors. The victims were crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as documented in the report. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore basic rules and operate vehicles without a license.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19