Empire Boulevard Bleeds—Who Still Needs to Die for Change?

A woman crossed Rogers Avenue with the signal. A vehicle hit her, crushing her arm. She stood bleeding beneath the streetlight. The street fell silent. The night did not move. Shock and injury marked the intersection.

At the corner of Rogers Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn, a 40-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle while crossing with the signal, according to the police report. The report states, 'A woman, 40, crossed with the signal. A vehicle struck her. Her arm crushed.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her arm and was described as being in shock, standing beneath the streetlight, bleeding and still. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal' at the intersection. No driver contributing factors are listed in the report, but the narrative makes clear that the victim was lawfully crossing when struck. The vehicle type and other driver details remain unspecified in the report. The focus remains on the impact and the harm suffered by the pedestrian in a space where she had the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel tore at Flatbush and Church. A truck turned left, a sedan turned right. Metal crumpled. A woman and a man trapped inside, necks twisted, pain sharp. The view was blocked. Both survived, but the wounds lingered.

At the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue in Brooklyn, a collision between a truck and a sedan left two people injured, according to the police report. The crash occurred late in the morning as the truck was making a left turn and the sedan was making a right turn. The report states, 'Steel tore. A woman, 25, and a man, 41, crushed inside. Necks twisted. Conscious. Hurt.' Both vehicles suffered significant damage, with the trailer of the truck struck and the sedan's front crumpled. The police report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, with driver inattention and distraction also noted. The report emphasizes that the drivers' improper lane usage and limited visibility directly contributed to the crash. No mention is made of any actions by the injured occupants that contributed to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota sedan reversed on Rutland Road. Its rear bumper struck a 73-year-old woman. Her leg split open. Blood stained the pavement. The car sat untouched. Flesh did not.

According to the police report, a 2014 Toyota sedan was backing up near 463 Rutland Road in Brooklyn when its rear bumper struck a 73-year-old woman. The collision caused severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg, leaving her conscious but badly injured as blood pooled on the street. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle itself sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s actions are not cited as contributing to the crash. The incident underscores the lethal consequences when drivers reverse without proper attention, especially in areas where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Brooklyn Community Board 9 wants a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board passed a resolution after years of crashes and deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have paid the price. Local officials back the call. DOT has not acted.

On April 18, 2024, Brooklyn Community Board 9 passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation to build a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board wants to upgrade the faded painted lane, which runs west to Flatbush Boulevard, to a 'vehicle-protected' lane. The matter summary states: 'bring much-needed road safety to a neighborhood.' Council Members Rita Joseph and Crystal Hudson represent the area. Hudson's spokesperson called the resolution 'a necessary step to protect cyclists and pedestrians.' Joseph and DOT did not comment. Between 2021 and 2023, Empire Boulevard saw 406 crashes, injuring 29 cyclists and 52 pedestrians. Two cyclists and two pedestrians have died since 2011. Community Board 9 has zero miles of protected bike lanes. Advocates say improvements are overdue. DOT has yet to propose changes.

• Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26

An SUV swung right on Rutland Road, cutting across an e-scooter’s path. The rider, twenty-four, struck headfirst, thrown and torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement while the SUV sat untouched. The street bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 617 Rutland Road in Brooklyn at 15:30. An SUV made a right turn while an e-scooter, operated by a 24-year-old man, continued straight. The report states the e-scooter rider 'struck headfirst,' was 'ejected,' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head, bleeding on the pavement but remaining conscious. The SUV sustained no damage and its driver was uninjured. The police report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, drawing attention to the systemic danger of limited sightlines at this location. The SUV driver’s action—turning across the path of a straight-traveling e-scooter—created a deadly conflict. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Bedford and Tilden. The woman crossed with the light. The front of the truck crushed her. She died in the street. The truck did not stop. Metal untouched. She was 58. The city kept moving.

A 58-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn when a dump truck making a right turn struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the truck's front right quarter panel crushed the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The woman was crossing with the light at the intersection, as documented in the report. The truck did not stop after the collision. The vehicle, a 2014 KW-TRUCK/BUS registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage. The report centers on the truck driver's failure to yield and the dangers posed by oversized vehicles at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to create a parking permit enforcement unit. The bill targets city-issued permit misuse. Streets clogged by illegal parking put walkers and riders at risk. Action now sits with the transportation committee.

Int 0173-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking permit enforcement unit within the department of transportation," would require DOT to form a unit dedicated to enforcing laws against misuse of city-issued parking permits. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Erik D. Bottcher, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, and Farah N. Louis. The bill aims to curb illegal parking that endangers pedestrians and cyclists. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0173-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. Cyclists need steel and concrete, not paint. The bill sits in committee. Streets could change. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0271-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Rivera, Louis, Hanif, Ossé, Brewer, Cabán, Nurse, Hudson, Salaam, Bottcher, Gutiérrez, Feliz, Won, and Joseph. The bill demands the Department of Transportation install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The aim: real protection for cyclists and a safer city grid.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A sedan slammed into a 56-year-old man on Flatbush Avenue at Lincoln Road. He crossed with the signal. The car’s front end struck him. He lay unconscious, body crushed. The driver failed to yield. The street bore the mark of impact.

A sedan struck a 56-year-old man as he crossed Flatbush Avenue at Lincoln Road with the signal. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 56-year-old man crossing with the signal. He lay unconscious, his body crushed. The car’s front end bore the mark. The driver did not yield.' The crash left the pedestrian unconscious with crush injuries to his entire body. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The man was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the southbound sedan hit him head-on. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford pickup struck a moped on Caton Avenue. Three rode the moped. A woman, 27, lay unbelted in back. Her leg was crushed. The truck showed no damage. The night was still. Danger moved fast.

A Ford pickup truck hit a moped carrying three people near Caton Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A Ford pickup struck a moped carrying three. A woman, 27, lay unbelted in back. No helmet. Her leg crushed beneath her.' The woman, riding as a passenger, suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg. Police listed 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped’s rear passenger had no safety equipment. The pickup showed no damage. The crash left one vulnerable road user with severe injuries, underscoring the risks faced by those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus hit a cyclist on Cortelyou Road. The rider flew, face-first, into the street. Blood pooled. His breath came ragged. Driver inattention and following too closely marked the crash. The cyclist, 27, suffered severe facial bleeding. No helmet listed.

A bus traveling west on Cortelyou Road near East 17th Street in Brooklyn struck a cyclist. The impact threw the 27-year-old rider to the pavement, causing severe facial bleeding and leaving him incoherent. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when large vehicles fail to pay attention or keep safe distance. The police report makes no mention of any error by the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge SUV hit a man on Linden Boulevard. The driver was unlicensed. The man lay broken, conscious, crushed from head to toe. No skid marks. No damage to the car. Driver inattention listed as cause. The street swallowed another body.

A Dodge SUV struck a 46-year-old man outside the crosswalk near 341 Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the unlicensed woman behind the wheel hit the pedestrian, leaving him conscious but suffering crush injuries across his entire body. The report notes, 'No skid marks. No damage to the car.' Driver inattention and distraction are listed as contributing factors. The driver’s lack of a license is also documented. The pedestrian was not at an intersection when struck. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger faced by people on foot when drivers are distracted and unlicensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota SUV hit a 50-year-old woman in a Brooklyn crosswalk. Her head struck the bumper. She died on the street. Traffic moved on. The driver stayed. Another life lost to steel and speed.

A 50-year-old woman died after a northbound Toyota SUV struck her as she crossed East 21st Street near Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 50-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk against the light. A northbound Toyota SUV struck her. Her head hit the bumper. She died there, on the pavement, as traffic rolled past.' The impact caused fatal head injuries. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'unspecified.' The SUV's right front bumper was damaged. The driver, a 58-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04