District 41: Crosswalk deaths, turning cars, and a city that won’t slow down

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 24 - Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 18 - A man on a bike struck by a Ford. Hip crushed. Blood on Rockaway Avenue. Brooklyn afternoon. No listed driver errors. Streets remain hard for riders.

A 40-year-old male bicyclist suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg after a collision with a Ford car or SUV at Rockaway Avenue and Newport Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was going straight ahead when the crash occurred. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The cyclist was conscious after the crash. The streets of Brooklyn continue to put riders at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822991 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 18 - A bike hit a 71-year-old woman off Rockaway Ave. She suffered severe face cuts. Shock followed. The street saw blood and silence. No driver errors listed. The city’s danger remains.

A cyclist traveling south on Rockaway Ave struck a 71-year-old woman who was not in the roadway. She suffered severe facial lacerations and was in shock. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and a pedestrian, with no specific driver errors or contributing factors listed. The police report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection. No helmet or signal issues were cited. The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by pedestrians in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 13 - A sedan parked on Mother Gaston Boulevard was struck. The left rear passenger, a 31-year-old woman, died. The crash left the sedan’s left side crushed. The cause remains unspecified. The street saw another life ended by impact.

A deadly crash occurred on Mother Gaston Boulevard at East New York Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan parked on the street was hit, crushing its left side doors. A 31-year-old woman, seated as the left rear passenger, was killed. Another occupant, also a 31-year-old woman, was involved. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' The sedan was stationary before the crash. The second vehicle, type unspecified, struck the sedan’s left side with its right front bumper. No driver errors are detailed in the data. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor. The impact proved fatal for the rear passenger, underscoring the persistent danger on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820445 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 13 - City strips protection from Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose shield. Children dart from double-parked cars. Community complaints drive policy. Streets stay chaotic. Power struggles linger. Riders and walkers face new risk. Steel yields to politics.

Gothamist reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams ordered the removal of protective barriers from a stretch of Brooklyn’s Bedford Avenue bike lane. The move follows complaints from local residents, especially after a viral video showed a child running into the lane from a double-parked car and colliding with an e-bike. Adams stated, 'we listened to community concerns and decided to adjust the current design to better reflect community feedback.' The Department of Transportation will revert the protected lane to its previous unprotected state between Willoughby and Flushing avenues. The article highlights ongoing political battles over street design and notes that double-parking and chaotic traffic remain unaddressed. Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro cited 'lack of action' on e-bike safety as a barrier to safer infrastructure. The decision removes a key safety measure for vulnerable road users.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Barriers, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 11 - Parents in Greenpoint want cars out. A cyclist died at Monitor and Driggs. Children walk and bike to PS 110. The street stays dangerous. The city has not acted. Families wait. The threat of cars remains.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 11, 2025, that parents at Public School 110 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are calling for a Paris-style school street to protect children. Their plan would turn Monitor Street into a cul-de-sac with a pedestrian plaza, add mid-block crossings, and close a slip lane to block cut-through traffic from the BQE. The push follows a fatal crash at Monitor and Driggs, where a driver killed 73-year-old cyclist Teddy Orzechowski. Streetsblog notes, 'Streets outside schools have higher crash and injury rates than the city average.' Most PS 110 families walk or bike, but the city has not responded to the proposal. The article highlights the persistent risk from drivers using local streets as shortcuts.

• Brooklyn Parents Demand Safer School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-11

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - A sedan struck a woman crossing with the signal on Rutland Road. She died from crush injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The car’s front end hit her. Others in the car were not seriously hurt.

A 68-year-old woman was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E 95 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a westbound sedan making a left turn struck her, causing fatal chest injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan’s front end hit the pedestrian. Three vehicle occupants, including the driver, were not seriously injured. The driver was licensed in Florida. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 10 - A 72-year-old man crossing Sutter Ave with the signal was killed by a sedan. The crash left the pedestrian dead at the intersection. Two car occupants were unhurt. No driver errors listed in the police report.

A sedan hit and killed a 72-year-old man as he crossed Sutter Ave at Osborn St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the crash occurred. The impact struck the pedestrian's entire body, resulting in his death. Two occupants in the sedan, including the driver, were not injured. The police report does not list any contributing driver errors or factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811811 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10