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

Jul 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 8 - A Smart Car struck Dov Broyde, 70, as he crossed Avenue I near his home. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. No charges filed. Brooklyn street claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-08) reports Dov Broyde, 70, was fatally struck by a Smart Car while crossing Avenue I at E. Fifth St. near Midwood around 9:30 p.m. The article states the driver 'plowed into him' and remained at the scene. No criminal charges were filed at the time. The incident highlights persistent danger for pedestrians in New York City, where 55 have died this year. The crash underscores the ongoing toll of traffic violence and the urgent need for systemic safety improvements.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Avenue I, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - A sedan turned left and struck a cyclist head-on. The rider was ejected, suffering severe face wounds. Police cite driver inattention and improper turning. The street stayed quiet. The damage was not.

A sedan making a left turn on St Johns Place collided with a southbound cyclist. The cyclist, a 47-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his face. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' were listed as contributing factors. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this was noted only after the driver’s errors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The crash left the bike damaged at the front end. The system failed the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-12

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 SUV struck and killed an eight-year-old boy crossing Eastern Parkway with his sister. Blood washed from the street. His yarmulke left behind. The driver stayed. Police probe speed. The community mourns.

ABC7 (2025-06-29) reports an eight-year-old boy, Mordica Keller, died after a southbound SUV hit him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Avenue in Crown Heights. He was crossing with his sister. The 69-year-old driver remained at the scene. Police towed a black Honda Pilot. The article notes, "Police are looking at whether speed was a factor." No arrests have been made. Residents called the street dangerous. The crash highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• SUV Kills Boy At Brooklyn Crossing, ABC7, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 22 - A moped slammed into a car’s door in Bay Ridge. The rider died. His passenger broke bones. The driver was drunk, unlicensed, and arrested. The street stayed quiet after the crash. Another life lost to reckless driving.

NY Daily News reported on June 22, 2025, that Joel Mota, 22, died after his moped struck the passenger-side door of a 2013 Acura TSX at Third Ave and 67th St in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. Police said the car’s driver, Leslie Moreno, was intoxicated and unlicensed. Mota’s passenger suffered multiple fractures. The article notes, 'Police arrested the Acura driver, 29-year-old Leslie Moreno, for driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and being unlicensed.' Moreno was arraigned and released without bail. The case highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired, unlicensed drivers on city streets.

• Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-22

Jun 21 - Heavy trucks pound the BQE. The city will ticket Staten Island-bound rigs. Sensors catch the violators. The road crumbles under weight it cannot bear. Warnings are over. Fines begin. The system aims to cut danger and slow decay.

Gothamist (2025-06-21) reports that New York City will start ticketing overweight Staten Island-bound trucks on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The Department of Transportation will fine violators $650 per incident, using in-road sensors to detect excess weight. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Overweight trucks cause wear and tear on our roadways and we all pay the price through expensive repairs to our infrastructure." The city issued over 3,000 warnings during a 90-day grace period. Similar enforcement on Queens-bound trucks led to a 60% drop in overweight vehicles. Albany has approved expanding this automated system to more city roadways. The BQE’s aging structure faces risk from trucks exceeding its design limits, raising safety and infrastructure concerns.

• City Targets Overweight Trucks On BQE, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-21

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 2025-12-12

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 2025-12-12

Jun 15 - Steel slammed steel in Brooklyn before dawn. A Chevy hit a Volvo, then a police car. Four people hurt. Two were NYPD. The driver of the Chevy was arrested. Sirens silent. Lights flashing. Streets left scarred.

ABC7 reported on June 15, 2025, that a three-car crash at Avenue U and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn injured four people, including two NYPD officers. The article states, “Police say a 25-year-old man was traveling north on Coney Island Avenue in a Chevrolet Suburban when he collided with the driver of a Volvo traveling west on Avenue U.” The impact pushed the Chevy into a marked police car, which had its lights on but no sirens. The 25-year-old Chevy driver was arrested at the scene. Both his passengers and two officers were hospitalized in stable condition. No injuries were reported in the Volvo. The incident highlights the dangers at busy intersections and the risks faced by all road users, including police. Authorities continue to investigate the cause.

• Brooklyn Three-Car Crash Injures Four, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 14 - City will strip Bedford Avenue of its protected bike lane. The mayor cites safety. Cyclists lose a shield. Streets grow harsher. The move stirs anger and worry in Williamsburg. Vulnerable road users face new risk.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The mayor claims the rollback is due to 'safety concerns.' The article notes, 'The decision to remove it is drawing mixed reaction in Williamsburg.' No details are given on specific incidents or data prompting the change. The removal eliminates a key barrier between cyclists and traffic. This action raises questions about city policy and the commitment to protecting vulnerable road users. The move may increase exposure to traffic violence for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Williamsburg Protected Bike Lane Removed, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-14

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 2025-12-12

Jun 13 - City will rip out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane calmed a deadly stretch. Drivers still parked illegally. Children darted into traffic. Now, cyclists and pedestrians face more danger. Policy shifts, safety slips. Streets stay lethal.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a corridor known for high crash rates. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'before this bike lane from 2018 to 2022 this is the area that had the second largest numbers of pedestrian fatalities and crashes in the city.' The lane faced opposition from some Hasidic leaders, citing children running into the lane from illegally parked cars and buses. Despite tweaks—school bus zones, daylighted corners, no standing areas—drivers kept parking illegally, blocking sightlines and endangering children. The city rarely removes protected lanes, but Adams acted after political pressure. Moving the lane to Classon Avenue, as some demand, would force cyclists onto a chaotic BQE ramp. The decision highlights persistent driver violations and policy gaps that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 11 - City crews will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters—hard lines drawn. Sightlines open. Pedestrians and cyclists step forward, visible. Intersections, once blind, now clear. The city moves to cut the toll where most blood spills.

amNY reported on June 11, 2025, that the NYC Department of Transportation will redesign intersections to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop vehicles from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections. The new design will first appear at high-crash sites in Brooklyn, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue and several others. The move highlights a systemic effort to address visibility failures and reduce deadly conflicts at crossings.

• NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones, amny, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 7 - A man and woman crossed a city bridge. A kite string, thin and sharp, cut them down. The man went to the hospital. The woman bled. The string hung invisible, a trap for anyone passing by.

CBS New York reported on June 7, 2025, that two people suffered injuries after colliding with a kite string stretched across a New York City bridge. The victims, a man and a woman, "couldn't even see [the string] until it was too late." The man required hospitalization; the woman was also hurt. The article highlights the hidden danger posed by objects left or strung across public walkways. No mention is made of driver involvement, but the incident underscores the need for better oversight of bridge safety and the removal of hazardous obstacles. The report does not specify how the string came to be there, focusing instead on the sudden, severe impact on those passing through.

• Kite String Injures Two On City Bridge, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-07

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 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, 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 2025-12-12

May 13 - A motorcyclist struck a stopped car on the BQE. He died at the hospital. The driver, unlicensed and lacking required safety equipment, was arrested. The crash happened fast, on a crowded stretch. Police are still investigating.

According to amny (published May 13, 2025), a fatal crash on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway left a motorcyclist dead. The article reports, "Police arrested 44-year-old Laura Cordova... for driving without a license and using a vehicle without ignition interlock." The incident took place near Tillary Street just before 10 p.m. on May 10. The motorcyclist, 27-year-old Sean Johnson, struck Cordova's stopped Honda Accord and later died at Brooklyn Hospital Center. Cordova was required to use an ignition interlock device due to a prior conviction but was not charged with DUI. The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The case highlights issues of unlicensed driving and compliance with court-ordered safety measures.

• Motorcyclist Killed in BQE Collision Arrest, amny, Published 2025-05-13