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

Dec 18 - 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

Dec 5 - 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

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

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.

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

Oct 25 - A pick-up truck turned left and hit two men crossing Troy Avenue in a marked crosswalk. Blood pooled on the street. Both men stood, conscious but wounded, heads bleeding. The truck’s front end bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck making a left turn at Troy Avenue and Rutland Road in Brooklyn struck two male pedestrians, ages 38 and 77, as they crossed in a marked crosswalk. Both men suffered head injuries and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, highlighting critical driver errors. The truck’s center front end was damaged from the collision, underscoring the force of the impact. The police narrative describes blood running from the victims’ heads as they stood, injured. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor in the report. The crash occurred at 19:05, further emphasizing the danger faced by pedestrians in crosswalks when drivers disregard traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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.

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

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.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Aug 29 - A westbound motorcycle crashed into a turning Audi on Linden Boulevard at East 51st. Metal shrieked. The rider’s arm was crushed. No helmet. Morning broke with pain and sirens. The street bore witness to another wound.

A violent collision unfolded on Linden Boulevard at East 51st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a westbound motorcycle 'slammed into the front of a turning Audi.' The 38-year-old motorcycle rider, who wore no helmet, suffered a crushed arm. The report describes the moment: 'Metal groaned. Morning broke with the sound of bone and the echo of pain.' The Audi, a 2020 SUV, was making a left turn when the crash occurred. Police data lists the pre-crash actions as 'Going Straight Ahead' for the motorcycle and 'Making Left Turn' for the Audi. Contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified,' and the report does not cite any specific driver errors. The only victim behavior noted is the absence of a helmet, mentioned after the sequence of driver actions. The crash highlights the persistent dangers at intersections where turning vehicles and through traffic collide.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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.

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

Jul 23 - A Lexus barreled north on East 95th, smashing a line of parked sedans. Metal tore, glass shattered. A 54-year-old front-seat passenger was crushed, her neck injured, airbag deployed. She stayed conscious amid the wreckage and pain.

According to the police report, at 8:59 p.m. on East 95th Street near 225th in Brooklyn, a Lexus sedan traveling north slammed into a row of parked cars. The report states, "A Lexus slammed into a row of parked cars. Metal tore. Glass flew." The front-seat passenger, a 54-year-old woman, was crushed in the impact, suffering neck injuries and crush trauma. The airbag deployed, and she remained conscious throughout the incident. The police report lists the contributing factors as "Unspecified," providing no details on driver errors such as failure to maintain control or speed. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash caused significant damage to multiple parked vehicles, highlighting the dangers posed by moving vehicles in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - A man rode north at dawn on Rochester Avenue. His bike struck something. His face hit the street. Blood pooled. He stayed upright, wounded but alive. The city’s silence swallowed the crash.

A 35-year-old man riding a bike northbound on Rochester Avenue near Saint Johns Place was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states, 'A man rode north at dawn. No helmet. His bike struck something. His face met the street. Blood pooled.' The cyclist suffered severe bleeding to his face but survived the impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of other vehicles or driver errors, and no evidence of victim behavior contributing to the crash beyond the note that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is mentioned only after the sequence of events. The incident underscores the vulnerability of cyclists navigating city streets, especially when the cause of the crash remains unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - Steel met flesh on Linden Boulevard before dawn. An SUV tore into a cyclist’s leg. Blood pooled. Bone split. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp and immediate. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The street bore the wound.

A cyclist traveling east on Linden Boulevard was struck by a northbound SUV just before 2 a.m., according to the police report. The report describes the impact in stark terms: 'Steel struck his leg. Flesh tore. Blood pooled on the street.' The 29-year-old man suffered severe lacerations and a split bone in his lower leg but did not lose consciousness. The SUV sustained no damage, and the driver’s actions are listed as 'Unspecified' in the police data. The report does not cite any contributing factors beyond the collision itself. No mention is made of cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the force of the SUV against the unprotected body of the cyclist, underscoring the systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731511 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - A 2023 Honda sedan turned right on East New York Avenue and struck a 29-year-old man head-on. His head absorbed the impact. He lay unconscious, the street silent, his injuries severe and the night unyielding.

According to the police report, a 2023 Honda sedan was making a right turn on East New York Avenue when it struck a 29-year-old pedestrian head-on. The report states the point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, with damage to the right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to the head and was found unconscious at the scene. The incident occurred at 3:29 a.m. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the report, but the narrative confirms the driver turned and hit the pedestrian directly. The victim was not at an intersection at the time of the crash. No driver errors are explicitly named beyond the act of turning and striking a pedestrian head-on. The report does not attribute any contributing behaviors to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A sedan turned right on East New York Avenue. A 57-year-old woman crossed with the signal. Steel caught her arm, bones crushed. She stayed awake. The car was clean. The pavement, not. The intersection marked another wound.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn at East New York Avenue and East 95th Street struck a 57-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'A sedan turned right. A woman, 57, crossed with the signal. Steel caught her arm. Bones crushed.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her lower arm and remained conscious at the scene. The vehicle sustained no damage, but the impact left the pavement marked. The police report lists the driver’s pre-crash action as 'Making Right Turn,' and contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The victim’s behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted only to clarify she followed the law. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed to pedestrians by turning vehicles at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 5 - Metal shrieked at Ralph and Gates. Two cars collided head-on. A 20-year-old driver, belted in, suffered head trauma and crushing pain. The cause: driver inattention. The street fell silent in the aftermath.

A sedan and an SUV collided head-on at the corner of Ralph Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn just before midnight, according to the police report. The report states that a 20-year-old male driver, secured by a lap belt and harness, remained conscious but sustained head trauma and crush injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before impact, with damage concentrated at the front ends. The narrative describes the moment: 'Metal screamed. A 20-year-old driver, belted in, stayed conscious through head trauma and crushing pain. The cause: inattention.' No other contributing factors are cited. The report makes clear that driver distraction led directly to the violent collision and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Mar 31 - A moped turned left through a red at Sutter and Strauss. The rider struck a woman crossing with the signal. Her shoulder was crushed beneath the front end. She stayed conscious. The street bore witness to the violence.

According to the police report, a moped making a left turn at the corner of Sutter Avenue and Strauss Street disregarded traffic control and ran a red light. The vehicle struck a 28-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states her shoulder and upper arm were crushed beneath the moped’s center front end, causing significant injury. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. The woman’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failures. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls in Brooklyn’s crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Feb 28 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians win the right to cross anywhere, signals or not. The law strips police of power to ticket walkers. Streets shift. The city must now teach all road users the new rules.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, amends city code to let pedestrians cross streets at any point, even against signals. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed it on October 26, 2024. The bill states: 'crossing against a traffic signal or outside a crosswalk will not be a violation.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán led, joined by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, Restler, Mealy, Louis, and Bottcher. The law bans summonses for jaywalking and orders the Department of Transportation to educate the public on new rights and responsibilities. The mayor returned it unsigned. This law removes a tool long used to target vulnerable New Yorkers.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28