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

Feb 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

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Jan 22 - A taxi driver’s distraction at Utica Avenue and East New York Avenue sent a 31-year-old motorcyclist flying, face torn and bleeding, helmetless on the pavement. The street stood silent as the crash’s violence echoed in the winter air.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Utica Avenue and East New York Avenue when a ZHILONG motorcycle slammed into the front of a taxi, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 13:46. The 31-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected, landing on the street with severe facial lacerations and bleeding, but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, pointing directly to the actions of the taxi driver. The report does not cite any contributing behaviors by the motorcyclist beyond noting that he was not wearing a helmet. The impact and aftermath left the street in stunned silence, underscoring the consequences of driver distraction in New York City’s dense traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697033 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - A sedan barrels through Clarkson Avenue, striking a baby girl in a marked crosswalk. Her head slams the pavement. Her body is crushed. The driver, distracted, does not stop. The street remains open. The city absorbs another wound.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Clarkson Avenue at East 91st Street struck a baby girl as she crossed in a marked crosswalk. The child suffered head and crush injuries and was reported conscious at the scene. The report states the driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of the crash. The vehicle's center front end impacted the pedestrian, and the car did not stop after the collision. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The child was crossing with no signal in a marked crosswalk, but no pedestrian actions are cited as contributing to the crash. The street remained open after the incident, underscoring the persistent systemic danger faced by New York City's most vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - A 26-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a parked sedan on Saratoga Avenue. He flew from his bike, hip shattered, blood pooling on the street. Shock set in. Sirens wailed late. The crash left him broken and bleeding in Brooklyn.

A 26-year-old man riding an e-bike suffered severe injuries after colliding with a parked sedan near 69 Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 10:15 a.m. The report states, 'A 26-year-old man on an e-bike slammed into a parked sedan. No helmet. No belt. He flew, hit hard, and bled into the street. His hip shattered. Shock set in. Sirens came late.' The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The rider was ejected from the e-bike, suffered a shattered hip, and experienced severe bleeding and shock. The sedan was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the collision. The focus remains on the dangers of inattention and distraction, as documented in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - Two sedans crashed at Utica and East New York. One turned. One sped. Metal slammed a woman’s head as she stood by the curb. She fell. She died there. The street swallowed her life in a blink.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Utica Avenue and East New York Avenue. Two sedans collided—one turning, one speeding. According to the police report, a 32-year-old woman stood near the curb when the impact threw her down. She suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The woman was not in the roadway. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver error in New York City’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 12 - A pickup truck turned left at Broadway and Halsey. The driver struck a 26-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Her knee and foot took the blow. She stayed conscious on the asphalt. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed hard.

A 2001 pickup truck made a left turn at the corner of Broadway and Halsey Street. The driver struck a 26-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, 'A 26-year-old woman crossed with the light. The truck struck her knee, crushed her foot.' She suffered crush injuries to her knee and foot but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The truck showed no visible damage. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the driver failed to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 20 - A motorcycle ran a red on Somers Street. The rider struck a 56-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the wheels. She stayed conscious on the pavement. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed quiet.

A crash on Somers Street near Fulton in Brooklyn left a 56-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a motorcycle 'ran the light' and struck the woman as she crossed with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the motorcycle’s wheels. She remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the rider ignored a traffic signal. The motorcycle showed no damage. The woman was crossing legally at the intersection when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 11 - A Honda sedan hit a 54-year-old cyclist head-on at dawn on Livonia Avenue. The man’s skull met the bumper. Blood marked the street. He stayed conscious. The car kept straight. The cyclist did not.

A 54-year-old man riding a bike east on Livonia Avenue near Legion Street was struck head-on by a Honda sedan. According to the police report, 'A Honda met him head-on. His skull took the blow. Blood slicked the street. He stayed conscious.' The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. Both the car and the bike were traveling straight. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 6 - A sedan hit a 23-year-old man on East 94th. His shoulder split open. Blood pooled on the street. The car’s front caved in. He stayed conscious as sirens wailed. The street bore witness to the violence.

A sedan struck a 23-year-old man walking with traffic at East 94th Street and Winthrop Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan hit a 23-year-old man walking with traffic. His shoulder split. Blood pooled. The car’s front caved in. He stayed conscious. Sirens came.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his upper arm and shoulder. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors are cited in the data. The impact left the car’s front end damaged and the pedestrian injured, conscious, and bleeding in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660195 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - A Jeep tore down Howard Avenue and smashed into two parked SUVs. The woman driving took the blow. Her head hit glass. Blood pooled. Steel crushed bone. She sat silent, shock in her eyes, pain held by the street.

A Jeep traveling south on Howard Avenue struck two parked SUVs. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, suffered head injuries and crush wounds. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The report notes she wore no seat belt, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The impact left her in shock, blood pooling as she sat behind the wheel. Both parked vehicles were empty at the time. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus, with severe consequences for those inside the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - A 15-year-old girl on an e-scooter turned left on Dumont Avenue and struck a parked Jeep. Her head split open. She was partially thrown. Blood pooled on the street. Shock froze her eyes. The city watched, silent.

A 15-year-old girl riding an e-scooter was severely injured on Dumont Avenue near Chester Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she turned left and struck a parked Jeep. The impact split her head open and partially ejected her from the scooter. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The girl was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The Jeep was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - A Jeep hits a 79-year-old man crossing Stone Avenue. The right front bumper slams him down. Blood pools on the street. He is conscious, head wounded. The street goes quiet. The driver failed to yield. The man lies injured, the city holds its breath.

A 79-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Jeep sedan on Stone Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the Jeep's right front bumper hit the man as he crossed the street, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver. No other driver errors or factors are noted. The crash left the elderly man injured, underscoring the danger faced by those on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - A Ford van struck a 79-year-old woman on Church Avenue. The driver was unlicensed and distracted. The van hit her head-on as she stepped off a vehicle. She died in the street. The front of the van crumpled. The driver stayed silent.

A 79-year-old woman was killed on Church Avenue in East Flatbush. According to the police report, she was stepping off a vehicle when a Ford van, driven by an unlicensed and distracted man, struck her head-on. The van’s front end crumpled from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver did not have a valid license. The woman suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579422 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 25 - Two SUVs sped east on Saint Johns Place. Drivers distracted. A 46-year-old woman stood in the road. One driver had no license. She was struck, crushed, killed. Blood on the street. No crosswalk. She died alone, organs torn, head split.

A 46-year-old woman was killed on Saint Johns Place when two SUVs, both traveling east, struck her as she stood in the roadway. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time of the crash. One driver was unlicensed. The woman suffered fatal head and internal injuries and died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. One driver had only a permit, the other had no license. The police report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection, but the primary cause remains driver distraction. No mention of helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - A 36-year-old woman crossed Pacific Street in the crosswalk. An unlicensed SUV driver reversed. The bumper hit her head. She fell. Her skull shattered. She died on the street. Sunlight glared on the pavement where she lay.

A 36-year-old woman was killed while crossing Pacific Street near Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when an unlicensed man reversed his 2008 SUV and struck her in the head with the bumper. The impact caused fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The driver did not have a valid license. The woman was crossing with no signal, in a marked crosswalk. No mention of helmet or signaling as factors. The crash left her dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 11 - A man stepped from behind parked cars on Saint Johns Place. Two sedans collided. One hit him head-on. Blood pooled. His head was torn. He stayed conscious. A driver was also hurt. The street stayed quiet. Metal and flesh met hard.

A 54-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a sedan after two cars collided near 1661 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the man emerged from behind parked vehicles when the crash occurred. He suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. One driver, a 61-year-old man, sustained facial abrasions. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. The incident involved multiple vehicles, including sedans and an SUV, with one sedan making a left turn and another going straight. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A Toyota sedan hit a 7-year-old boy crossing Madison Street. The driver, distracted, kept going straight. The boy’s leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. Failure to yield and inattention marked the crash.

A 7-year-old boy was struck by a Toyota sedan near 780 Madison Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing mid-block when the sedan, driven by a 29-year-old woman, hit him head-on. The boy suffered crush injuries to his leg but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan continued straight and showed no visible damage. No injuries were reported for the driver or passengers. The boy was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but the primary causes cited were driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555519 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - An e-scooter hit a parked sedan on Howard Avenue. The rider, 41, flew forward. His face split open. Blood pooled. He lay still, incoherent. The car never moved. The street swallowed the sound.

An e-scooter rider, age 41, crashed into a parked sedan near 699 Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-scooter 'slammed a parked sedan.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations, lying incoherent at the scene. The sedan was unoccupied and did not move. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553327 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 13 - An e-bike turned and struck. Two men flew. Blood pooled on Willmohr Street. One man lay still, the other crawled, torn and gasping. Both suffered severe lacerations. Sirens came late. The bike’s front end crumpled against the Brooklyn asphalt.

Two men were injured in a violent e-bike crash at East 98th Street and Willmohr Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-bike was struck mid-turn. Both the 22-year-old passenger and the 38-year-old driver were ejected and suffered severe lacerations to their entire bodies. The report states, 'One lay still, blood pooling. The other crawled, torn and gasping.' The e-bike’s front end was crushed. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The crash left both men injured and the street marked by blood and wreckage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4548181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19