Eight Dead, Countless Broken—How Many Bodies Before Banks Acts?

A BMW SUV hurtled east on Belt Parkway, speed unchecked. The driver, unbelted, lost control on slick pavement. Metal twisted, glass burst. Thrown from the wreck, his head struck hard. Alone, he died on the frozen asphalt.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway crashed while moving at unsafe speed on slippery pavement. The sole occupant, a 41-year-old male driver, was ejected from the vehicle and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The SUV was described as 'demolished' at the point of impact. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but the police report attributes the crash primarily to excessive speed and hazardous road conditions. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The narrative underscores the violence of the crash and the systemic danger posed by high speeds, especially under adverse conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793436 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council pushes for a study and five-year plan to install tactile paving on city sidewalks. The bill targets safer streets for blind and low-vision New Yorkers. Sponsors demand action, not delay.

Bill Int 1195-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 13, 2025. The bill, titled “A Local Law in relation to requiring a study and plan regarding the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks,” calls for a one-year study and a five-year plan to install tactile paving. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, and Chris Banks back the measure. The plan will identify high-priority blocks, consult disability advocates, and set standards for design and maintenance. Annual progress reports must go to the Mayor and Council Speaker and be posted online.

• File Int 1195-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A concrete mixer reversed on Watkins Street. A woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The truck struck her, crushing her hip and leg. She lay conscious, broken on the pavement. The truck kept moving. The street did not forgive.

According to the police report, a concrete mixer backed west on Watkins Street near Linden Boulevard without warning. A 40-year-old woman was crossing in the marked crosswalk when the truck struck her, crushing her hip and leg. The report states she was left conscious on the pavement, suffering from severe injuries. The vehicle's pre-crash action is listed as 'Backing,' and the point of impact was the 'Center Back End.' No contributing factors are cited for the pedestrian; the driver’s maneuver—reversing a large truck into a crosswalk—created the danger. The police report does not list any contributing pedestrian behaviors. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed when heavy vehicles back through pedestrian space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Brooklyn. Gil died. The driver turned left, hit them in the crosswalk. No charges filed. Gil survived war and disaster, but not New York traffic. Another senior lost to city streets.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. A man driving a cargo van made a left turn and struck Gil and her home health aide. The aide survived; Gil did not. Police made no arrests or charges. The article notes, 'She was a very active lady.' Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn that month. Transportation Alternatives highlighted that 46 senior pedestrians died in city crashes last year. The crash underscores the ongoing risk to older New Yorkers at crosswalks and the lack of driver accountability in such incidents.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

A Honda sedan, moving south on Kings Highway, struck a man in the crosswalk. The impact shattered his skull. He died on the pavement, headlights burning above, metal cooling in the Brooklyn night.

A man was killed when a southbound Honda sedan struck him head-on at the intersection of Kings Highway and Church Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor on the part of the driver. The impact was severe, with the victim suffering fatal head injuries and dying at the scene. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and damage was noted on the left front bumper. The police report also lists 'Unspecified' as an additional contributing factor. While the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted, the primary focus remains on the driver's unsafe speed as a critical factor in this fatal crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 57-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk on Blake Avenue. The SUV turned. The bumper caught her. She fell, struck, and died on the asphalt. The driver failed to yield. The signal kept blinking. Brooklyn lost another pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old woman was crossing Blake Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn, using the crosswalk and moving with the signal when a Nissan SUV made a left turn and struck her. The report states the vehicle's right front bumper hit the woman, causing her to fall and suffer fatal injuries to her entire body. The pedestrian died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The victim was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

At Linden Blvd and Drew St, a Chevy SUV turned left into the path of a BMW sedan driving straight. Steel tore open steel. A 28-year-old woman in the back seat suffered a deep facial laceration but remained conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM at Linden Boulevard and Drew Street in Brooklyn. The Chevy SUV was making a left turn when it collided with a BMW sedan traveling straight eastbound. The report states: 'A Chevy turned left. A BMW came straight. Steel tore open steel.' The impact caused severe facial lacerations to a 28-year-old female rear-seat occupant, who remained conscious at the scene. The Chevy driver, a 50-year-old male, suffered internal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report does not explicitly cite driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision dynamics highlight the inherent danger when turning vehicles cross paths with oncoming traffic. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

A Jeep turned wrong on New Lots Ave and crashed into a parked Tesla. The driver’s back broke. Night pressed in. Metal shrieked. The street stayed quiet. Pain did not. One man left conscious, seatbelt tight, body broken.

A violent collision unfolded on New Lots Ave near Bradford St in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Jeep SUV 'turned wrong in the dark and slammed into a parked Tesla.' The crash occurred at 21:31, leaving the 40-year-old Jeep driver with severe back injuries and 'crush injuries,' though he remained conscious and was held by his seatbelt. The police report explicitly lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The Tesla was unoccupied and parked at the time of impact, according to the data. No evidence in the police report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The scene was described as quiet, but the consequences for the driver were grave. The report underscores the danger posed by improper vehicle maneuvers, especially at night on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill targets speed. Shared e-bikes and scooters must have speedometers. New riders get capped at 10 mph. Law aims to slow the city’s fastest wheels. Committee review underway.

Int 1145-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill would require all shared electric bikes and scooters to have working speedometers. For new riders, electric assist cuts out at 10 mph. The matter title reads: 'requiring that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, and Chris Banks back the bill. Brewer referred it to committee. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 1145-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

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

Two Audis slam together on Belt Parkway. Metal crumples, glass bursts. A 21-year-old driver, unbelted, is hurled onto the asphalt, head bleeding, silent and still. Unsafe speed and distraction leave wreckage and blood in their wake.

On Belt Parkway, two eastbound Audis collided at high speed. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2023 Audi and a 2005 Audi, both traveling straight. The report states that 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' were the primary contributing factors. The impact demolished the front of one Audi and crushed the rear of the other. A 21-year-old male driver, listed as unbelted and ejected from his vehicle, suffered severe head bleeding and was found unconscious on the roadway. The police report describes the aftermath as 'silence' following the violent collision. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor; the focus remains on driver error and the lethal consequences of excessive speed and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778930 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

A Toyota SUV hit a 58-year-old woman in the road near 570 Pennsylvania Ave. Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street. The SUV rolled on, untouched. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of her last breath.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV traveling north near 570 Pennsylvania Ave in Brooklyn struck a 58-year-old woman who was in the roadway. The report states, 'Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head and crush injuries. The SUV sustained no damage and continued on. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the SUV and the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A man on a Hover-1 e-scooter slammed into a bus on Church Avenue near Linden Boulevard. Ejected, his head struck the pavement. He died at the scene. Police cited driver distraction as a contributing factor in the deadly crash.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man operating a Hover-1 e-scooter collided with the right side doors of a southbound bus on Church Avenue near Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. The report states the e-scooter rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. Upon impact, he was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries, dying at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The bus driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The data does not cite any contributing factors related to the bus driver. The report focuses on distraction as a systemic danger, underscoring the vulnerability of those outside cars and buses on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764879 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04