Blood on the Corners, Silence in City Hall

A man on a bike struck a parked Toyota in Brooklyn. Metal bent. Blood ran from his arm. He stayed conscious. The street stood still. No one else was hurt. The crash left silence and pain behind.

A 55-year-old man riding a bike collided with a parked Toyota sedan at 551 Linwood Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist hit the car's front end, causing severe bleeding to his arm. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Pavement Defective' as contributing factors. The cyclist remained conscious after the crash. No other people were injured. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time. The police report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by cyclists on city streets shaped by parked cars and poor pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645551, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV slammed into a man riding an e-scooter on Remsen Avenue. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. The SUV did not stop. Sirens came late. The man lay still, unconscious, bleeding out on the asphalt.

A man riding an e-scooter was struck head-on by an SUV on Remsen Avenue near Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the rider suffered a severe head injury and was found unconscious, bleeding heavily. The SUV did not remain at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative states, 'A man on an e-scooter hit head-on by an SUV. No helmet. Head split. Blood on the asphalt. He lay still. The SUV rolled on. Sirens came late.' The data notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but no specific driver errors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633550, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV turned left on Atkins Avenue. Its bumper struck a baby boy crossing with the light. The child’s legs were crushed. He lay in shock on the pavement. The car was untouched. The boy was not.

A Ford SUV hit a baby boy at Atkins Avenue near Blake Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV turned left and its bumper struck the child’s legs as he crossed with the signal. The boy suffered crush injuries and lay in shock on the pavement. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The driver was licensed. The vehicle had no damage. The police report states: 'A Ford SUV turned left. A baby boy crossed with the light. The bumper hit his legs. Crush injuries. He lay in shock on the pavement. The car was fine. He was not.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630038, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle hit a turning sedan on East 103rd Street. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and killed. Two in the car were hurt. The crash left metal twisted and the street silent under the lights.

A fatal crash took place on East 103rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a motorcycle struck a sedan head-on as the car made a U-turn. The 57-year-old male motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, was ejected and killed. Three people were in the sedan; two were injured, including the 39-year-old female driver and a 24-year-old female passenger. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The sedan was damaged at the left front bumper, and the motorcycle was hit at the center front end. No further details on specific driver actions were provided in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628944, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck skimmed a parked SUV on Miller Avenue. Steel scraped steel. A 64-year-old woman sat belted in the front seat. The crash crushed her shoulder. She stayed awake. Pain filled the car. Passing too closely caused the harm.

A box truck struck a parked SUV on Miller Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A box truck skimmed too close. Steel met steel. A woman, 64, sat belted in the parked SUV. The crash crushed her shoulder.' The front passenger, a 64-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her shoulder and upper arm. The crash was caused by the box truck 'Passing Too Closely,' as listed in the contributing factors. The injured woman was wearing a lap belt and harness. The data shows no errors by the SUV occupants. The impact damaged the SUV's left rear bumper and scraped the truck's right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624687, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A car tore down Glenmore Avenue. It ran the signal. It struck a young woman waiting at the corner. Her head hit the pavement. She lay crushed and semiconscious under the streetlights. The night echoed with sirens and broken glass.

A 25-year-old woman was standing at the intersection of Glenmore Avenue and Warwick Street in Brooklyn when a car, traveling west at unsafe speed, disregarded a traffic signal and struck her. According to the police report, the woman suffered head and crush injuries and was left semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not in the roadway but at the intersection when the collision occurred. No information about the vehicle or driver was provided in the report. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of speeding and ignoring traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616303, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus struck a 75-year-old woman on Linden Boulevard. The right front bumper crushed her leg. She lay awake in the street, body broken. Pavement was slick. The bus rolled south. The woman survived, but the street did not forgive.

A southbound bus hit a 75-year-old woman at Linden Boulevard and Ashford Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A southbound bus struck a 75-year-old woman crossing against the light. The right front bumper crushed her leg on slick pavement. She lay conscious in the street, her body broken but awake.' The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The impact caused crush injuries to the woman’s lower leg and foot. The bus’s right front bumper was damaged. No driver errors beyond the listed factors appear in the report. The woman was conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0858-2022 would force the city’s DOT to probe every serious crash. The bill demands quick action, deep analysis, and public reporting. It targets street design flaws and driver behavior. Lawmakers filed it, but the session ended before passage.

Int 0858-2022, introduced December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to overhaul how New York City investigates vehicle collisions. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shekar Krishnan, Charles Barron, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Lincoln Restler, and Rita C. Joseph, required the Department of Transportation to investigate all serious vehicular crashes. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.' The bill would have expanded the definition of serious crashes, set strict investigation timelines, and mandated detailed public reports. It also called for reviews of street design and infrastructure at crash sites, with recommendations for safety improvements. The bill was filed at the end of the session and did not become law.

• File Int 0858-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

A young man died behind the wheel on Fountain Avenue. His car hit three parked vehicles. The night was silent. Passengers sat still. Metal echoed in the dark. No clear cause. Only loss and the hush of sudden death.

A 24-year-old man died after his vehicle struck three parked cars on Fountain Avenue near Cozine Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 24-year-old man was found dead behind the wheel. His car struck three parked vehicles. Belts buckled. No motion. No sound. Just a still body and the echo of metal in the dark.' Several passengers, including a 21-year-old woman, a 1-year-old boy, and others, were present but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left one dead and others shaken, with no clear explanation in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4580830, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Buick turned left on Stanley Avenue. A Harley came straight. They collided head-on. The rider, helmet on, flew from his bike. Blood poured from his neck. He lay conscious on the asphalt, staring at the sky.

A crash on Stanley Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn involved a Buick sedan making a left turn and a Harley motorcycle traveling straight. The vehicles collided head-on. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. The 59-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected, suffered a severe neck injury, and was conscious at the scene. He was wearing a helmet. The sedan driver was not reported injured. The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary driver error. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582284, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

Two SUVs smashed head-on before sunrise on New Lots Avenue. Steel twisted. Glass flew. A 29-year-old man, strapped in, took the brunt. His face bore the blow. Parked cars stood silent. The street froze. One man injured. The city moved on.

Two sport utility vehicles collided head-on on New Lots Avenue near Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened before dawn. A 29-year-old male driver suffered crush injuries to his face and was reported conscious at the scene. The contributing factor listed was 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Other occupants, including a 26-year-old male driver and a 25-year-old female passenger, were not reported injured. Parked cars were struck but no further injuries were documented. Both injured and uninjured parties were using lap belts and harnesses, as noted after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger of improper lane usage on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561990, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A diesel truck turned right on Pennsylvania Avenue. An e-bike rider went straight. The trailer caught him. He was thrown. His body broke on the street. He died there, alone, in daylight. The driver kept going. The city stayed loud.

A deadly crash unfolded at Pennsylvania Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck turned right while a 43-year-old man on an e-bike continued straight. The truck's trailer struck the cyclist, ejecting him. He died at the scene. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. No driver errors beyond this are noted in the data. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as recorded after the truck driver's actions. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when massive vehicles and vulnerable road users cross paths on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559907, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chrysler sedan hit a 52-year-old man crossing Hegeman Avenue. He bled from the head, face split open, under harsh streetlights. The car’s front end crumpled. The man lay conscious, wounded, in the marked crosswalk.

A Chrysler sedan struck a 52-year-old man in a marked crosswalk on Hegeman Avenue near Bristol Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the man was crossing with no signal when the car hit him, leaving him conscious but bleeding from the head with severe lacerations. The sedan’s front end was crumpled from the impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. The pedestrian was the only person injured in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553289, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A car struck a 35-year-old woman head-on in the dark on Belt Parkway. Her skull split. Her body crushed. No crosswalk. No warning. The car kept going. She did not. She died there, alone, under the headlights.

A 35-year-old woman was killed when a car hit her head-on on Belt Parkway near mile marker 42. According to the police report, 'Her skull split. Her body crushed. No crosswalk. No warning. The car kept going straight. She did not.' The woman was not at an intersection when struck. The report lists her injuries as fatal, with head trauma and crush injuries. The vehicle was traveling east, going straight, and struck her with its center front end. The police report does not specify any contributing factors or driver errors. No information is provided about the vehicle or driver. The victim was a pedestrian. No helmet or signal use is mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547418, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep blasted through Flatlands Avenue, smashing headlong into a Honda’s flank. Metal screamed. A 33-year-old man took the brunt, his shoulder crushed. A 17-year-old girl suffered whiplash. The light was red. The street stayed dark.

On Flatlands Avenue near Vermont Street in Brooklyn, a Jeep SUV struck the side of a Honda sedan. According to the police report, the Jeep hit the Honda’s left rear quarter panel with its center front end. The crash left a 33-year-old male driver with crush injuries to his shoulder and a 17-year-old female passenger with whiplash. Three other occupants reported unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a driver ran a red light. No other contributing factors are noted. The impact and injuries stemmed from the failure to obey traffic signals, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543776, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a baby boy before dawn on East 108th Street. The car hit him outside the crosswalk. The front end crushed his body. He died there. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed silent after the impact.

A deadly crash unfolded on East 108th Street near Farragut Road in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling north struck and killed a baby boy who was outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'the front end crushed him. He died there, whole body torn. The driver did not yield.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The child, a male pedestrian, suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The data does not mention any other contributing factors related to the victim. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540552, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A ten-year-old boy rode his bike on Hendrix Street. An old GMC SUV struck him. He flew. His head hit the pavement. He did not wake. Both drivers were unlicensed. The boy suffered severe head injuries. The street stayed silent.

A crash on Hendrix Street near Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn left a ten-year-old boy unconscious with head injuries after he was struck by a 1984 GMC SUV while riding his bike. According to the police report, 'A 10-year-old boy on a bike, no helmet, no license, struck by an old GMC SUV. He flew. His head hit pavement. He did not wake. Two unlicensed drivers. One broken child.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. Both the child cyclist and the SUV driver were unlicensed. The boy was ejected from his bike and suffered crush injuries to his head. The data notes the absence of a helmet only after citing driver inexperience. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540557, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man crossed Flatlands Avenue. A Nissan sedan hit him head-on. His body broke on the asphalt. He died there. The car kept going straight. The street offered no crosswalk, no signal. The driver did not stop.

A 42-year-old man was killed on Flatlands Avenue when a westbound Nissan sedan struck him head-on. According to the police report, the man was crossing the street with no crosswalk or signal. The impact shattered his body. He died at the scene. The sedan continued straight after the collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash left the pedestrian dead and the driver uninjured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590109, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0401-2022 would force the city to install speed humps on streets bordering parks over one acre. The measure targets reckless driving near green spaces. The transportation committee filed the bill at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0401-2022 was introduced in the City Council on May 19, 2022, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by sixteen co-sponsors. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to install speed humps on all roadways next to parks at least one acre in size, unless the DOT commissioner found installation unsafe or inconsistent with guidelines. The bill was filed without passage at the end of the session. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0401-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19