The Blood on Brannan’s Streets Won’t Wash Away

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

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 Ford SUV swung left at Cropsey and 24th. Its bumper struck a 95-year-old woman’s head. She fell, blood pooling on cold pavement. She died in the street, winter sky above, another life ended by steel and speed.

At the intersection of Cropsey Avenue and 24th Avenue, a Ford SUV making a left turn struck a 95-year-old woman, according to the police report. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the woman’s head, causing her to fall and suffer severe bleeding. She died at the scene. The police report notes the SUV was making a left turn when the impact occurred, and describes the pedestrian as being at the intersection. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the narrative details the SUV’s movement and the fatal contact. The victim’s actions are described only as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with no indication of contributing behavior. The focus remains on the lethal outcome of a turning vehicle meeting a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

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

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, 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

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

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 Honda sedan veered off 68th Street, smashing into two parked cars. Steel tore. Noon sun glared. A 70-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man, both belted, suffered neck wounds and amputations. Distraction at the wheel. Then, silence.

According to the police report, a Honda sedan traveling south on 68th Street near Ridge Boulevard veered into two parked vehicles—a Kia and a Chevrolet. The crash occurred at 12:37 p.m. The report states that 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the primary contributing factor. The impact left the 36-year-old male driver and a 70-year-old female passenger, both wearing lap belts, with severe neck injuries and amputations. The narrative describes the scene: 'Steel split. A 70-year-old woman and 36-year-old man, both belted, suffered neck wounds and amputations. Noon sun burned down. Distraction behind the wheel. Then, silence.' No contributing factors are attributed to the victims. The data centers driver distraction as the cause, with no indication of any error or action by the injured occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775022 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lexus hurtled down Neptune Avenue, speed unchecked. The driver, unbelted, was thrown from the car. Metal twisted, flesh broken. The street claimed him, the night held tight. Systemic danger, one man down.

A violent crash unfolded on Neptune Avenue near West 24th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 2004 Lexus sedan was traveling west at an unsafe speed when the collision occurred. The 24-year-old male driver, the car's sole occupant, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The driver suffered severe crush injuries to his entire body and was found unconscious at the scene. The report details the vehicle's center front end as the point of impact and damage. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The data underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed and lack of restraint, as documented by responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768222 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan’s front bumper slammed into a 43-year-old cyclist on Belt Parkway. The man was ejected, suffering fatal head trauma. He died alone in the darkness, the highway silent but for the hum of passing cars.

A 43-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Belt Parkway was killed when a sedan, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma, dying at the scene before dawn. The narrative states, 'A 43-year-old man on a bike, no helmet, struck by a sedan’s front bumper. Ejected. Head trauma. He died there in the dark, alone, the road lit only by headlights and the hush before dawn.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' are cited in the data. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears after the description of the collision and is not listed as a contributing factor. The impact and fatality underscore the lethal consequences when cars and vulnerable road users collide on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 74-year-old man crossed Bay Ridge Avenue. A northbound Honda SUV hit him with its right front bumper. His body broke on metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise. The crash ended one life in Brooklyn’s dark.

A 74-year-old man was killed while crossing Bay Ridge Avenue near Ridge Boulevard in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:56 p.m. when a northbound Honda SUV struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report states, 'A 74-year-old man stepped into the dark against the light. A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. His body broke against metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The pedestrian was noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but no driver errors or additional contributing factors were cited by police. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 17-year-old rider on a westbound Honda motorcycle struck something hard on Belt Parkway. His helmet could not save him. The crash ended his life in the night, leaving only silence and broken metal behind.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old operating a 2007 Honda motorcycle westbound on Belt Parkway was killed after striking an unidentified hard object. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet, but suffered fatal head injuries. The crash occurred at 21:55 and involved no other vehicles or persons. The police narrative states: 'A 17-year-old on a 2007 Honda hit something hard. His helmet held, but his head didn’t. The night took him. One rider. One crash. No second chance.' Contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the report, and the only vehicle involved was the motorcycle. The rider held a permit. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the fatal impact and the systemic dangers faced by young riders on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep swung into a U-turn on Bay 25 Street. A woman stepped from behind a parked car. The bumper smashed her face. Blood pooled on the asphalt. She stayed conscious, her face torn, eyes open.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV made a U-turn on Bay 25 Street near Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. As the vehicle swung around, a 31-year-old woman emerged from behind a parked car. The Jeep’s right front bumper struck her in the face, causing severe lacerations. The report describes blood pooling on the asphalt and notes the woman remained conscious, her face torn and eyes open. The crash occurred at 19:30. The police report lists the Jeep’s pre-crash action as 'Making U Turn.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report’s contributing factors field. The victim’s action—'Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle'—is noted in the data but not listed as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the Jeep’s maneuver and the resulting impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman riding rear on a bike was thrown to the pavement when an e-bike struck. Her head hit the street. She lay unconscious, lifeless under the city’s lights. Sirens came too late. Driver inattention shadowed the crash.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 7th Avenue and 68th Street when an e-bike hit a bike, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:06. A 48-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries after striking the pavement. The police report states she was 'unconscious' and 'lifeless beneath the streetlights.' The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a failure by the e-bike operator to remain alert. No helmet was worn by the victim, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The report makes clear that the crash’s deadly outcome stemmed from the e-bike driver’s lack of attention, not the actions of the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young woman rode her e-bike north on 7th Avenue at 79th Street. She struck something, her helmet cracked, blood flowed. She collapsed, unconscious, head torn, alone in the dark. The street swallowed her pain, silent and unyielding.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old woman riding an e-bike northbound at the corner of 7th Avenue and 79th Street suffered a severe head injury. The narrative states, 'She struck something. Her helmet cracked. Blood ran. She collapsed on the pavement, head torn, eyes closed, alone in the dark.' The report lists her as 'unconscious' with 'severe bleeding' from the head. The contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified,' and no driver errors or external vehicle involvement are cited. The report notes she wore a helmet, which cracked during the crash. No mention is made of any pedestrian or other vehicle involvement. The focus remains on the solitary, violent impact and the resulting injury, with the cause left undetermined in official records.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Abandoned poles and wires block sidewalks, trap walkers, and threaten cyclists. This bill sets strict deadlines for removal and transfer. Delay ends. Streets clear. Danger cut.

Int 0921-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 23, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Justin L. Brannan with Holden, Vernikov, Marmorato, and Paladino, demands owners remove abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances within 60 days—or immediately if dangerous. Transfers to new poles must happen in 30 days. The matter title reads: 'timelines for the removal of abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances, and the transfer of appurtenances to newly erected poles.' Swift action means fewer sidewalk traps and less risk for those on foot or bike.

• File Int 0921-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-23

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16