No More Blood on Cropsey: Hold Brannan Accountable for Every Broken Body

Norman Fruchter, education reformer, died after a driver reversed into him at a crosswalk-less Bay Ridge intersection. The driver stayed. No charges. A vigil drew family, officials, and anger. Fruchter’s wife was killed by a reckless driver in 1997. Grief, outrage, no justice.

On January 4, 2023, Norman Fruchter was struck and killed by a reversing driver at 68th Street and Bliss Terrace in Council District 47. The intersection lacked a pedestrian crosswalk. Council Member Justin Brannan attended the vigil and tweeted, 'Confronting traffic violence also means taking personal responsibility [and] safe driving habits. It will take all of us.' The driver remained at the scene but faced no charges. Fruchter’s son Lev condemned the New York Automobile Insurance Plan for letting dangerous drivers stay insured. Community leaders, including NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, joined in mourning and frustration. Fruchter’s wife Rachel was also killed by a reckless driver in 1997, a tragedy that helped spark Vision Zero. Nearly three decades later, traffic laws remain weak. No systemic change. Vulnerable road users still pay the price.

• Education reform leader remembered after being killed by traffic violence, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-01-20

Steel met steel on Stillwell Avenue. An SUV carved a wrong U-turn. The sedan’s side crumpled. A 27-year-old man bled from the head, dazed but alive. Another driver hurt, pain in his body. The street bore the mark of reckless turning.

A crash unfolded on Stillwell Avenue near Bay 46 Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, an SUV attempted a U-turn and struck a sedan. The report states: “A U-turn carved wrong. The SUV’s nose met the sedan’s flank. Steel folded.” Two men, ages 27 and 38, both drivers, suffered injuries. The 27-year-old bled from the head with severe lacerations; the 38-year-old complained of pain across his body. The police list 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes airbags deployed and seat belts used, but only after the impact. The crash highlights the danger of improper turning on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582536, 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

Police arrested Ibrahim Chaaban in Bay Ridge after he did donuts on Shore Road. His car had racked up 12 school-zone speeding tickets since June. Council Member Brannan and DA Katz slammed weak penalties. Most reckless drivers still face little consequence. Streets remain dangerous.

On October 21, 2022, police in Bay Ridge arrested Ibrahim Chaaban for reckless driving after he performed donuts on Shore Road. The car had received at least 12 school-zone speeding tickets since June 21, but authorities failed to intervene until this incident. Council Member Justin Brannan reported the arrest, saying, "It seems the various systems currently in place to deter this type of behavior have failed here." Brannan and Queens DA Melinda Katz both criticized the current penalties, calling them too weak to deter dangerous drivers. Katz said, "There is a strong need for tougher penalties for those who choose to use our city streets as raceways." The article notes that only after 15 camera-issued speeding tickets in a year must drivers take a safety course, and few cars are seized under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program. Community complaints led to the arrest, but most reckless drivers still evade real consequences.

• One Down, Thousands to Go: Cops Bust A Really Bad Driver For Doing Less-Dangerous Stupid Thing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-21

A Mack garbage truck turned left on 85th Street. The driver failed to yield. An 81-year-old woman, crossing with the signal, was struck. Her leg was torn away. She died beneath the truck’s front bumper. The street ran red with her blood.

An 81-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 85th Street and 15th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a Mack garbage truck, making a left turn, struck her. The impact tore away her leg. She died at the scene, beneath the truck’s front bumper. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2021 Mack truck. The victim was following the rules, crossing at the intersection with the signal. No helmet or signaling issues are mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570960, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A KIA SUV hit a Yamaha motorcycle on 81st Street. Both drivers were distracted. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and bled from the head. The SUV’s bumper tore. The motorcycle crumpled. Both men survived. The street ran red and silent.

A KIA SUV collided with a Yamaha motorcycle on 81st Street near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time of the crash. The 36-year-old motorcyclist, who wore a helmet, was ejected and suffered a bleeding head injury but remained conscious on the asphalt. The 28-year-old SUV driver sustained a minor burn to his back. The SUV’s front bumper was torn, and the motorcycle was left crumpled. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The report notes the motorcyclist’s helmet use only after citing driver distraction. No pedestrians were involved. The crash left two men injured and a street scarred by impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562500, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A driver killed cyclist Wenntwen Porgho at a deadly Bronx intersection. No charges were filed. The spot is known for crashes, yet remains unchanged. Lawmakers blasted the lack of accountability. Another pedestrian, Monica Chen, was killed days earlier. Still, no charges.

On July 21, 2022, a driver killed cyclist Wenntwen Porgho at a dangerous Bronx intersection. The intersection, despite a history of crashes, has not been redesigned. No charges were filed against the driver, even though evidence suggested a failure to yield. Days earlier, Monica Chen, a pedestrian, was killed by a turning driver in Bay Ridge. Again, no charges. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and City Council Member Justin Brannan expressed outrage, stating, "We are both outraged that the epidemic of traffic violence continues and as a result, a 67 year old woman is dead." They pledged to press the Department of Transportation for more safety measures. The NYPD declined comment. The Bronx faces a surge in road deaths. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Driver Kills Cyclist in Deadly Bronx Yet is Not Charged — Part of a Surge in Road Violence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-21

A Ford SUV turned left at 7th Avenue and Ovington. The bumper struck a 67-year-old woman’s head as she crossed with the light. She died in the crosswalk. The driver failed to yield. Her body lay still on the hot pavement.

A 67-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 7th Avenue and Ovington Avenue when a Ford SUV made a left turn and struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV turned left. A 67-year-old woman crossed with the light. The bumper struck her head. She died in the crosswalk. The driver did not yield.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal. The SUV’s driver and multiple passengers were not physically injured. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians in New York City intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547097, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW struck a northbound cyclist at 78th Street and 3rd Avenue. The rider flew. His head split. Blood pooled. The bike lay crushed. The car’s front end crumpled. The cyclist, 39, was conscious but badly hurt. Night. Brooklyn. Metal and flesh.

A BMW sedan hit a northbound cyclist at the corner of 78th Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened at 1:55 a.m. The cyclist, age 39, was thrown from his bike. His head was severely lacerated. Blood pooled on the street. The BMW’s front end crumpled. The bike was crushed. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. Police list 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Unspecified' as contributing factors. The report notes the cyclist wore no helmet, but this is mentioned only after the crash details. No injuries were reported for the BMW’s driver or passenger. The scene was chaos. The toll was clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545941, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study deadly intersections and add signals that give walkers a head start or full crossing time. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay risky. Pedestrians wait for action.

Bill Int 0578-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, aimed to amend city law to improve safety at pedestrian crossings. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed it, but the bill was filed without passage at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to improving safety at pedestrian crossings in the city.' Council Members Robert F. Holden (primary sponsor), Ari Kagan, Justin L. Brannan, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Kalman Yeger, Rita C. Joseph, and Tiffany Cabán sponsored the bill. It would have required DOT to audit the city’s deadliest intersections and consider installing leading pedestrian intervals and exclusive pedestrian phases—signals proven to protect people on foot. The bill’s failure leaves dangerous crossings unchanged.

• File Int 0578-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

A motorcycle hit a turning sedan’s rear on Surf Avenue. The rider flew off, leg torn, helmet scraping pavement. He bled on the curb, conscious under Brooklyn’s lights. Unsafe speed and driver distraction cut through the night. Metal and flesh met hard.

A motorcycle collided with the rear of a sedan making a left turn on Surf Avenue near West 8th Street in Brooklyn. The 49-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected, suffering severe leg lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan, driven by a 22-year-old man, carried three passengers, all of whom were uninjured. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet, as noted after the driver errors. The impact left the motorcycle’s front and the sedan’s rear quarter panel damaged. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534187, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilians can report violators. Each offense draws a $175 fine. The city pays whistleblowers a cut. The bill stalled. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0501-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 2, 2022. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations,' aimed to create a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. The penalty: $175 per violation, enforced through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Civilians, except city employees, could file complaints and receive 25% of collected fines. The Department of Transportation would support this with a phased-in reporting program and annual public reports. Council Member Carlina Rivera led as primary sponsor, joined by over two dozen co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0501-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

A Yamaha struck a Toyota’s side near 72nd Street. Steel twisted. Blood spilled. The young rider’s leg split open. Dusk fell hard. Inexperience and speed ruled the crash. The road stayed silent. No mercy. Only pain.

A motorcycle and a sedan collided on Shore Road near 72nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck the side of a Toyota sedan. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider suffered severe lacerations to his leg but remained conscious. The crash involved five people, including a 7-year-old passenger in the sedan. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet. The impact left steel bent and blood on the road. No pedestrians were involved. The data shows systemic danger when speed and inexperience meet on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532188, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus SUV struck a 22-year-old man on Shore Road. The right front bumper hit his head. Blood spilled. He stayed conscious. The driver was distracted. The SUV rolled on, unmarked. The man did not.

A 22-year-old pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding after a Lexus SUV hit him with its right front bumper near 71st Street on Shore Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact and heavy bleeding. The SUV showed no damage. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus, leaving vulnerable road users to bear the brunt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4533791, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai slammed into a Honda’s rear on Shore Parkway. Metal twisted. A one-year-old boy in the back seat screamed, hurt. The 20-year-old driver suffered crush wounds. Both survived. The road fell silent after the impact.

A Hyundai sedan struck a Honda sedan from behind on Shore Parkway. According to the police report, 'A Hyundai struck a Honda from behind. Metal folded. A 1-year-old boy in the back screamed through crush wounds. The 20-year-old driver was broken too. Both lived. Both hurt.' The one-year-old boy, riding in the back seat, suffered crush injuries. The 20-year-old driver of the Honda was also injured. Both were conscious after the crash. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver error is specified in the data. Both injured parties were using lap belts and harnesses. The crash left the road quiet, the damage done.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529754, 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

Council bill Int 0224-2022 would bar sightseeing buses from bus lanes during rush hours. The measure targets weekday mornings and evenings. Sponsors say it keeps lanes clear for city buses. The bill stalled, filed at session’s end.

Int 0224-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to amend city law to 'restrict the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses.' It would have prohibited sightseeing buses from using bus lanes between 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. The Department of Transportation would also be barred from authorizing sightseeing bus stops in bus lanes during those hours. Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor), Justin Brannan, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler, and Diana Ayala backed the bill. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. The bill aimed to keep bus lanes clear for transit, reducing congestion and potential conflict with pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0224-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council bill Int 0147-2022 would force DOT to answer traffic device requests in 60 days. No more endless waits. Denials must show crash data and study details. Brannan, Yeger, Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse back the push. The bill died in committee.

Int 0147-2022 was introduced on April 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to issue a traffic study determination within 60 days of a request for a traffic control device by a council member or community board. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Council Members Brannan, Yeger (primary), Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse sponsored the bill. The measure aimed to end delays and force transparency by requiring denials to include crash data and study summaries. The bill was filed at the end of session and did not become law.

• File Int 0147-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

When a traffic light fails, time matters. This bill orders the city to plant stop or yield signs within an hour. No more waiting. The aim: fewer crashes, fewer bodies in the street. The council filed it. The danger remains.

Int 0101-2022 was introduced on March 24, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to place temporary priority regulatory signs—like stop or yield—at intersections within one hour of a reported inoperable traffic signal. The matter summary states, 'requiring the placement of temporary priority regulatory signs at intersections within one hour of a report of an inoperable traffic control signal.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Julie Won, Kalman Yeger, and Justin L. Brannan sponsored the bill. The session ended with the bill filed, not enacted. Analysts noted that faster signage could 'significantly reduce the risk of pedestrian injury and vehicular collisions at intersections with malfunctioning traffic control signals.' The city’s current two-hour response and 24-hour wait for alternative controls left vulnerable road users exposed. This bill tried to close that deadly gap.

• File Int 0101-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-03-24