District 48: Ten dead walking, one city stalling

Nov 18 - Metal tore on Belt Parkway. A sedan hit hard. A 57-year-old woman in the front seat died from head wounds. A baby behind the wheel survived, bleeding. The crash left the road stained and silent. Failure to yield cut a life short.

A deadly crash erupted on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, a sedan struck with force. A 57-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat died from head injuries. An infant in the driver’s seat survived with crush wounds. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. Multiple vehicles were involved, including sedans and SUVs. The scene was chaotic, metal twisted, and lives changed in seconds. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The system failed to protect its most vulnerable. The toll: one woman dead, a child injured, and a city left with another scar.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 16 - A car struck a man in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The driver was distracted. The impact broke the man’s back. He lay in the street, hurt. The crash happened on Corbin Place near Brighton 15 Street. Failure to yield and inattention led to pain and injury.

A 39-year-old man was crossing Corbin Place at Brighton 15 Street in Brooklyn when a northbound car hit him in the marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and failed to yield the right-of-way. The car’s right front bumper struck the pedestrian, breaking his back and leaving him in the street with severe pain. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The man was injured while crossing with no signal in a marked crosswalk. No vehicle type or driver details were provided in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679667 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 13 - A man on a Harley rode west on Guider Avenue. He struck head-on. He flew from the bike. His helmet could not save him. Blood pooled on the street. The streetlight flickered. He died alone in the dark.

A 50-year-old man riding a Harley motorcycle westbound on Guider Avenue near Coney Island Avenue was killed in a head-on crash. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered fatal head injuries despite wearing a helmet. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The man was the sole occupant and died at the scene, bleeding from the head under a flickering streetlight. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The police report does not specify further details about the crash sequence or other parties involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670340 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 5 - Two cars slammed together at East 27th and Avenue W. A woman stood close. Metal struck flesh. Her leg was gone. Blood spread. She stared, silent, as engines idled and the city kept moving.

A collision between a station wagon and a sedan at the corner of East 27th Street and Avenue W in Brooklyn left a 44-year-old woman with an amputated leg. According to the police report, 'Two cars collided. A woman stood nearby. Her leg was taken. Blood pooled on the pavement. She did not scream. Just stared.' The pedestrian was not in the roadway but was at the intersection when the crash occurred. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The woman suffered severe injury to her lower leg and foot. No mention of helmet or signal use is included.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 5 - A Ford SUV turned left in the dark. Its headlights were dead. The SUV struck a man on an e-bike. Metal hit skull. Blood pooled on Avenue Y. The man stayed conscious, bleeding under the streetlight.

A Ford SUV with defective headlights turned left at the corner of East 21st Street and Avenue Y in Brooklyn. The SUV struck a 35-year-old man riding an e-bike straight through the intersection. According to the police report, the SUV's headlights were defective. The e-bike rider suffered a severe head injury and was bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Headlights Defective' as a contributing factor. No driver errors beyond the defective headlights are noted in the data. No mention is made of helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash highlights the danger when vehicles operate without working headlights.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671339 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 3 - A BMW turned left on Brighton Beach Avenue. A Harley rider went straight. Steel met flesh. The rider flew, his leg torn away. Blood pooled on the street. Helmet on, license missing. A man, 34, lost a limb to the crash.

A violent collision unfolded at Brighton Beach Avenue and Brighton 1 Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a BMW sedan turned left as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveled straight. The impact sent the 34-year-old male rider flying, resulting in the amputation of his lower leg. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. The motorcyclist wore a helmet but was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported for the BMW driver. The crash left blood on the street and a man permanently changed by steel and speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668078 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 27 - A Hyundai sedan hit a 66-year-old man in the crosswalk at Kings Highway and East 13th Street. The impact threw him down. Blood pooled from his head. He lay still, unconscious. The street fell silent. He never stood again.

A 66-year-old man was struck by a westbound Hyundai sedan at the intersection of Kings Highway and East 13th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan hit the pedestrian with its right front bumper as he crossed at the intersection. The man suffered a severe head injury and was found unconscious, bleeding heavily. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are detailed in the data. The victim was in the crosswalk when the crash occurred. The police report describes the man lying still after the impact, blood seeping from his head. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 13 - An SUV ran the light at East 18th and Avenue Y. The old man crossed with the signal. Steel hit skull. He fell. Blood spread on the street. Seventy-eight years old. Head injury. Still conscious. The SUV sat, untouched.

A seventy-eight-year-old man was struck by a southbound SUV at the corner of East 18th Street and Avenue Y in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the signal' when the SUV 'came south, straight through.' The man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV showed no visible damage. The collision highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic signals and fail to pay attention. The victim was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when the impact occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662120 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 2 - A man on a Blade Mini e-scooter hit a Mazda SUV on Coney Island Avenue. His head bled onto the asphalt. The night was silent. The SUV’s bumper cracked. He stayed conscious as the city pressed in.

A 36-year-old man riding a Blade Mini e-scooter northbound on Coney Island Avenue collided with a Mazda SUV near 2165 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-scooter struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel, cracking the bumper. The rider suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The police narrative notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the crash details. No driver errors were cited in the data. The crash left the street quiet and dark as the injured man lay on the asphalt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 1 - A pick-up truck hit a sedan head-on near 2158 Ocean Avenue. The sedan’s driver, 22, stayed conscious as his leg was crushed and amputated. The seatbelt held him. His foot did not. The road kept it.

A violent crash unfolded on Ocean Avenue near 2158 in Brooklyn. According to the police report, two northbound vehicles—a pick-up truck and a sedan—collided head-on. The sedan’s 22-year-old driver suffered a traumatic leg amputation but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'The truck struck head-on. The sedan’s driver, 22, stayed awake as his leg shattered. The belt held him fast. His foot did not stay. The road kept it.' Both vehicles were traveling north. The sedan was changing lanes; the truck was going straight. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The sedan driver wore a lap belt, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650714 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 26 - A 35-year-old e-bike rider hit the side of an SUV on Avenue R near Nostrand. He flew from his bike and died on the street. Four inside the SUV survived. The crash left the Brooklyn night cold and quiet.

A fatal crash unfolded on Avenue R near Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, an e-bike struck the side of a Nissan SUV. The 35-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and killed. His body hit the street. Four people inside the SUV, including the driver and three passengers, survived. The report states, 'An e-bike struck the side of an SUV. The rider, 35, was thrown and killed. His body hit the street. Four inside the SUV lived.' No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the data. The e-bike rider was unlicensed, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash left one dead and four shaken, with no further details on fault or cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 23 - An SUV hit a 66-year-old woman riding her bike in Brooklyn. She flew from her frame. Blood pooled. Her leg torn open. She stayed awake. The driver failed to yield. Metal struck flesh. The street turned violent.

A 66-year-old woman riding her bike was struck head-on by an SUV on Avenue W near East 24th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'She flew from the frame. Blood pooled. Her leg torn open. She stayed awake. The driver did not yield.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg and was ejected from her bike. Data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The SUV, driven by a man, hit the cyclist while both were going straight. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash left a vulnerable road user injured in a place where drivers failed to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607948 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 13 - A private sanitation truck struck and killed Diego Andrade as he crossed Kings Highway at E. 14th Street. The driver turned left, hit Andrade, and stayed at the scene. No charges. Kings Highway is notorious for crashes. City has not acted. Residents fear for their lives.

On January 13, 2023, a fatal crash occurred on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. Diego Andrade, a pedestrian, was killed by the driver of a 2016 Mack sanitation truck turning left at E. 14th Street. The driver remained at the scene and faced no charges. The incident happened along a stretch with a history of frequent crashes—41 reported in the previous year on just ten blocks, injuring 13 pedestrians and one cyclist. The Department of Transportation has not addressed the dangers of this corridor since at least 2009. Residents voiced fear and frustration, calling drivers 'crazy' and demanding city action. The area’s councilmember, Inna Vernikov, has a record of repeated speeding violations, adding to the climate of danger. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Another Pedestrian is Dead on Brooklyn’s Dangerous Kings Highway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 12 - A garbage truck turned left at Kings Highway. A man stood at the corner. The truck rolled over him. He died under its weight. The truck was undamaged. The street stayed silent. The man did not go home.

A fatal crash occurred at the corner of Kings Highway and East 14th Street in Brooklyn. A garbage truck, making a left turn, struck and killed a 58-year-old man standing at the intersection. According to the police report, the truck rolled on and crushed the pedestrian beneath its side. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The vehicle involved was a large Mack garbage truck, classified as an oversized vehicle. No injuries were reported for the truck’s driver or other occupants. The pedestrian died at the scene, his body pinned under the truck. The truck itself sustained no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 12 - A sedan hit a 66-year-old woman on her bike. Her arm split open. Blood pooled on East 15th Street. She stayed conscious. Pain surged from elbow to hand. The street stood still. The system failed to protect her.

A 66-year-old woman riding her bike north on East 15th Street near Avenue P was struck by a sedan. According to the police report, 'Her arm split open. Blood on the pavement. She stayed awake. Pain blooming from elbow to hand.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to her lower arm and hand. The data lists no specific driver errors, but both contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants. The crash highlights the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets and the ongoing systemic dangers they face.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 9 - The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program barely touches reckless drivers. Over 22,000 cars rack up tickets, but only 630 drivers take the safety course. Just 12 vehicles seized. Most repeat offenders keep driving. The law’s weak language leaves streets exposed.

Local Law 36 of 2020 created the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, overseen by the Department of Transportation. The law, passed October 26, 2020, aimed to educate repeat traffic offenders. It requires a course for owners with 15 speeding or 5 red-light tickets, but only if DOT chooses. As of November 28, 2022, just 630 drivers completed the course, and only 12 vehicles were seized. The law’s summary promised to 'educate vehicle owners about the dangers resulting from vehicle operators exceeding posted speed limits and failing to comply with traffic signals, including the potential to cause injury or death.' Council Member Inna Vernikov was named as an example of a driver reaching the threshold. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called for more teeth, saying, 'new data shows a clear need for additional investments in the program to get dangerous vehicles off our streets.' The program’s weak enforcement leaves thousands of reckless drivers unpunished, endangering vulnerable road users.

• CYCLE OF RAGE: The DOT’s Reckless Driver Program Scratches the Very Outer Membrane of the Surface, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-09

Nov 7 - A Honda SUV turns left at Avenue P and East 18th. Sun glare blinds the driver. The bumper hits a woman’s face as she crosses with the signal. Blood pours. She stays upright. The SUV shows no mark. The street stays dangerous.

A 32-year-old woman was struck and injured by a 2009 Honda SUV while crossing Avenue P at East 18th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was in the crosswalk with the signal when the SUV made a left turn and hit her in the face with its right front bumper. The report states, 'Sun glare blinds. The bumper hits her face. Blood pours.' The woman suffered severe bleeding but remained conscious and upright. The driver, a 63-year-old man, was listed as licensed and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The only contributing factor cited in the report was 'Glare.' No other vehicle damage or injuries were reported. The SUV showed no visible damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579735 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 4 - A man crossed Belt Parkway in a marked crosswalk. A sedan struck him. A taxi hit him next. His body broke beneath the cars. He died before dawn. Two drivers and a passenger were injured. The street stayed cold and silent.

A 58-year-old man was killed while crossing Belt Parkway in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, a sedan struck him first, followed by a taxi. The report states, 'His body broke beneath them. He died there, before sunrise, crushed on the cold blacktop.' Two drivers, both women, and a 24-year-old female passenger suffered injuries, including head, abdomen, pelvis, and shoulder trauma. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are documented in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling is present. The crash left one pedestrian dead and three people injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 31 - A Jeep turned left at East 18th and Avenue U. The bumper hit a 73-year-old woman crossing with the light. Blood pooled on the street. She stayed conscious. The cut ran deep. Sirens came. The street did not forget.

A Jeep SUV struck a 73-year-old woman at the corner of East 18th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the Jeep turned left while the woman crossed with the signal. The left front bumper hit her head, causing severe lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The report lists the driver’s actions as 'Unspecified' and does not cite any specific contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the driver or other occupants. The impact left blood on the street and a deep wound. The crash underscores the danger faced by pedestrians, even when following the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577790 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 18 - A sedan struck a 29-year-old man on Ocean Avenue. The car hit him outside the crosswalk, then crashed into a parked box truck. His leg was crushed. The driver was distracted. Blood pooled on the street. The city failed to protect him.

A 29-year-old pedestrian suffered severe crush injuries to his leg when a sedan struck him on Ocean Avenue. According to the police report, the man was outside the crosswalk when the sedan hit him, then slammed into the rear of a parked box truck. The report states: 'The driver was distracted.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other errors or contributing factors are noted. The pedestrian's injuries were to his knee, lower leg, and foot. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger posed by driver distraction and the vulnerability of people on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18