The Dead Don’t Wait—Why Should We?

SUV turned left, struck motorcycle head-on. Rider ejected, suffered fractures. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. Streets of Brooklyn, danger in the dusk.

A station wagon SUV turned left on Wilson Ave at Bleecker St and collided with a southbound motorcycle. The motorcycle driver, age 34, was ejected and suffered fractures and dislocations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' were listed as contributing factors. The SUV's right front bumper struck the motorcycle's center front end. The crash left the rider in shock, with injuries to the entire body. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Another pedestrian killed on Morgan Avenue. Three deaths in three years. Advocates rally. City stalls. No redesign. The street stays deadly. The call for change grows louder.

On August 7, 2025, Sophia Lebowitz and street safety advocates renewed demands for a Morgan Avenue redesign after a third pedestrian death in three years. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'renewing calls from advocates for the city to redesign the dangerous street.' Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, State Sen. Julia Salazar, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher back the push. Advocates want a protected bike lane, mid-block crossings, and safer loading zones. Despite meetings and official letters, the city has not acted. The safety analyst notes: advocacy alone brings no immediate safety change, but it could spark future improvements. The danger remains until the city moves.

• Three Years, Three Deaths: Advocates Want DOT To Make Morgan Avenue Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

SUV struck a cyclist on Wilson Ave. Cyclist, 53, suffered arm abrasions. Police cite failure to yield. No injuries reported for SUV occupants. The street stayed dangerous. The cyclist paid the price.

A 53-year-old cyclist was injured when an SUV struck him at Wilson Ave and Hancock St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved a Ford SUV and a bike. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his arm. Police listed 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV's driver or passengers. The data shows the cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the primary fault was the SUV driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831816 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Thin string, nearly invisible, sliced at necks and faces. Cyclists struck crossing Marine Parkway Bridge. Injuries mount. No answers. Danger lingers. System fails to clear the path.

Gothamist (2025-07-25) reports multiple cyclists injured by string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge walkway. Victims described sudden pain and red marks. One cyclist landed in intensive care in June. The NYPD said no criminality was suspected and has not identified the source. The MTA forbids cycling on the path, but most riders do not dismount due to the narrow walkway. The article quotes Angel Montalvo: "I felt pain, but I didn't know what it was." The recurring hazard exposes gaps in bridge safety and enforcement, leaving vulnerable users at risk.

• Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-25

Two sedans crashed at Bushwick Avenue and Linden Street. Both drivers injured. Police cite failure to yield and reaction to another vehicle. Impact left one with head trauma, another with back pain.

Two sedans collided at Bushwick Avenue and Linden Street in Brooklyn. A 30-year-old woman suffered a head injury. A 61-year-old man sustained back pain. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' Both drivers were conscious after the crash. The report lists no errors by the injured parties beyond the driver actions noted. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830141 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A motorcycle and sedan collided on Myrtle Avenue. A passenger was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and bodies hit hard. Streets remain unforgiving.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed on Myrtle Avenue near Grove Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west and a sedan turning left collided. A 28-year-old male motorcycle passenger was ejected and injured, suffering pain and shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829966 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. Madisyn Ruiz, 21, died. Two boys hurt. Tire marks linger. The driver faces charges. The family mourns. The system failed to protect.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madisyn Ruiz, 21, was killed when her boyfriend, Zachary Cando, lost control of a 2023 Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in the Gateway Center parking lot. Ruiz was sitting by the curb when struck. Two nephews, ages 12 and 17, were also injured. Cando told police he 'lost control' during the stunt. He was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes, 'Days later, circular tire tracks were still visible in the parking lot.' This crash highlights the dangers of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Girlfriend, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

A delivery worker stopped on Lincoln Ave. A driver clipped his open door. Words turned to blows. The driver pulled a pipe, struck hard, then fled. The worker went to the hospital. Police seek the attacker.

NY Daily News (2025-07-12) reports a 36-year-old grocery delivery worker was attacked on Lincoln Ave. in Cypress Hills after a driver struck his open car door. The two argued. The driver "opened his hatchback, pulled out a pipe, and lunged at the victim, striking him repeatedly." The attacker fled. Police released images of the suspect. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the dangers faced by workers on city streets and the potential for minor collisions to escalate into violence.

• Grocer Beaten With Pipe In Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-12

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

A sedan turned left on Knickerbocker. The driver was distracted. A cyclist was hit, thrown from his bike, and injured. Blood on the pavement. The city failed to protect him.

A crash on Knickerbocker Avenue at Grove Street in Brooklyn left a 35-year-old male cyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight north. The cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to his arm. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist wore a helmet. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The impact was severe enough to throw the cyclist from his bike, exposing the danger faced by those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A judge cleared the city to strip protection from Bedford Avenue’s bike lane. Cyclists will ride exposed. Cars will pass inches away. The barrier falls. Risk rises.

NY1 reported on July 9, 2025, that a judge ruled the city may remove parking protection from part of Bedford Avenue’s bike lane. The article states, "The city can proceed with its controversial plan to convert part of a parking-protected bike lane...back into an unprotected one." The lawsuit, brought by Transportation Alternatives and local residents, challenged the city’s move. The decision highlights a policy shift: removing barriers that shield cyclists from traffic. Without protection, riders face direct exposure to moving vehicles, increasing systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• Judge Allows Bedford Bike Lane Change, NY1, Published 2025-07-09

A sedan reversed on Madison Street. The driver, distracted and inexperienced, struck a woman crossing outside the crosswalk. She suffered a leg injury. The street bore witness. The car did not yield.

A sedan, backing west on Madison Street in Brooklyn, struck a 27-year-old woman as she crossed outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience.' The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injury to her lower leg and foot. The driver’s errors—distraction and lack of experience—are cited as contributing factors. No other causes are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827987 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A man crossing near Broadway Junction died after a gray Ford hit him. The driver fled. Hours later, a Mustang plowed into six in the Bronx. Both drivers vanished. The city counts 55 pedestrian deaths this year.

NY Daily News (2025-07-04) reports a 36-year-old man was killed crossing Broadway and East New York Ave. in Brooklyn when a gray Ford struck him and fled. Hours later, a Ford Mustang hit six people in the Bronx, then the driver and passenger ran off. The article notes, 'It was the second hit-and-run in the five boroughs in 24 hours.' Police said, 'As of Thursday, 55 pedestrians have been killed by vehicles while crossing city streets.' Both drivers remain at large. The incidents highlight persistent dangers for pedestrians and the ongoing problem of drivers fleeing crash scenes.

• Hit-And-Run Drivers Strike Brooklyn, Bronx, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-04

A rider lost control near Emerson Place. He struck the median. Thrown from his bike, he died at the hospital. The crash shut down the westbound lanes. The city’s roads claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-03) reports a 55-year-old motorcyclist died after losing control on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway near Emerson Place. Police said he was 'zipping west' on a Kawasaki KLR650 when he hit the concrete median and was thrown onto the road. Medics took him to Brookdale University Hospital, where he died. The crash closed part of the expressway for investigation. The article highlights the dangers of high-speed expressways and unforgiving road design.

• Motorcyclist Killed On Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-03

A motorcycle hit a woman crossing Evergreen Ave. She suffered leg injuries. Police cite failure to yield and driver inexperience. The rider was unlicensed. The street bore the mark of impact.

A motorcycle traveling north on Evergreen Ave struck a 31-year-old woman as she crossed in a marked crosswalk. She sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, the crash resulted from 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience.' The motorcycle operator was unlicensed. The report lists no contributing factors for the pedestrian. The impact left the pedestrian injured and exposed the risks faced by those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A judge paused city plans to cut a protected bike lane after children were struck crossing. The lane, built after five pedestrian crashes, stays for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

NY1 reported on July 1, 2025, that a judge halted the city's move to remove a three-block section of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city acted after 'incidents of children exiting school buses, crossing into the lane, and being hit by bikes.' The lane, stretching over two miles, was installed in 2024 following 'years of advocacy and five pedestrian incidents.' The hearing highlights ongoing conflict between street safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and the city's rapid policy shifts in response to crashes.

• Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review, NY1, Published 2025-07-01

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

A moped slammed into a car’s door in Bay Ridge. The rider died. His passenger broke bones. The driver was drunk, unlicensed, and arrested. The street stayed quiet after the crash. Another life lost to reckless driving.

NY Daily News reported on June 22, 2025, that Joel Mota, 22, died after his moped struck the passenger-side door of a 2013 Acura TSX at Third Ave and 67th St in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. Police said the car’s driver, Leslie Moreno, was intoxicated and unlicensed. Mota’s passenger suffered multiple fractures. The article notes, 'Police arrested the Acura driver, 29-year-old Leslie Moreno, for driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and being unlicensed.' Moreno was arraigned and released without bail. The case highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired, unlicensed drivers on city streets.

• Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-22