East Flatbush Bleeds—City Shrugs

Council moves to hit rogue vans hard. A checklist. Max fines for each breach. TLC, NYPD, DOT must act together. Crack down on illegal operators who imperil riders and people on the street. The bill sits in committee.

Int 1347-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to keep a compliance checklist. When officers stop an unlicensed van, they must check every rule and issue the maximum fine for each breach. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams. Co-sponsors Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, and Chris Banks. Status: Committee. If enacted, it takes effect 120 days later. It targets illegal operators who put riders and bystanders at risk.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Council introduces Int 1347-2025 to curb rogue commuter vans. TLC, NYPD, and DOT must keep a safety checklist. Officers who spot an unlicensed van stack every charge and levy max fines. A push to shield riders and people on the street.

Int 1347-2025 is in Committee. It sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction and referral on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title reads, “A Local Law … in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to maintain a checklist of laws on vehicle and driver licensure, service authorization, insurance, and inspections. When an officer stops an unlicensed van, they must review the list and issue the maximum penalty for each violation. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams is joined by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, Chris Banks, and Farah N. Louis. The aim is to protect riders and bystanders from unlicensed operators who skip the rules.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

A Jeep SUV hit a cyclist on Clarkson Avenue. The rider suffered a leg injury. Three SUV occupants were unhurt. The crash left the bike damaged. Police list no clear cause.

A Jeep SUV traveling south on Clarkson Avenue collided with a westbound cyclist. The 56-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering an abrasion and injury to his lower leg and foot. Three SUV occupants, ages 61, 72, and 85, were not injured. According to the police report, the crash involved the SUV's center front end striking the right side of the bike. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

SUV and sedan collided on Rockaway Parkway. Unsafe lane change. Five people hurt. Head, leg, arm injuries. Metal and glass. Sirens in the street.

A crash on Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn involved an SUV and a sedan. Five people were injured, suffering head, leg, and arm injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The impact left several occupants with abrasions, contusions, and other wounds. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the danger of sudden moves in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834141 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Sedan and pickup collided on East New York Ave. Two rear passengers hurt, both in shock. Center back and front ends smashed. No driver errors listed. Streets stay dangerous.

A sedan and a pickup truck crashed on East New York Avenue in Brooklyn. Two rear passengers, a 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man, were injured and left in shock. According to the police report, the sedan was struck at the center back end, while the pickup hit at the center front. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. Both injured passengers wore lap belts. The crash highlights the ongoing risk for vehicle occupants on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832441 - 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

A cyclist riding east on Church Avenue crashed. He broke his leg. The street saw blood and pain. No driver errors listed. The city’s danger remains.

A 46-year-old male bicyclist was injured while riding east on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a fracture and dislocation to his lower leg and foot. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The crash involved only the cyclist and his bike, with no other vehicles specified. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Two sedans crashed on Avenue A. One passenger suffered a head injury. Police cite traffic control ignored and driver distraction. Metal twisted. Sirens followed.

Two sedans collided at Avenue A and East 92nd Street in Brooklyn. One front passenger, a 25-year-old woman, was injured in the head and left semiconscious. According to the police report, both drivers disregarded traffic control and were distracted. One driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness. The crash left metal bent and lives shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828395 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Two sedans collided on Kings Highway. A 10-year-old boy and a 53-year-old man were hurt. Police cite improper turning. Metal twisted. Blood on the street. System failed the vulnerable.

Two sedans crashed at Kings Highway and East 93rd Street in Brooklyn. A 10-year-old boy suffered facial bleeding. A 53-year-old male driver was bruised on his arm. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Both vehicles were traveling north; one was making a right turn, the other going straight. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the sole contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The system left passengers and drivers exposed to harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828254 - 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

Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

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 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 hit a 17-year-old crossing Avenue B at E 96th Street. The teen suffered a leg injury. The driver continued straight. No driver error listed. The street stayed open. The bruise marked the cost.

A 17-year-old pedestrian was struck by a sedan while crossing Avenue B at E 96th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the teen was in a marked crosswalk with no signal when the vehicle, traveling straight, hit him. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827455 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A motorcycle hit a parked pick-up in Brooklyn. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and left unconscious with head injuries. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The street stayed quiet. The damage was not.

A motorcycle crashed into a parked pick-up truck on Legion Street near East 98th Street in Brooklyn. The unlicensed motorcycle rider, age 24, was ejected and found unconscious with head injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' were listed as contributing factors. The pick-up truck driver was not reported injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes the motorcycle rider was not using any safety equipment, but only after citing driver inattention and unsafe speed as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825863 - 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 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