Bensonhurst crosswalks, broken bones, and the hours when the streets bite

• Breaking: Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Cyclist in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-09-27

Sep 19 - Two vehicles collided near 6401 15 Ave in Brooklyn. A 52-year-old driver in a 2014 Ford SUV was injured. Police cited illness. The right front bumper took the blow.

Two vehicles crashed near 6401 15 Ave in Brooklyn at 12:06 p.m. The driver of a 2014 Ford SUV, a 52-year-old man, was injured. According to the police report, the driver was "Going Straight Ahead" eastbound when the collision occurred, with impact at the "Right Front Bumper" and "Center Front End" damage. Police recorded illness as a contributing factor; the report lists "Illnes." No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt. Other vehicle details were not specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4843482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

• Woman fatally struck by 18-wheeler truck in hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-09-19

Sep 13 - A driver in an SUV collided with a moped on 19 Ave at 77 St in Brooklyn. The moped rider, 21, was ejected and hurt. Police recorded driver inattention and following too closely.

On 19 Ave at 77 St in Brooklyn, a driver in an SUV and a moped rider collided while traveling in opposite directions. The moped was heading north; the SUV was heading south; both drivers were going straight. The 21-year-old driver was ejected and injured. "According to the police report," police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Following Too Closely. Points of impact were the moped’s center front and the SUV’s left front quarter panel. No other causes were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

• Brooklyn road rage attack: Man brutally stabbed over double-parked car, cops say, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-09-08

Aug 26 - Mayor Adams vetoed a council push to decriminalize street vending. Vendors clustered on the narrow Brooklyn Bridge walkway. Crowding squeezes pedestrians, collides with cyclists and strollers, and can impede emergency movement, raising crash and injury risk.

""There are immense barriers to entry for the often working-class and immigrant New Yorkers that populate our city as street vendors,"" -- Alexa Avilés

Bill: City Council package to decriminalize street vending (file number not provided). Status: vetoed by Mayor Eric Adams (veto reported last month). Committee: Committee on Immigration, chaired by Council Member Alexa Aviles. Key dates: vendors observed Aug. 25, 2025; story published Aug. 26, 2025. The article ran under the headline, "Defying a NYC ban, illegal vending thrives on iconic Brooklyn Bridge this summer." Adams issued the veto. Aviles and supporters pushed the decriminalization package and criticized enforcement barriers. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez warned vendors impede pedestrian mobility. Safety analysts note: illegal vending clusters on the narrow walkway, reduces pedestrian space, creates conflicts with cyclists and strollers, and can impede emergency movement—raising crash and injury risk.

• Defying a NYC ban, illegal vending thrives on iconic Brooklyn Bridge this summer, amny.com, Published 2025-08-26

Aug 14 - A southbound pickup hit a westbound cyclist at 21st Avenue and 64th Street in Brooklyn. The truck’s front end took damage. The rider was ejected and injured. Distraction and inexperience shadow the scene.

A GMC pickup traveling south on 21 Avenue struck a bicyclist heading west on 64 Street. The cyclist was ejected and suffered leg injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” Driver Inexperience also appears in the data. The truck showed center front-end damage, consistent with impact. The bicyclist is listed as injured; the pickup driver is listed with unspecified injury. After those driver failures, the report notes the cyclist wore a helmet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 6 - A 76-year-old woman died on 18 Avenue in Brooklyn after a driver disregarded traffic control and struck her in a marked crosswalk, inflicting fatal head injuries.

A 76-year-old woman was killed while crossing 18 Avenue at 86 Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control. Police recorded "Traffic Control Disregarded" as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk when the impact struck her head. She suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead. The report lists no other contributing factors. The vehicle is recorded as 'Standing S' and was traveling east. The report gives no further details about the driver. Police classified the victim's injury severity as fatal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 4 - A car struck and dragged a man fifty feet on Broadway. He died at the scene. The driver fled. Police search for answers. Brooklyn leads the city in pedestrian injuries this year.

Gothamist (2025-08-04) reports a 47-year-old man was killed after being struck and dragged over 50 feet by a northbound car at Broadway and Suydam Street in Bushwick. The driver fled. Police have not released the victim's name and seek information on the vehicle. The article notes, 'It was not immediately clear whether the man was walking in a crosswalk, or who had the right of way.' Brooklyn has the highest number of pedestrian injuries in New York City so far this year, with 228 hurt and two killed through June. The case highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - A driver in an SUV hit a 21-year-old man crossing 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. His leg broke. He went into shock. The driver kept straight. Police listed no cause for either party.

A driver in a Toyota SUV, traveling north on 18th Avenue near 8120 in Brooklyn, hit a 21-year-old man who was crossing. He suffered a fractured lower leg and shock. According to the police report, the driver was going straight and the point of impact was the center front end. Police listed 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian, and recorded no driver errors. The pedestrian was recorded as crossing away from an intersection. The SUV showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832542 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 2 - A driver in a pickup turned right on Bay Ridge Parkway at 16th Avenue and hit a woman on an e-bike going straight. She suffered a leg bruise. Police recorded following too closely and improper lane use by the driver.

A driver in a pickup turned right from Bay Ridge Parkway at 16th Avenue in Brooklyn and hit a 43-year-old woman on an e-bike who was going straight east. She was injured with a contusion to the lower leg. The pickup was driven by a 48-year-old man. According to the police report, the driver was "following too closely" and engaged in "passing or lane usage improper." Police recorded these driver errors as contributing factors. Both were traveling east before the turn. The truck’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s front were marked as points of impact. The crash occurred in the 62nd Precinct.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832281 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 30 - A driver in a sedan made an unsafe lane change on Bay Parkway and hit a motorcyclist. The 40‑year‑old rider suffered a distorted lower‑leg fracture and dislocation. Police listed 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.'

A driver in a sedan changed lanes and collided with a motorcycle on Bay Parkway at Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist, a 40‑year‑old man, suffered a distorted fracture and dislocation to the lower leg. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The injured rider's record also lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' Police recorded no injuries for the sedan occupant. The report notes the motorcycle's point of impact and lists unsafe lane changing as a driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831914 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 26 - A sedan hit a three-year-old girl in Brooklyn. She crossed with the signal. The car failed to yield. The child suffered leg injuries. Shock followed. The street stayed dangerous.

A three-year-old girl was hit by a sedan while crossing 81st Street at 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The girl suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the driver or passenger. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians, especially children, at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

"The Third Avenue corridor has been "persistently dangerous," said Avilés. "We have the tools to majorly reduce this violence, but it's up to the mayor's office to use them."" -- Alexa Avilés

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"I am here to stand with our community again, to call for real investment, to call for real earnest movement forward, and to really address some of the challenges, because there are real tensions with what this corridor is used for. What it takes is real political will and real capital investment." -- Alexa Avilés

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - The moped driver hit a 55-year-old woman at Bay Parkway and 66th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a contusion to her upper arm and shoulder and remained conscious. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic-control disregard by the driver.

"According to the police report, the moped driver failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic controls." A 55-year-old woman was struck by the moped as a pedestrian at Bay Parkway near 66th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a contusion to her upper arm and shoulder and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Police recorded the injury as a contusion (bruise). The moped showed no damage in the report; the incident is logged under collision ID 4829768.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 15 - A judge stopped the city from ripping out Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. The lane stands. Cyclists and pedestrians keep a shield, for now. The fight over safety on this deadly stretch continues in court.

Gothamist reported on July 15, 2025, that a state appellate judge blocked Mayor Adams from removing the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane, installed after high crash rates and pedestrian deaths, was set for removal until the court's emergency order. The Department of Transportation admitted, "The City risks legal liability for knowingly reducing safety on a Vision Zero priority corridor." Advocates and families appealed, citing the lane’s role in protecting vulnerable road users. The legal battle highlights the tension between city policy, resident concerns, and the need for proven safety infrastructure.

• Judge Halts Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 12 - A crash on Lincoln Avenue turned brutal. One driver struck another with a metal object. The victim landed in the hospital. The assailant fled in a black car. Police hunt for answers.

According to amny (2025-07-12), a traffic crash on Lincoln Avenue in Cypress Hills escalated when a driver "pulled out a metal object and repeatedly struck the victim about the head and body." The victim, 36, was hospitalized in stable condition. The assailant fled in a black vehicle. NYPD released video of the suspect, seeking public help. The incident highlights how post-crash confrontations can turn violent, raising questions about conflict de-escalation and the need for safer streets.

• Driver Attacks Man After Brooklyn Crash, amny, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 11 - A BMW ran a red in Sunset Park. Two men died on the street. The driver fled. Police made an arrest. Blood on the asphalt, lives ended fast.

Patch reported on July 11, 2025, that a hit-and-run driver killed two pedestrians at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Brooklyn. The NYPD said the BMW "sped through a red light" before striking 80-year-old Kex Un Chen and 59-year-old Faqiu Lin. Both men died at the scene. Police later arrested Juventino Anastacio Florentino, charging him with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and the ongoing threat to pedestrians in city crosswalks.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Patch, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 4 - 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