Crash Count for Gravesend (West)
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 1,315
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 776
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 171
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 6
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 4
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Aug 15, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Gravesend (West)?

Gravesend Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, and Still No Safe Streets

Gravesend Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, and Still No Safe Streets

Gravesend (West): Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 16, 2025

The Slow Grind of Loss

In Gravesend (West), the numbers do not tell the whole story. But they do not lie. Four people are dead. Six more are seriously injured. Seven hundred twenty-five have been hurt since 2022. The dead are not numbers. They are neighbors, children, elders. One was 95, struck at the intersection of Cropsey and 24th. Another, a 2-year-old girl, was hit crossing with the signal. She survived; the woman with her did not. NYC Open Data

Cars and trucks did most of the damage. SUVs and sedans killed two. Trucks killed another. Bikes and mopeds hurt, but did not kill. The street is not safe for the old, the young, or anyone in between.

The Recent Wounds

The pain is fresh. In the last year, one person died, two were seriously hurt, and 224 were injured. Children are not spared. Thirty-two under 18 were hurt. The numbers rise, year after year. Crashes are up 15% over last year. Injuries up 23%.

A 66-year-old woman was killed crossing with the light on Bath Avenue. A 65-year-old man died at Avenue P. A 20-year-old on an e-bike was killed on 86th Street. The pattern is plain. The street is a gauntlet.

What Leaders Have Done—and Not Done

Assembly Member William Colton voted to extend school speed zones. This helps. State Senator Steve Chan voted yes to curb repeat speeders, but also voted no on safer school speed zones. The record is mixed. The danger remains.

The city passed bills to clear abandoned vehicles and mark pavement. These are steps, not leaps. No law has yet forced the street to yield to the most vulnerable.

The Voices Left Behind

“It’s devastating. It’s affecting everyone in our family, especially (Ruiz’s) mom. Maddy was her only daughter,” said Ruiz’s sister-in-law. The grief is not abstract. It is a mother with no daughter. It is a family with no answer.

“I have no idea why he was doing donuts in the parking lot,” said Griselda Caraballo. The question hangs in the air. The street is silent.

What Must Be Done

This is not fate. It is policy. Call your council member. Call your assembly member. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real protection for those who walk and ride. Every day of delay is another day of loss.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

William Colton
Assembly Member William Colton
District 47
District Office:
155 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, NY 11223
Legislative Office:
Room 733, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Susan Zhuang
Council Member Susan Zhuang
District 43
District Office:
6514 20th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204
718-307-7151
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1841, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7045
Twitter: CMSusanZhuang
Steve Chan
State Senator Steve Chan
District 17
District Office:
6605 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11219
Legislative Office:
Room 615, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247

Traffic Safety Timeline for Gravesend (West)

Sedans Collide on 24th Avenue in Brooklyn

Two sedans crashed on 24th Avenue. One driver suffered neck pain. Police cite failure to yield. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans collided at 24th Avenue and 84th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver was injured, suffering neck pain and shock. The crash involved a Ford sedan entering a parked position and a Genesis sedan going straight. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention helmet or signal use. The impact left one driver hurt and both vehicles damaged.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831997 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
Box Truck Slams Sedan on 86th Street

Box truck hit sedan on 86th Street in Brooklyn. Two men injured. Metal twisted. Streets unforgiving. No clear cause named in the report.

A box truck and a sedan collided on 86th Street at Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. Two men, one driver and one passenger, suffered injuries—one to the head, another to the shoulder and arm. According to the police report, both vehicles traveled west. The truck changed lanes and struck the sedan. No driver errors or contributing factors were specified in the report. The force of impact left two people hurt. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge

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.


Sedan Struck on Kings Highway, Driver Hurt

A sedan stopped in traffic on Kings Highway took a hit to its back end. The driver, a 55-year-old man, suffered back pain and shock. No contributing factors listed. Streets stayed dangerous and silent.

A crash on Kings Highway at West 10th Street in Brooklyn left a 55-year-old male driver injured. According to the police report, a sedan was stopped in traffic when it was struck at the center back end. The driver suffered back pain and shock. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The incident highlights the constant risk for those inside vehicles, even when stopped.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
2
SUV Backs Into SUV, Two Injured in Brooklyn

SUV reversed unsafely on 25th Avenue. Two people suffered whiplash. Metal struck metal. The street stayed hard and cold.

Two SUVs collided near 8664 25th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one SUV was backing unsafely when it struck another SUV. A 62-year-old male driver and a 74-year-old female passenger were injured, both suffering whiplash. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt and the street marked by impact.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
SUVs Collide on Avenue S, Driver Injured

Two SUVs crashed on Avenue S in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. Passengers and another driver escaped with minor or no injuries.

Two station wagons collided at Avenue S and Van Sicklen Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, age 44, was injured in the knee and foot. The other driver, age 73, and three passengers, including a 67-year-old woman, were not seriously hurt. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight before the crash. Airbags deployed in at least one vehicle. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828735 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
Driver Doing Donuts Kills Girlfriend

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.


Grocer Beaten With Pipe In Brooklyn

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.


Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park

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.


Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run

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.


Sedan Strikes E-Bike on Bay Parkway

A sedan hit an e-bike at Bay Parkway and 86th Street. The e-bike rider, 23, was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inexperience and distraction as causes.

A sedan and an e-bike collided at Bay Parkway and 86th Street in Brooklyn. The 23-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a back contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan's front end struck the e-bike. Both vehicles were traveling straight. No injuries were reported for the sedan occupants. The report lists no other contributing factors.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
Judge Allows Bedford Bike Lane Change

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.


Hit-And-Run Drivers Strike Brooklyn, Bronx

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.


Motorcyclist Killed On Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

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.


Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review

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.


Int 0857-2024
Brannan votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


Int 0857-2024
Zhuang votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

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.


Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights

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.


E-Bike Rider Ejected in Bath Ave Crash

A sedan struck an e-bike on Bath Ave. The 63-year-old cyclist was ejected and injured. Center-front impact. No driver errors listed. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A sedan and an e-bike collided on Bath Ave in Brooklyn. The 63-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a shoulder injury. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead and struck center front. The cyclist was listed as injured with a contusion. No specific driver errors were recorded; contributing factors were marked as 'Unspecified.' The crash left the cyclist exposed to harm. No helmet or signal use was listed as a factor.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18
Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider

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.