Blood on Graham Avenue—How Many More Will Die Before City Hall Acts?

A 34-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan and e-scooter collided head-on. The rider suffered elbow and lower arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention and improper lane usage as causes.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Bushwick Avenue involving a sedan and an e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 34-year-old man wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists driver inattention and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The e-scooter driver was not ejected and showed no visible complaints but was in shock. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling southbound. No vehicle damage was reported. The police noted pedestrian or bicyclist confusion as a factor but did not attribute fault to the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680255 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council Member Alexa Avilés calls for a full redesign of the city’s truck route map. Trucks flood neighborhoods, endanger lives, and choke streets. Introduction 708 demands safer, smarter routes. The bill has strong support. The city’s map has not changed since the 1970s.

Introduction 708, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, seeks a sweeping overhaul of New York City’s outdated truck route map. The bill, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was highlighted in an op-ed published November 13, 2023. Avilés, as committee chair, wrote, 'An overhaul of our truck route map is long overdue. We must pass Introduction 708 for the sake of our communities and all New Yorkers.' The measure would require the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to improve safety, visibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. It also mandates input from neighborhoods, environmental groups, and industry. Avilés leads a coalition of 40 co-sponsors, with support from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The bill responds to the surge in freight traffic, which has battered streets and put vulnerable communities—often communities of color—at risk. The current map, unchanged since the 1970s, routes heavy trucks through residential areas, increasing danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Op-Ed | NYC’s truck routes haven’t changed since the 1970s. It’s time for an overhaul., amny.com, Published 2023-11-13

A tractor truck struck the left side of a sedan on Grand Street in Brooklyn. The sedan’s female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The truck driver was licensed and traveling east. Improper lane usage caused the collision.

According to the police report, a tractor truck traveling east on Grand Street collided with the left side doors of a westbound sedan. The sedan’s 54-year-old female driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor, indicating the truck driver failed to maintain proper lane discipline. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The impact damaged the truck’s trailer and the sedan’s left front quarter panel. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678878 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two sedans crashed head-on in Brooklyn. Metal tore. A 37-year-old man, driving straight, crushed his shoulder. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent, broken by pain. Failure to yield and a bad turn set the stage for injury.

Two sedans collided head-on at 267 Vandervoort Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one sedan was making a left turn while the other went straight. The impact was severe. A 37-year-old male driver suffered a crushed shoulder but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The crash left the street quiet, marked by the sound of pain. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The data points to driver error as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

City and Lyft will double e-bikes and cap prices, but leave most neighborhoods stranded. No new public money. Electrification pilot starts. Advocates slam lack of expansion. Riders outside core zones stay shut out. System grows in power, not reach.

On November 6, 2023, the Adams Administration and Lyft announced amendments to the Citi Bike contract, which runs through 2029. The deal, covered in Streetsblog NYC, doubles e-bikes from 10,000 to 20,000 and adds new and replacement classic bikes. The matter summary states, 'No system expansion... you're not going to be able to ride the bikes anywhere new because system expansion was not part of the amendment agreement.' Council members were not directly named, but Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso praised electrification, saying, 'This is exactly the direction we should be moving in—toward greener, safer, and more accessible micromobility options for New Yorkers.' John Tomac of Bike South Brooklyn condemned the lack of expansion: 'We're disappointed that you still can’t ride a Citi Bike in most of New York City.' The contract introduces price caps but avoids public funding. The city’s refusal to expand or subsidize Citi Bike leaves many vulnerable road users in transit deserts, with safer, greener options still out of reach.

• What We Get — And Don’t Get — In The New Citi Bike Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-06

A 68-year-old front-seat passenger suffered neck injuries in a crash on Devoe Street. A sedan traveling south was struck in the right rear quarter panel by an SUV going west. The passenger complained of whiplash but was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Devoe Street was hit in the right rear quarter panel by an SUV traveling west. The collision resulted from the SUV driver's disregard of traffic control. The sedan carried a 68-year-old female front passenger who was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The impact damaged the right front bumper of the sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675858 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A town hall to attack Vision Zero was scrapped after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Hudson withdrew, saying the meeting would send the wrong message. The church canceled. Grief and anger filled the street.

On October 27, 2023, a planned anti-Vision Zero town hall was canceled in Brooklyn. The event, organized by Vision Zero opponents, was set to criticize the city's road safety program. But after a tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes near Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Crystal Hudson withdrew. In their open letter, they wrote, 'Holding a forum where Vision Zero will be criticized in the neighborhood next to where a young boy’s life was lost to traffic violence sends the wrong message to the community and to our borough.' The church, led by Rev. Anthony Trufant, canceled the meeting. Local residents called for more enforcement against reckless drivers. The tragedy underscored the stakes: pedestrian deaths are down, but the toll of traffic violence remains high.

• Anti-Vision Zero Town Hall Postponed After Pols Bail Following Little Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A child died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. The mayor dodged questions. He said, “I love New York.” He left. Grieving parents and officials demanded action. The city’s promises rang hollow. Trust in leadership cracked. Streets stayed dangerous.

On October 27, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions after a 7-year-old was killed by an NYPD tow-truck driver. The event followed his administration’s interruption of several safe street projects. When pressed by a Streetsblog reporter—'Why should New Yorkers trust you to make the city’s streets safer?'—Adams replied, 'I love New York, I love New York,' and left without a substantive answer. The matter, as reported, centers on public frustration: 'Adams had previously promised to do "whatever it takes to keep our streets safe" after the child’s death.' Council Member Crystal Hudson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for urgent safety improvements. A Brooklyn parent’s letter demanding action drew 1,800 signatures in days. The mayor’s silence deepened distrust. The city’s vulnerable remain at risk.

• Asked About Street Safety After Child’s Death, Mayor Says, ‘I Love New York!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A police tow truck driver struck and killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes in Fort Greene. Witnesses say the driver used a phone. Charges followed. Councilmember Hudson called to expand, not question, street safety programs. A community meeting was postponed after the tragedy.

On October 27, 2023, a fatal crash in Council District 35 left a 7-year-old boy dead. The driver, an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, faces charges for failing to yield and exercise due care. The incident drew swift response from Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who, alongside Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, withdrew from a planned community meeting meant to critique Open Streets and Vision Zero. Their joint statement read, 'this is not the time to rethink a street safety program that has brought traffic deaths to historic lows in New York City,' and called for expanding, not reconsidering, safety measures. The meeting was postponed out of respect for the victim and to underscore the need for stronger protections for vulnerable road users.

• NYPD tow truck driver arrested after fatally striking 7-year-old boy in Fort Greene, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-10-27

A city tow truck driver struck and killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Witnesses saw reckless driving. The city exempts itself from daylighting laws. Council Member Hudson and residents demand action. The district faces high crash rates and weak safety measures.

On October 26, 2023, a 7-year-old boy was killed by an NYPD tow truck driver in Brooklyn. The crash happened near Fort Greene Park, where witnesses reported the driver was speeding, using her phone, and dragged the child before stopping. The intersection’s visibility was blocked by a legally parked car, as New York City exempts itself from state daylighting rules. Council Member Crystal Hudson visited the scene, spoke with police and residents, and acknowledged a pattern of reckless tow truck driving. Hudson said, 'This is the worst possible outcome, and, yet, we are forced to reckon with the worst possible outcome at the hands of the NYPD all too often.' Residents demanded speed bumps and crossing guards. The crash came as the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired and crossing guard positions were cut. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for an end to 'senseless traffic violence.' The district has a high rate of crashes and a history of resistance to safety improvements.

• Every Parent’s Nightmare: Child Killed by NYPD Tow Truck Driver in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-26

A sedan struck a motorcycle on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. Two passengers in the sedan suffered head injuries and whiplash. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn involving a sedan and a motorcycle. The sedan was traveling west, and the motorcycle south, both going straight ahead. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the crash. Two sedan passengers, a 33-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, were injured with head trauma and whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. The sedan sustained damage to its right front quarter panel; the motorcycle was damaged at its center front end. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673853 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A motorscooter driver fractured her elbow and hand after colliding with the right rear quarter panel of an SUV on Metropolitan Avenue. The scooter was making a right turn. The SUV showed no damage. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female motorscooter driver was injured when her scooter struck the right rear quarter panel of a 2020 SUV on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. The scooter was making a right turn at the time of the crash. The rider suffered fractures and dislocations to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but was not ejected and remained conscious. The SUV, carrying two occupants, was traveling straight ahead and showed no damage. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors or violations. The injured rider was wearing a helmet. No fault or blame is assigned to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A truck turned left on Morgan Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Steel hit flesh. The rider, 23, flew and crashed. His leg split open. His knee burst. No helmet. Blood on blacktop. The truck kept rolling. The street stayed silent.

A truck making a left turn struck a cyclist traveling straight near 222 Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. The 23-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered severe injuries to his knee and lower leg, including a severe burn. According to the police report, 'A truck turned left. A bike came straight. Steel met skin. The cyclist, 23, flew. His leg tore open. His knee split.' The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the report centers driver inattention and poor visibility as primary causes. The crash left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673366 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A southbound SUV making a right turn struck a southbound garbage truck going straight on Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. The SUV’s right front bumper hit the truck’s left front quarter panel. A rear passenger in the SUV suffered chest injuries and whiplash.

According to the police report, a 2011 SUV was making a right turn on Humboldt Street when it collided with a southbound garbage truck traveling straight. The impact occurred between the SUV’s right front bumper and the truck’s left front quarter panel. The SUV carried four occupants; a 41-year-old male rear passenger was injured, sustaining chest trauma and whiplash. The passenger was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and operating vehicles legally registered in New York. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671071 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A Ford SUV slammed into a stopped taxi on Manhattan Avenue. The impact struck the taxi’s center back end. A rear passenger in the taxi suffered neck injuries and shock. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing the crash.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling north on Manhattan Avenue rear-ended a stopped taxi. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front bumper hitting the taxi’s center back end. The taxi had two occupants; one rear passenger, a 43-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and shock. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor for the crash. Both vehicles were traveling north, with the taxi stopped in traffic and the SUV going straight ahead. The SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance caused the collision. The injured passenger was not ejected and did not use any safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Mayor Adams left Ashland Place unfinished. Cyclists lost a safe route. Advocates, officials, and residents rallied. They blamed City Hall for caving to a developer. The most dangerous block remains untouched. Eighty-eight crashes scar the street. Safety took a back seat.

On October 13, 2023, local officials and advocates criticized Mayor Adams for halting the Ashland Place redesign. The project, led by the Department of Transportation, aimed to create a protected bike lane from the Manhattan Bridge to Barclays Center. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, "New York City is regressing on meeting its Vision Zero goals ... and stalled street safety improvements, like those slated for Ashland Place, are a part of the reason why." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Council Member Crystal Hudson joined the outcry, with Hudson lamenting the incomplete corridor for cyclists. The DOT confirmed the southernmost block would not be converted, following objections from developer Two Trees Management. Advocates cited 88 crashes and multiple injuries in two years, with the most dangerous block excluded from improvements. Residents and advocates rallied, accusing the mayor of prioritizing business over public safety. City Hall deflected, blaming e-bikes for rising cyclist deaths.

• Pols, Advocates Slam Mayor Adams for Unfinished Ashland Place, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

A 35-year-old woman was hit while crossing Manhattan Avenue at a marked crosswalk. The sedan, traveling west, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered a back contusion and remained conscious. The impact was at the vehicle's center front end.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Manhattan Avenue struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was injured with a back contusion and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor, indicating the driver did not yield to the pedestrian. The impact occurred at the center front end of the sedan. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal but at a marked crosswalk. The driver’s failure to yield caused the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 48-year-old woman was struck by an SUV making a left turn on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered full-body injuries and shock, complaining of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Leonard Street was hit by a southbound SUV making a left turn. The driver was cited for inattention and failure to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body, experienced shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The vehicle showed no damage despite impact at the right front bumper. The report highlights driver errors—distraction and failure to yield—as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

A taxi rear-ended a car on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The taxi driver, age 30, suffered back injuries and whiplash. No ejections. The crash left the taxi’s front end smashed.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway struck the rear of another vehicle. The 30-year-old male taxi driver was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. The taxi’s center front end was damaged. The driver was conscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness, and licensed in New York. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No ejections occurred. The crash involved only the taxi driver as an occupant. No explicit driver errors were identified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661237 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07