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

Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

A sedan struck a 13-year-old boy in Brooklyn. He crossed with the signal. Driver inattention listed. The boy suffered arm injuries. The car’s right front bumper hit him.

A 13-year-old pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck him at the intersection of 709 Broadway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing with the signal when the vehicle’s right front bumper hit him. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The boy suffered abrasions and injuries to his arm. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The sedan showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

A sedan struck a cyclist on Metropolitan Ave. The cyclist suffered a shoulder injury. Police cite driver inattention. Streets remain hostile to those outside cars.

A sedan and a bike collided on Metropolitan Ave in Brooklyn. The 44-year-old cyclist was injured in the shoulder and suffered abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling east. The cyclist was not ejected. The driver of the sedan and another occupant were not seriously hurt. The report lists no other contributing factors. Streets like Metropolitan Ave continue to endanger those who travel outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810361 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned into motorcyclist on Morgan Ave. Rider thrown, leg fractured. Police cite improper turn, driver distraction. Passengers shaken. Streets stay dangerous.

A station wagon SUV collided with a motorcycle on Morgan Ave at Devoe St in Brooklyn. The 20-year-old male motorcyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fractured leg. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The SUV was making a left turn when it struck the motorcycle, which was heading straight. Two SUV occupants, ages 59 and 83, were involved but not seriously hurt. The report notes the motorcyclist wore a helmet, but only after listing driver errors. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

SUV struck cyclist on Manhattan Ave. Police cite driver inattention. Cyclist suffered arm injury. Metal met flesh. Streets stayed loud.

A Ford SUV and a cyclist collided at Manhattan Ave and Withers St in Brooklyn. The 24-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering a contusion and arm trauma. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The SUV’s right side doors took the impact. The cyclist, riding west, was not using safety equipment. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the risk when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Concrete mixer struck sedan from behind in Brooklyn. One driver injured, chest hit. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely. Heavy machines, quick impact, pain left behind.

A concrete mixer rear-ended a sedan at 737 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver, a 32-year-old woman, suffered a chest injury and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The concrete mixer hit the sedan's rear, damaging bumpers and sending pain through metal. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808265 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal bolts crashed through a windshield in Queens. Glass exploded over the passenger. The No. 7 train rumbled above. Danger rained down. This was not the first time. The system failed to shield those below.

ABC7 reported on April 21, 2025, that debris from the No. 7 subway train fell onto a car at Queens Plaza, shattering the windshield and denting the hood. Rahimi, the driver, said, "We were driving right off here. Something fell off the train, damaging the windshield." Passenger Malnick described, "A bolt hit and then right away just the sound of glass exploding and glass all over me." The incident echoes previous cases: in 2019, falling debris from elevated tracks struck vehicles three times in a month. The MTA responded then by intensifying inspections, but the problem persists. The agency now says it is investigating and will inspect the area. The repeated incidents highlight ongoing risks from aging infrastructure above city streets.

• Falling Subway Debris Strikes Car In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-21

A sedan struck on Meeker Avenue. Driver hurt, back injury, shock. Police list no clear cause. Streets stay dangerous. Another wound in Brooklyn’s traffic record.

A sedan traveling east on Meeker Avenue at Vandervoort Avenue was struck, damaging its right rear bumper. According to the police report, a 35-year-old male driver suffered a back injury and shock. Another occupant’s injuries were unspecified. The report lists no clear contributing factor, marking the cause as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. The crash adds to the toll of injury on Brooklyn streets, leaving another person hurt in the city’s relentless traffic violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding driver tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk. Three lives ended. One child clings to life. The car never slowed. The street became a grave. Metal and flesh collided. The city mourns. Justice waits in a courtroom.

According to NY Daily News (April 16, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove 68 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a Brooklyn crosswalk, striking Natasha Saada and her three children. Prosecutors say Yarimi never braked, ran a red light, and crashed into another car before hitting the family. Saada and two daughters died; her son remains in a coma. Yarimi had a suspended license and $11,000 in unpaid violations, including 21 speed camera and five red light tickets. Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez called it 'one of the worst collisions I've ever seen on a New York City street.' Yarimi faces manslaughter and assault charges. The case highlights persistent enforcement gaps and the deadly consequences of unchecked reckless driving.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-16

Two sedans collided on White Street. A passenger was hurt. Police cite unsafe backing. Metal struck metal. The street fell silent.

A crash involving two sedans on White Street at Varet Street in Brooklyn left a 32-year-old passenger injured. According to the police report, the collision occurred when one vehicle backed unsafely. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The injured passenger was seated in the front. The driver reported shock. No helmet or signal issues are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807012 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

SUV hit a man crossing Metropolitan Avenue with the signal. He took a blow to the head. Police cite failure to yield and following too closely. The street did not forgive.

A 32-year-old man crossing Metropolitan Avenue at Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by an SUV. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and hit him. The man suffered a head contusion. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and driving a 2017 Hyundai SUV registered in New Jersey. No injuries were reported for the driver or other occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805533 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped’s front end shatters on Metropolitan Avenue. The rider’s leg bruised, foot twisted. Two men and a child hurt. The car sits untouched. Blood stains the afternoon street.

A crash on Metropolitan Avenue near Catherine Street left a moped’s front end crumpled. According to the police report, the moped driver suffered a bruised leg and twisted foot. Two men and a child were also injured, their conditions not specified. The car involved showed no damage. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The moped driver was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users on Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A school bus veered off course in Flatbush. Metal crumpled. A woman and boy fell. The boy’s arm broke. The woman’s neck and hip throbbed. The bus smashed a fence. Sirens wailed. Both survived. The driver stayed. The city’s danger remained.

ABC7 reported on April 9, 2025, that a 66-year-old school bus driver struck a 43-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy at Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road, Brooklyn. The driver told police he 'hit the gas instead of the brakes, jumped the curb and struck the pedestrians before smashing into a fence.' The woman suffered neck and hip pain; the boy’s arm broke. Both were hospitalized and are expected to survive. No charges were immediately filed. The bus remained at the scene. The article notes the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights risks at intersections and the consequences of driver error, especially when large vehicles enter pedestrian space.

• School Bus Jumps Curb, Hits Two Pedestrians, ABC7, Published 2025-04-09

A speeding driver with a suspended license ran a red light in Brooklyn. Her car struck a mother and two young children. All three died. The driver faced manslaughter charges. The street bore the weight of loss and metal.

NY Daily News (April 6, 2025) reports that Miriam Yarimi, driving with a suspended license for lapsed insurance, sped through a red light in Brooklyn on March 29. Her Audi struck a family, killing a mother and two small children. Police said Yarimi was 'reportedly speeding, ran a red light, and struck the family.' Prosecutors allege she told first responders she was possessed at the time. The article details Yarimi’s history as a victim of sexual abuse by a former NYPD officer, but the crash itself highlights systemic failures: a suspended license, unchecked speed, and a fatal intersection. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and families on New York City streets.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-06